title: Mercury modulation of GABA-activated chloride channels and non-specific cation channels in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.
abstract: The effects of mercuric chloride and methylmercury chloride on the rat dorsal root ganglion neurons in primary culture were studied by the whole-cell patch clamp technique. gamma-Aminobutyric acid-induced chloride currents were augmented by mercuric chloride in a potent and efficacious manner; at concentrations of 1 and 10 microM, the current amplitude was increased to 130% and 200% of the control. Methylmercury even at 100 microM did not augment but rather decreased the GABA-induced chloride current. Both mercuric chloride and methylmercury generated slow inward currents by themselves. These currents are not mediated by the GABA-activated chloride channels or by voltage-activated sodium, potassium or calcium channels, and are likely to be due to non-specific cation channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arakawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakahiro
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Narahashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002412:Cations / Q000378:metabolism*; D018118:Chloride Channels; D002712:Chlorides / Q000494:pharmacology; D003292:Convulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007477:Ions; D007811:Lanthanum / Q000494:pharmacology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008628:Mercury / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D018118:Chloride Channels; D002712:Chlorides; D003292:Convulsants; D007473:Ion Channels; D007477:Ions; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D007811:Lanthanum; D008628:Mercury