title: Spatial distribution of calcium channels and cytosolic calcium transients in growth cones and cell bodies of sympathetic neurons.
abstract: Ca2+ imaging and single-channel recording were used to study the regulation of cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in local regions of frog sympathetic neurons. Digital imaging with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2 demonstrated: (i) resting [Ca2+]i of 70-100 nM; (ii) significant increases in [Ca2+]i in growth cones and cell bodies following depolarization induced by extracellular electrical stimulation or increased external K+; (iii) in cell bodies, large transient increases in [Ca2+]i following exposure to caffeine and sustained oscillations in [Ca2+]i in the presence of elevated K+ and caffeine; and (iv) in growth cones, smaller and briefer changes in [Ca2+]i in response to caffeine. The nature of the depolarization-induced Ca2+ entry was studied with cell-attached patch recordings (110 mM Ba2+ in recording pipette). Ca2+ channel activity was observed in 18 of 20 patches on cell bodies, 3 of 5 patches along neurites, and 36 of 41 patch recordings from growth cones. We observed two types of Ca2+ channels: L-type channels, characterized by a 28-pS slope conductance, sensitivity to dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel agonist, and availability even with depolarizing holding potentials; and N-type channels, characterized by a 15-pS slope conductance, resistance to dihydropyridines, and inactivation with depolarized holding potentials. Both types of channels were found on growth cones and along neurites as well as on cell bodies; channels often appeared concentrated in local hot spots, sometimes dominated by one channel type.
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011894:Rana pipiens; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D002110:Caffeine; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium