title: Zinc (Zn2+) blocks voltage gated calcium channels in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion cells.
abstract: Dorsal root ganglion cells (DRGs) exhibit 3 types of voltage-dependent calcium channels. We have cultured DRGs from 2- to 4-day-old rat pups and obtained whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of calcium-channel currents after 1-5 days in culture. The calcium-channel currents (carried by barium) were recorded with tetrodotoxin (TTX) in the external solution. A cesium-based solution containing Na-ATP, HEPES and EGTA was used in the recording pipette. Cells were held at -80 mV and calcium channel currents were evoked by stepping to depolarized voltages. The divalent cation zinc (Zn2+) blocked sustained and transient voltage sensitive calcium channel currents. Onset of the blockade was fast and a steady-state was reached within 5-15 min, depending upon the concentration used. The IC50 for inhibition of the peak current evoked by a step depolarization from -80 mV to 0 mV (N plus L channels) for 80 ms was 69 microM Zn2+ and the Hill slope about 1. The calcium current evoked by a voltage step from -80 mV to voltages between -40 mV and -15 mV (T-type current) was more sensitive (> 80% block with 20 microM Zn2+). During wash the effect was only partly reversible in 50% of the neurons. Thus, Zn2+ is a potent blocker of voltage dependent calcium currents in mammalian neurons, especially of T-type currents.
authors.affiliation: Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Physiologisches Institut II, FRG.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Büsselberg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Haas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects*; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D015032:Zinc