Single-Channel Recording of TASK-3-like K+ Channel and Up-Regulation of TASK-3 mRNA Expression after Spinal Cord Injury in Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

Unraveling the cellular and molecular mechanisms of spinal cord injury is fundamental for our possibility to develop successful therapeutic approaches. These approaches need to address the issues of the emergence of a non-permissive environment for axonal growth in the spinal cord, in combination with a failure of injured neurons to mount an effective regeneration program. Experimental in vivo models are of critical importance for exploring the potential clinical relevance of mechanistic findings and therapeutic innovations. However, the highly complex organization of the spinal cord, comprising multiple types of neurons, which form local neural networks, as well as short and long-ranging ascending or descending pathways, complicates detailed dissection of mechanistic processes, as well as identification/verification of therapeutic targets. Inducing different types of dorsal root injury at specific proximo-distal locations provide opportunities to distinguish key components underlying spinal cord regeneration failure. Crushing or cutting the dorsal root allows detailed analysis of the regeneration program of the sensory neurons, as well as of the glial response at the dorsal root-spinal cord interface without direct trauma to the spinal cord. At the same time, a lesion at this interface creates a localized injury of the spinal cord itself, but with an initial neuronal injury affecting only the axons of dorsal root ganglion neurons, and still a glial cell response closely resembling the one seen after direct spinal cord injury. In this review, we provide examples of previous research on dorsal root injury models and how these models can help future exploration of mechanisms and potential therapies for spinal cord injury repair.

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GABA-Induced Cl− Current in Cultured Embryonic Human Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.1999.82.1.1 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 82 (1) ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Alexander Y. Valeyev ◽

John C. Hackman ◽

Alice M. Holohean ◽

Patrick M. Wood ◽

Jennifer L. Katz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dorsal Root Ganglion ◽

Dorsal Root ◽

Single Channel ◽

Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons ◽

Hill Coefficient ◽

Equilibrium Potential ◽

Single Channels ◽

Drg Neurons ◽

Whole Cell ◽

Ganglion Neurons

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA)-activated channels in embryonic (5–8 wk old) human dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in dissociated culture were characterized by whole cell and single-channel techniques. All DRG neurons when held at negative holding membrane potentials displayed inward current to micromolar concentrations of GABA applied by pressure pulses from closely positioned micropipettes. The current was directly proportional to the concentration of GABA (EC50, 111 μM; Hill coefficient, 1.7). DRG neurons also responded to micromolar concentrations of pentobarbital and alphaxalone but not to cis-4-aminocrotonic acid (CACA), glycine, or taurine. Baclofen (100 μM) affected neither the holding currents nor K+ conductance (when patch pipettes were filled with 130 mM KCl) caused by depolarizing pulses. Whole cell GABA-currents were blocked by bicuculline, picrotoxin, and t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS; all at 100 μM). The reversal potential of whole cell GABA-currents was close to the theoretical Cl− equilibrium potential, shifting with changes in intracellular Cl− concentration in a manner expected for Cl−-selective channels. The whole cell I-V curve for GABA-induced currents demonstrated slight outward rectification with nearly symmetrical outside and inside Cl− concentrations. Spectral analysis of GABA-induced membrane current fluctuations showed that the kinetic components were best fitted by a triple Lorentzian function. The apparent elementary conductance for GABA-activated Cl− channels determined from the power spectra was 22.6 pS. Single-channel recordings from cell-attached patches with pipettes containing 10 μM GABA indicated that GABA-activated channels have a main and a subconductance level with values of 30 and 19 pS, respectively. Mean open and closed times of the channel were characterized by two or three exponential decay functions, suggesting two or three open channel states and two closed states. Single channels showed a lack of rectification. The actions of GABA on cultured human embryonic DRG neurons are mediated through the activation of GABAA receptors with properties corresponding to those found in the CNS of human and other mammalian species but differing from those of cultured human adult DRG neurons.

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Systematic Administration of B Vitamins Alleviates Diabetic Pain and Inhibits Associated Expression of P2X3 and TRPV1 in Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons and Proinflammatory Cytokines in Spinal Cord in Rats

Pain Research and Management ◽

10.1155/2020/3740162 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Duan-Duan He ◽

Yu Gao ◽

Shan Wang ◽

Zhong Xie ◽

Xue-Jun Song

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Blood Glucose ◽

Dorsal Root Ganglion ◽

Proinflammatory Cytokines ◽

Dorsal Root ◽

B Vitamins ◽

Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons ◽

Drg Neurons ◽

B Vitamin ◽

Ganglion Neurons

Background. Treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) continues to be a major challenge, and underlying mechanisms of DNP remain elusive. We investigated treatment effects of B vitamins on DPN- and DNP-associated alterations of neurochemical signaling in the nociceptive dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and the spinal cord in rats. Methods. DNP was produced in male, adult, Sprague Dawley rats by single i.p. streptozotocin (STZ). Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze protein expressions in DRG and ELISA to measure the proinflammatory cytokines in the spinal cord. Behaviorally expressed DNP was determined by measuring the sensitivity of hindpaw skin to mechanical and thermal stimulation. Results. There were 87.5% (77/88) rats which developed high blood glucose within 1-2 weeks following STZ injection. Of which, 70.13% (n = 54/77) animals exhibited DNP manifested as mechanical allodynia and/or thermal hyperalgesia. Intraperitoneal administration of vitamins B1/B6/B12 (100/100/2 mg/kg, one or multiple doses) significantly attenuated DNP without affecting the blood glucose. Expressions of P2X3 and TRPV1 in CGRP-positive and IB4-positive DRG neurons as well as the interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nerve growth factor in the lumbar spinal cord were greatly increased in DNP rats. Such DNP-associated neurochemical alterations were also greatly suppressed by the B-vitamin treatment. Conclusions. B-vitamin treatment can greatly suppress chronic DNP and DNP-associated increased activities of P2X3 and TRPV1 in DRG and the spinal proinflammatory cytokines, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of DNP. Systematic administration of B vitamins can be a strategy for DNP management in clinic.

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Permeation of Na+ through a delayed rectifier K+ channel in chick dorsal root ganglion neurons.

The Journal of General Physiology ◽

10.1085/jgp.104.4.747 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 104 (4) ◽

pp. 747-771 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

M J Callahan ◽

S J Korn

Keyword(s):

Dorsal Root Ganglion ◽

Binding Site ◽

Dorsal Root ◽

Reversal Potential ◽

Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons ◽

K Channel ◽

Delayed Rectifier ◽

Cation Binding Site ◽

Voltage Dependent ◽

Ganglion Neurons

In whole-cell patch clamp recordings from chick dorsal root ganglion neurons, removal of intracellular K+ resulted in the appearance of a large, voltage-dependent inward tail current (Icat). Icat was not Ca2+ dependent and was not blocked by Cd2+, but was blocked by Ba2+. The reversal potential for Icat shifted with the Nernst potential for [Na+]. The channel responsible for Icat had a cation permeability sequence of Na+ > Li+ > TMA+ > NMG+ (PX/PNa = 1:0.33:0.1:0) and was impermeable to Cl-. Addition of high intracellular concentrations of K+, Cs+, or Rb+ prevented the occurrence of Icat. Inhibition of Icat by intracellular K+ was voltage dependent, with an IC50 that ranged from 3.0-8.9 mM at membrane potentials between -50 and -110 mV. This voltage-dependent shift in IC50 (e-fold per 52 mV) is consistent with a single cation binding site approximately 50% of the distance into the membrane field. Icat displayed anomolous mole fraction behavior with respect to Na+ and K+; Icat was inhibited by 5 mM extracellular K+ in the presence of 160 mM Na+ and potentiated by equimolar substitution of 80 mM K+ for Na+. The percent inhibition produced by both extracellular and intracellular K+ at 5 mM was identical. Reversal potential measurements revealed that K+ was 65-105 times more permeant than Na+ through the Icat channel. Icat exhibited the same voltage and time dependence of inactivation, the same voltage dependence of activation, and the same macroscopic conductance as the delayed rectifier K+ current in these neurons. We conclude that Icat is a Na+ current that passes through a delayed rectifier K+ channel when intracellular K+ is reduced to below 30 mM. At intracellular K+ concentrations between 1 and 30 mM, PK/PNa remained constant while the conductance at -50 mV varied from 80 to 0% of maximum. These data suggest that the high selectivity of these channels for K+ over Na+ is due to the inability of Na+ to compete with K+ for an intracellular binding site, rather than a barrier that excludes Na+ from entry into the channel or a barrier such as a selectivity filter that prevents Na+ ions from passing through the channel.

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