title: Different spatial patterns of [Ca2+] increase caused by N- and L-type Ca2+ channel activation in frog olfactory bulb neurones.
abstract: 1. The intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in cultured olfactory bulb neurones of Xenopus laevis tadpoles was imaged using the calcium indicator dyes fluo-3 and Fura Red as well as a laser scanning microscope. 2. Upon extracellular application of brief pulses of a solution with high potassium concentration (high [K+]o), an increase in [Ca2+]i occurred in all neurones observed. During the first 2 days in culture this increase was highest. At later stages (more than 2 days in culture) the increase in [Ca2+]i was non-homogeneous and highest in the dendritic processes. 3. Nifedipine (10 microM) reduced the high [K+]o-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. The reduction was greatest in somata and proximal dendrites. 4. With nifedipine in the bath, the high [K+]o-induced increase of [Ca2+]i was further reduced by the application of omega-conotoxin GVIA (1 microM). The omega-conotoxin-sensitive Ca2+ influx occurred predominantly on dendritic processes. 5. Noradrenaline (NA), as well as the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist clonidine, reduced the high [K+]o-induced increase of [Ca2+]i. This reduction occurred mainly on dendritic processes. 6. Our results suggest a highly non-homogeneous spatial distribution of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in cultured olfactory bulb neurones. L-type channels were found mainly on somata and their density seemed to decrease on the dendrites with increasing distance from the soma. In contrast, nifedipine-insensitive N-type channels were mainly observed on dendrites and were blocked by omega-conotoxin. NA, as well as clonidine, markedly blocked Ca2+ influx through dendritic N-type Ca2+ channels.
authors.affiliation: Physiologisches Institut, Universität Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bischofberger
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schild
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D009543:Nifedipine; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine