title: Calcium channels responsible for potassium-induced transmitter release at rat cerebellar synapses.
abstract: The effects of calcium channel blockers on potassium-induced transmitter release were studied in thin slices of cerebellum from neonatal rats using whole-cell patch clamp methods. Miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were recorded from deep cerebellar nuclear neurones in the presence of tetrodotoxin. The frequency of mIPSCs was reproducibly increased by a brief application of high-potassium solution. In the presence of the L-type Ca2+ channel blocker nicardipine (10 microM), the potassium-induced increase in mIPSC frequency was suppressed by 49%. Neither the mean amplitude nor the time course of mIPSCs was affected by the blocker. The N-type Ca2+ channel blocker omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTX, 3 microM) had no effect on the frequency of potassium-induced mIPSCs. The P-type Ca2+ channel blocker omega-Aga-IVA (200 nM) suppressed the potassium-induced increase in mIPSC frequency by 83% without affecting the mean amplitude or time course of mIPSCs. Comparing these data with previous studies of neurally evoked transmission, it is concluded that the Ca2+ channel subtypes responsible for potassium-induced transmitter release may be different from those mediating fast synaptic transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Momiyama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010455:Peptides; D013111:Spider Venoms; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA; D011188:Potassium