Upregulation of Calcium Homeostatic Mechanisms in Chronically Depolarized Rat Myenteric Neurons

1999 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 2683-2695 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Fickbohm ◽  
Alan L. Willard

Upregulation of calcium homeostatic mechanisms in chronically depolarized rat myenteric neurons. Perturbations of intracellular Ca2+ ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) have important effects on numerous neuronal processes and influence development and survival. Neuronal [Ca2+]i is, in large part, dependent on activity, and changes in activity levels can alter how neurons handle calcium (Ca). To investigate the ability of neuronal Ca homeostatic mechanisms to adapt to the persistent elevation of [Ca2+]i, we used optical and electrophysiological recording techniques to measure [Ca2+]i transients in neurons from the rat myenteric plexus that had been chronically depolarized by growth in culture medium containing elevated (25 mM) KCl. When studied in normal saline, neurons that had previously been chronically depolarized for 3–5 days had briefer action potentials than control neurons, their action potentials produced smaller, more rapidly decaying increases in [Ca2+]i, and voltage-clamp pulses with action potential waveforms evoked smaller Ca currents than in control neurons. Simultaneous voltage-clamp measurements and calcium imaging revealed that increases in the Ca handling capacities of the chronically depolarized neurons permitted them to limit the amplitudes of action potential-evoked [Ca2+]i transients and to restore [Ca2+]i to basal levels more rapidly than control neurons. Release of Ca from endoplasmic reticulum-based Ca stores made smaller contributions to action potential-evoked [Ca2+]i transients in chronically depolarized neurons even though those neurons had larger caffeine-releasable Ca stores. Endoplasmic reticulum-based Ca sequestration mechanisms appeared to contribute to the faster decay of [Ca2+]i transients in chronically depolarized neurons. These results demonstrate that when neurons experience prolonged perturbations of [Ca2+]i, they can adjust multiple components of their Ca homeostatic machinery. Appropriate utilization of this adaptive capability should help neurons resist potentially lethal metabolic and environmental insults.

1989 ◽  
Vol 238 (1291) ◽  
pp. 171-188 ◽  

Action potentials were recorded from single cells isolated from guinea-pig ventricular muscle. Contraction was measured with an optical technique. Tail currents thought to be activated by cytosolic calcium were recorded when action potentials were interrupted by application of a voltage-clamp. A family of tail currents was recorded by interrupting the action potential at various times after the upstroke. The envelope of tail current amplitudes was taken as an index of changes in cytosoli calcium. Con­sistent with this interpretation, tail currents were negligible following intracellular loading with the calcium chelator BAPTA to suppress calcium transients. The cytosolic calcium transient estimated from the envelope of tails reached a peak approximately 50 ms after the upstroke of the action potential, and fell close to diastolic levels before repolarization was com­plete; 10 mM caffeine delayed the time to peak contraction, and caused a prolongation of the cytosolic calcium transient estimated from the envelope of tail currents. Caffeine also induced the appearance of a distinct late plateau phase of the action potential. Intracellular BAPTA suppressed the late plateau, contraction and tail currents in cells exposed to caffeine. Exposure to caffeine increased the time constant for decay of tail currents (from approximately 35 to 70 ms). When action potentials were greatly abbreviated by interruption with a voltage-clamp, a pro­gressive decline occurred in the subsequent three contractions and tail currents. There was a progressive reversal of these effects over four responses when the full action potential duration was restored. None of these effects was observed in cells exposed to caffeine. Calcium-activated tail currents appear to be a useful qualitative index of changes in cytosolic calcium. The observations are consistent with the suggestion that cytosolic calcium is reduced during the plateau by a combination of calcium extrusion through Na–Ca exchange and calcium uptake into caffeine-sensitive stores. It also appears that reduction of stores loading during abbreviated action potentials reduces subsequent contraction in cells not exposed to caffeine.


2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 1253-1263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fivos Vogalis ◽  
Kirk Hillsley ◽  
Terence K. Smith

The aim of this study was to perform a patch-clamp analysis of myenteric neurons from the guinea pig proximal colon. Neurons were enzymatically dispersed, cultured for 2–7 days, and recorded from using whole cell patch clamp. The majority of cells fired phasically, whereas about one-quarter of the neurons fired in a tonic manner. Neurons were divided into three types based on the currents activated. The majority of tonically firing neurons lacked an A-type current, but generated a large fast transient outward current that was associated with the rapid repolarizing phase of an action potential. The fast transient outward current was dependent on calcium entry and was blocked by tetraethylammonium. Cells that expressed both an A-type current and a fast transient outward current were mostly phasic. Depolarization of these cells to suprathreshold potentials from less than −60 mV failed to trigger action potentials, or action potentials were only triggered after a delay of >50 ms. However, depolarizations from more positive potentials triggered action potentials with minimal latency. Neurons that expressed neither the A-type current or the fast transient outward current were all phasic. Sixteen percent of neurons were similar to AH/type II neurons in that they generated a prolonged afterhyperpolarization following an action potential. The current underlying the prolonged afterhyperpolarization showed weak inward rectification and had a reversal potential near the potassium equilibrium potential. Thus cultured isolated myenteric neurons of the guinea pig proximal colon retain many of the diverse properties of intact neurons. This preparation is suitable for further biophysical and molecular characterization of channels expressed in colonic myenteric neurons.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi-Ying Liu ◽  
Mario Vassalle

The effects of some components of ischemia on the oscillatory (Vos) and nonoscillatory (Vex) potentials and respective currents (Ios and Iex), as well as their mechanisms, were studied in guinea pig isolated ventricular myocytes by means of a single-microelectrode, discontinuous voltage clamp method. Repetitive activations induced not only Vos and Ios, but also Vex and Iex. A small decrease in resting potential caused an immediate increase in Vos followed by a gradual increase due to the longer action potential. Immediate and gradual increases in Ios also occurred during voltage clamp steps. A small depolarization increased Vos and Vex, and facilitated the induction of spontaneous discharge by fast drive. At Vh where INa is inactivated, depolarizing steps induced larger Ios and Iex, indicating the importance of the Na-independent Ca loading. High [K]odecreased the resting potential, but also Vos, Vex, Ios, Iex, and ICa. In high [K]o, depolarization still increased Vos and Vex. Norepinephrine (NE) enhanced Vos and Vex, and also Ios and Iex, during voltage clamp steps. High [K]o antagonized NE effects, and NE those of high [K]o. In conclusion, on depolarization, Vos and Ios immediately increase through a voltage-dependent mechanism; and then Vos and Ios gradually increase, apparently through an increased Ca load related to the longer action potentials and the Na–Ca exchange. The depolarization induced by Vex may contribute to increase Vos size. Vos and Vex are similarly influenced by different procedures that modify Ca load. The arrhythmogenic events are enhanced by the simultaneous presence of depolarization, faster rate, or NE. Instead, high [K]o decreases Vos and Vex by decreasing ICa and opposes the effects of NE. The voltage clamp results show that potentiation and antagonism between different components of ischemia are due primarily to changes in Ca loading and not to changes in action potential configuration.Key words: ischemia, arrhythmias, oscillatory and nonoscillatory potentials and currents, norepinephrine, potassium.


1980 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Inoue

Squid giant axons internally perfused with a 30 mM NaF solution and bathed in a 100 mM CaCl2 solution, which are known to produce long lasting action potentials in response to pulses of outward current, were investigated. The effects of tetrodotoxin (TTX) and of tetraethylammonium ion (TEA+) on such action potentials were studied. The results are summarized as follows: (a) An addition of 1--3 microM TTX to the external solution altered but did not block the action potentials; it increased the height of the action potential by approximately 15 mV, and it decreased the membrane conductance as the peak of excitation by about two-thirds. (b) Voltage-clamp experiments performed with both NaCl and TTX in the external CaCl2 solution revealed that the TTX-insensitive action potential does not involve a rise in gNa, whereas the experiments performed without TTX showed that the action potential is accompanied by a large rise in gNa. (c) Internally applied TEA+ was shown to selectively block the TTX-insensitive action potential, but it did not block the other component of the action potential, which is accompanied by a rise in gNa, and which is selectively suppressed by TTX. (d) The addition of a small amount of KCl to the external CaCl2 solution containing TTX greatly increased both the maximum peak inward current under voltage clamp and the maximum slope conductance. Furthermore, it was shown that K+ applied on both sides of the axon plays a dominant role in producing the membrane potential in the active state in the presence of TTX, even though a large amount of Ca2+ is presented in the bathing medium. These observations have led me to conclude that the sodium channel is responsible for the production of the TTX-sensitive component of the action potential under the ionic conditions of these experiments, and the potassium channel for the TTX-insensitive component of the action potential.


2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Yves Le Guennec ◽  
Christophe Vandier ◽  
Gilles Bedfer

Electrophysiological experiments are helpful for students to understand the role of electrical activity in heart function. Papillary muscle, which belongs to the ventricle, offers the advantage of being easily studied using glass microelectrodes. In addition, there is commercially available software that simulates ventricular electrical activity and can help overcome some difficulties, such as voltage clamp experiments, which need expensive apparatus when used for studies on living preparations. Here, we present a class practical session that is taken by undergraduate students at our University. In the first part of this class, students record action potentials from papillary muscles with the use of glass microelectrodes, and they change extracellular conditions to study the ionic basis of the action potential. In the second part of the class, students simulate action potentials using the Oxsoft Heart model (v. 4.0) and model their previous experiments on papillary muscle to quantify the effects. In particular, the model is very helpful in promoting understanding of the effect that extracellular potassium has on cardiac action potential by simulating voltage clamp experiments. This twin approach of papillary muscle experiments and computer modeling leads to a good understanding of the functioning of the action potential and can help introduce discussion of some abnormal cardiac functioning.


1999 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 2253-2266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janette D. Mills ◽  
Robert M. Pitman

Contribution of potassium conductances to a time-dependent transition in electrical properties of a cockroach motoneuron soma. The cell body of the cockroach ( Periplaneta americana) fast coxal depressor motoneuron (Df) displays a time-dependent change in excitability. Immediately after dissection, depolarization evokes plateau potentials, but after several hours all-or-none action potentials are evoked. Because K channel blockers have been shown to produce a similar transition in electrical properties, we have used current-clamp, voltage-clamp and action-potential-clamp recording to elucidate the contribution of different classes of K channel to the transition in electrical activity of the neuron. Apamin had no detectable effect on the neuron, but charybdotoxin (ChTX) caused a rapid transition from plateau potentials to spikes in the somatic response of Df to depolarization. In neurons that already produced spikes when depolarized, ChTX increased spike amplitude but did not increase their duration nor decrease the amplitude of their afterhyperpolarization. 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) (which selectively blocks transient K currents) did not cause a transition from plateau potentials to spikes but did enhance oscillations superimposed on plateau potentials. When applied to neurons that already generated spikes when depolarized, 4-AP could augment spike amplitude, decrease the latency to the first spike, and prolong the afterhyperpolarization. Evidence suggests that the time-dependent transition in electrical properties of this motoneuron soma may result, at least in part, from a fall in calcium-dependent potassium current ( I K,Ca), consequent on a gradual reduction in [Ca2+ ]i. Voltage-clamp experiments demonstrated directly that outward K currents in this neuron do fall with a time course that could be significant in the transition of electrical properties. Voltage-clamp experiments also confirmed the ineffectiveness of apamin and showed that ChTX blocked most of I K,Ca. Application of Cd2+(0.5 mM), however, caused a small additional suppression in outward current. Calcium-insensitive outward currents could be divided into transient (4-AP-sensitive) and sustained components. The action-potential-clamp technique revealed that the ChTX-sensitive current underwent sufficient activation during the depolarizing phase of plateau potentials to enable it to shunt inward conductances. Although the ChTX-sensitive conductance apparently makes little contribution to spike repolarization, the ChTX-resistant I K,Ca does make a significant contribution to this phase of the action potential. The 4-AP-sensitive current began to develop during the rising phase of both action potentials and plateau potentials but had little effect on the electrical activity of the neuron, probably because of its relatively small amplitude.


Author(s):  
Marte J. Sætra ◽  
Gaute T. Einevoll ◽  
Geir Halnes

AbstractMost neuronal models are based on the assumption that ion concentrations remain constant during the simulated period, and do not account for possible effects of concentration variations on ionic reversal potentials, or of ionic diffusion on electrical potentials. Here, we present what is, to our knowledge, the first multicompartmental neuron model that accounts for electrodiffusive ion concentration dynamics in a way that ensures a biophysically consistent relationship between ion concentrations, electrical charge, and electrical potentials in both the intra- and extracellular space. The model, which we refer to as the electrodiffusive Pinsky-Rinzel (edPR) model, is an expanded version of the two-compartment Pinsky-Rinzel (PR) model of a hippocampal CA3 neuron, where we have included homeostatic mechanisms and ion-specific leakage currents. Whereas the main dynamical variable in the original PR model is the transmembrane potential, the edPR model in addition keeps track of all ion concentrations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Cl−), electrical potentials, and the electrical conductivities in the intra- as well as extracellular space. The edPR model reproduces the membrane potential dynamics of the PR model for moderate firing activity, when the homeostatic mechanisms succeed in maintaining ion concentrations close to baseline. For higher activity levels, homeostasis becomes incomplete, and the edPR model diverges from the PR model, as it accounts for changes in neuronal firing properties due to deviations from baseline ion concentrations. Whereas the focus of this work is to present and analyze the edPR model, we envision that it will become useful for the field in two main ways. Firstly, as it relaxes a set of commonly made modeling assumptions, the edPR model can be used to test the validity of these assumptions under various firing conditions, as we show here for a few selected cases. Secondly, the edPR model is a supplement to the PR model and should replace it in simulations of scenarios in which ion concentrations vary over time. As it is applicable to conditions with failed homeostasis, the edPR model opens up for simulating a range of pathological conditions, such as spreading depression or epilepsy.Author summaryNeurons generate their electrical signals by letting ions pass through their membranes. Despite this fact, most models of neurons apply the simplifying assumption that ion concentrations remain effectively constant during neural activity. This assumption is often quite good, as neurons contain a set of homeostatic mechanisms that make sure that ion concentrations vary quite little under normal circumstances. However, under some conditions, these mechanisms can fail, and ion concentrations can vary quite dramatically. Standard models are thus not able to simulate such conditions. Here, we present what to our knowledge is the first multicompartmental neuron model that in a biophysically consistent way does account for the effects of ion concentration variations. We here use the model to explore under which activity conditions the ion concentration variations become important for predicting the neurodynamics. We expect the model to be of great use for simulating a range of pathological conditions, such as spreading depression or epilepsy, which are associated with large changes in extracellular ion concentrations.


2008 ◽  
Vol 108 (4) ◽  
pp. 693-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrienn Szabó ◽  
Norbert Szentandrássy ◽  
Péter Birinyi ◽  
Balázs Horváth ◽  
Gergely Szabó ◽  
...  

Background Despite the widespread clinical application of ropivacaine, there is little information on the cellular cardiac effects of the drug. In the current study, therefore, the concentration-dependent effects of ropivacaine on action potential morphology and the underlying ion currents were studied and compared with those of bupivacaine in isolated canine ventricular cardiomyocytes. Methods Action potentials were recorded from the enzymatically dispersed cells using sharp microelectrodes. Conventional patch clamp and action potential voltage clamp arrangements were used to study the effects of ropivacaine on transmembrane ion currents. Results Ropivacaine induced concentration- and frequency-dependent changes in action potential configuration, including shortening of the action potentials, reduction of their amplitude and maximum velocity of depolarization, suppression of early repolarization, and depression of plateau. Reduction in maximum velocity of depolarization was characterized with an EC50 value of 81 +/- 7 microm at 1 Hz. Qualitatively similar results were obtained with bupivacaine (EC50 = 47 +/- 3 microm). Under voltage clamp conditions, a variety of ion currents were blocked by ropivacaine: L-type calcium current (EC50 = 263 +/- 67 microm), transient outward current (EC50 = 384 +/- 75 microm), inward rectifier potassium current (EC50 = 372 +/- 35 microm), rapid delayed rectifier potassium current (EC50 = 303 +/- 47 microm), and slow delayed rectifier potassium current (EC50 = 106 +/- 18 microm). Conclusions Ropivacaine, similarly to bupivacaine, can modify cardiac action potentials and the underlying ion currents at concentrations higher than the usual therapeutic range. However, in cases of overdose, cardiac complications may be anticipated both during and after anesthesia due to the blockade of various ion currents.


1993 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 1692-1703 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Huang

1. Neurons were acutely dissociated from the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of adult rats and studied with whole-cell and perforated-patch recordings at room temperature. 2. Acutely dissociated SCN neurons had spherical cell bodies of 12 microns in average diameter. The recorded cells were randomly selected and had either no process (38%), one (41%), two (19%), or three processes (2%). They had a resting potential of about -60 mV, an input resistance of approximately 5 G omega, and a cell capacitance of approximately 7 pF. 3. The dissociated neurons had variable spontaneous firing rates, typically (76%) < 1 Hz. 4. Under current clamp, continuous current injection elicited repetitive action potentials. 1 microM tetrodotoxin (TTX) reduced the amplitudes of the action potentials as well as the firing rate, whereas 200 microM Cd2+ stopped repetitive firing altogether. Action potentials were completely eliminated with Cd2+ and TTX present. These results suggest that both Na+ and Ca2+ contribute to the action potential in these cells. 5. With 200 microM Cd2+ present to block calcium currents, a train of brief depolarizing pulses could still elicit repetitive sodium action potentials, but these became attenuated at stimulating frequencies as low as 1 Hz. 6. Under voltage clamp, the sodium current was activated at about -40 mV and peaked at about -10 mV. It inactivated with a time constant of approximately 0.5 ms at 0 mV, and in steady state the current was half-inactivated at about -60 mV. Recovery of the current from inactivation showed two very different phases with time constants of approximately 30 and 600 ms at -60 mV. The slow phase was probably responsible for the very low firing rate of the sodium action responsible for the very low firing rate of the sodium action potential. 7. In the absence of external sodium, depolarization-activated calcium action potentials were preferentially blocked by 20 microM Cd2+, whereas a posthyperpolarizing depolarizing (or anode break) was preferentially reduced by 100 microM Ni2+. These differential effects hinted at the presence of both low-threshold and high-threshold calcium currents in these cells. 8. Voltage-clamp experiments confirmed the presence of a low-threshold, transient calcium current that was activated by depolarizations above -70 mV. It inactivated with a time constant of approximately 25 ms between -50 and -30 mV. Steady-state inactivation was half-complete at about -90 mV and complete at about -70 mV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


2005 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 4430-4440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofija Andjelic ◽  
Vincent Torre

Calcium dynamics in leech neurons were studied using a fast CCD camera. Fluorescence changes (Δ F/ F) of the membrane impermeable calcium indicator Oregon Green were measured. The dye was pressure injected into the soma of neurons under investigation. Δ F/ F caused by a single action potential (AP) in mechanosensory neurons had approximately the same amplitude and time course in the soma and in distal processes. By contrast, in other neurons such as the Anterior Pagoda neuron, the Annulus Erector motoneuron, the L motoneuron, and other motoneurons, APs evoked by passing depolarizing current in the soma produced much larger fluorescence changes in distal processes than in the soma. When APs were evoked by stimulating one distal axon through the root, Δ F/ F was large in all distal processes but very small in the soma. Our results show a clear compartmentalization of calcium dynamics in most leech neurons in which the soma does not give propagating action potentials. In such cells, the soma, while not excitable, can affect information processing by modulating the sites of origin and conduction of AP propagation in distal excitable processes.


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