Modulatory effects of FMRF-NH2 on outward currents and oscillatory activity in heart interneurons of the medicinal leech.
Using single-electrode voltage clamp, heart interneurons of the medicinal leech were shown to possess both a rapidly inactivating outward current, IA, and a more slowly inactivating outward current, IK. IA and IK could be separated by their voltage sensitivity and kinetic properties. FMRF-NH2 (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2) modulates IK by shifting both steady state activation and inactivation to more hyperpolarized potentials, but it does not affect the time constants. IA and IK appear to use K+ as a charge carrier; a change in the external [K+] produced a shift in the apparent reversal potential in the direction predicted with potassium as the charge carrier. Both IA and IK are sensitive to tetraethylammonium (TEA) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), and TEA and 4-AP both interfere with the effects of FMRF-NH2 on IK. The biophysical properties of IA and of IK in the presence and absence of FMRF-NH2 were incorporated into a Hodgkin-Huxley model of these currents that could reproduce voltage-clamp data. FMRF-NH2 produces two apparently dissimilar effects on the heartbeat rhythm--acceleration and disruption. We suggest that both effects could result from the hyperpolarizing shifts in steady state activation and inactivation of IK.
Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.
T W
TW
Simon
C A
CA
Opdyke
R L
RL
Calabrese
D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D003035:Cobalt / Q000494:pharmacology; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004553:Electric Conductivity / Q000187:drug effects; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D019835:FMRFamide; D005724:Ganglia / Q000502:physiology; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007395:Interneurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D007865:Leeches; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
D007447:Invertebrate Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D003035:Cobalt; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D019835:FMRFamide; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D012964:Sodium; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; C025603:1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid; D002118:Calcium