title: Separation of calcium currents in retinal ganglion cells from postnatal rat.
abstract: A culture system of the postnatal rat retina was established to investigate Ca2+ currents and synaptic transmission in identified neurons. Methods are described that allowed us to select retinal ganglion neurons (RGNs) in short term cultures (up to 48 h in vitro) and in long-term cultures (3 to 21 days in vitro). The specific aim of the present study was to identify channel specific components in whole-cell Ca2+ currents of RGNs and to clarify the potential use of the lanthanide Gd3+ as a selective Ca2+ channel blocker. About one third of freshly dissociated RGNs generated both low voltage activated Ca2+ currents (ICa(LVA)) and high voltage activated Ca2+ currents (ICa(HVA)). The remaining 2/3 or RGNs in short term culture and most RGNs in long-term culture displayed only ICa(HVA). The latter comprised at least three different components that were functionally rather similar, but could be separated pharmacologically. A significant portion (about 40%) of ICa(HVA) was irreversibly blocked by the N channel antagonist omega-CgTx (5 microM). The L channel antagonist nifedipine (10 microM) eliminated about 25% of ICa(HVA). Thus, about 1/3 of the HVA Ca2+ or Ba2+ current remained unaffected by either omega-CgTx or nifedipine. omega-AgaTx (200 nM) completely failed to block HVA Ca2+ or Ba2+ currents in RGNs. Gd3+ exerted contrasting actions on LVA and HVA Ca2+ currents. While ICa(LVA) consistently increased in the presence of Gd3+ (0.32-3.2 microM), ICa(HVA) always decreased, especially when using higher concentrations of Gd3+ (10-32 microM). The blocking action of Gd3+ was not restricted to the omega-CgTx-sensitive HVA current component, but also concerned omega-CgTx- and nifedipine-resistant components. The decay of Ca2+ currents was accelerated in the presence of Gd3+. Even in RGNs lacking ICa(LVA), application of 3.2 microM Gd3+ significantly reduced the time constant of decay from an average of 64 ms to 36 ms (voltage steps from -90 to 0 mV; 10 mM [Ca2+]o; 26 degrees C). This is in contrast to what had to be expected if an N-type HVA current component was selectively suppressed by Gd3+.Gd3+ diminished glutamatergic spontaneous synaptic activity in retinal cultures tested during the 3rd week in vitro. Both frequency and amplitude were reduced. Occasionally, the application was followed by a rebound increase of EPSC frequency. A stimulatory effect during application of Gd3+ has never been observed. These experiments indicate that RGNs express at least 4 different types of Ca2+ currents, that resemble in some aspects T, N and L channel currents.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry, Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guenther
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rothe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taschenberger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grantyn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000494:pharmacology; D005971:Glutamates / Q000502:physiology; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D005971:Glutamates; D010455:Peptides; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA; D005682:Gadolinium; D009543:Nifedipine