title: Distribution of dihydropyridine and omega-conotoxin-sensitive calcium currents in acutely isolated rat and frog sensory neuron somata: diameter-dependent L channel expression in frog.
abstract: Calcium channel subtypes in adult rat and frog sensory neuron somata, acutely isolated from dorsal root ganglia (DRG neurons), were studied using Bay K 8644, nimodipine, and omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTx) as specific probes. The DRG neurons varied in diameter 15-60 microns (rat) and 20-80 microns (frog). Bay K 8644 produced a large increase in calcium currents of small-diameter rat DRG neurons and shifted channel activation and the peak of the I-V curve in the hyperpolarizing direction. At a physiological holding potential (HP) of -60 mV, nimodipine blocked 50% of the peak calcium current in small-diameter frog and rat DRG neurons, indicating a large L channel component. At HP -80 mV, nimodipine blocked a lower percentage of peak current in small-diameter rat and frog DRG neurons than expected (based on experiments at HP -60 mV) probably due to nimodipine's voltage dependence. At HP -60 mV, omega-CgTx blocked 25% and 50% of peak current in small-diameter rat and frog DRG neurons, respectively. Omega-CgTx blocked a larger percentage of current at HP -80 mV than at -60 mV, probably because of the repriming of N channels. Observation of nimodipine- and Bay K 8644-sensitive calcium current in small-diameter rat and frog DRG neurons after omega-CgTx treatment, suggests that omega-CgTx is not a potent L channel blocker. The combination of omega-CgTx and nimodipine blocked all current in small-diameter frog DRG neurons but left a small portion of current unblocked in small-diameter rat DRG neurons at HP -60 mV, suggesting the possibility of omega-CgTx- and nimodipine-insensitive calcium channels in rat DRG neurons. Calcium current in most large-diameter frog DRG neurons was insensitive to nimodipine, but was completely blocked by omega-CgTx. This indicates significant variation in the expression of calcium channel subtypes in small- and large-diameter frog DRG neurons, which may subserve different sensory modalities.
authors.affiliation: University of Chicago, Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences, Illinois 60637.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Scroggs
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008978:Mollusk Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011898:Ranidae; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D008978:Mollusk Venoms; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D009553:Nimodipine; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; C038806:1,4-dihydropyridine; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA