title: Pb2+ reduces voltage- and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-activated calcium channel currents.
abstract: 1. While intracellular calcium concentrations are closely regulated, two types of ion channels in neurons allow calcium influx: both voltage-activated and NMDA-activated channels are significantly permeable to calcium. In this study we compare the effects of lead (Pb2+) on currents carried through voltage-activated calcium channels and NMDA-activated channels. 2. Pb2+ reduces voltage-activated calcium channel currents elicited by a voltage jump from -80 to 0 mV at 0.1 to 1 microM, with an IC50 of 0.64 microM and a Hill slope of 1.22. This effect was partially reversible and not voltage dependent. Sodium and potassium currents were relatively unaffected at Pb2+ concentrations sufficient to block calcium channel currents by more than 80%. Pb2+ is, thus, a potent, reversible and selective blocker of voltage-dependent calcium channel currents. 3. A fast reversible and slow irreversible blocking action of Pb2+ was found on NMDA-activated currents. When Pb2+ was applied simultaneously with aspartate and glycine (Asp/Gly), the inward currents were rapidly and reversibly reduced in a dose-dependent manner with a minimum effective concentration below 2 microM and a total blockade (> 80%) with 100 microM Pb2+. The IC50 was approximately 45 microM and the Hill coefficient 1.1. Preincubation with 50 microM Pb2+ resulted in a greater reduction in the response to Asp/Gly/Pb2+. This effect was reversed within 2 to 5 sec of wash. The lack of voltage dependence suggests that Pb2+ does not block the channel but rather alters the binding of agonists. Prolonged superfusion of a cell with the Asp/Gly/Pb(2+)-containing external solution resulted in a slow and irreversible decrease in the Asp/Gly activated current.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Büsselberg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Platt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000502:physiology*; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D007854:Lead / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D007854:Lead; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D005998:Glycine