title: Effects of 4-aminopyridine on potassium currents in a molluscan neuron.
abstract: The effects of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on the delayed K+ current and on the Ca2+-activated K+ current of the Aplysia pacemaker neurons R-15 and L-6 were studied. The delayed outward K+ current was measured in Ca2+-free artificial seawater (ASW) containing tetrodotoxin (TTX), using brief depolarizing clamp pulses. External (and internal) 4-AP blocks the delayed K+ current in a dose-dependent manner but does not block the leakage current. Our results show that one 4-AP molecule combines with a single receptor site and that the block is voltage dependent with an apparent dissociation constant (K4-AP) of approximately 0.8 mM at 0 mV. K4-AP increases e-fold for a 32-mV change in potential, which is consistent with the block occurring approximately 0.8 of the distance through the membrane electrical field. The 4-AP block appears to depend upon stimulus frequency as well as upon voltage. The greater speed of onset of the block produced by internal 4-AP relative to when it is used externally suggests that 4-AP acts from inside the cell. The Ca2+-activated K+ current was measured in Ca2+-free ASW containing TTX, using internal Ca2+-ion injection to directly activate the K+ conductance. Low external 4-AP concentrations (less than 2 mM) have no effect on the Ca2+-activated K+ current, but concentrations of 5 mM or greater increase the K+ current. Internal 4-AP has the same effect. The opposing effects of 4-AP on the two components of the K+ current can be seen in measurements of the total outward K+ current at different membrane potentials in normal ASW and during the repolarizing phase of the action potential.
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D000631:Aminopyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D010575:Pesticides
chemical_list: D000631:Aminopyridines; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007473:Ion Channels; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D010575:Pesticides; D015761:4-Aminopyridine