title: Effects of carbamazepine on membrane properties of rat sensory spinal ganglion cells in vitro.
abstract: The present study aimed to examine effects of the antiepileptic drug carbamazepine (CBZ) on membrane properties. Therefore, effects of CBZ on voltage-dependent ion channels were investigated in rat sensory spinal ganglion cells in primary cultures. (i) Membrane potentials and action potentials were recorded by sharp microelectrodes: CBZ reduced neuronal excitability without changing the resting membrane potential, and suppressed tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant components of action potentials which were blocked by cobalt and hence were interpreted as Ca2+ spikes. The rising phase and peak amplitude of TTX-sensitive components of action potentials, however, were hardly altered. (ii) Voltage-dependent inward and outward currents were elicited in the whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp technique. CBZ reduced (presumably L-type) Ca2+ currents. In some cells Ca2+ currents partly recovered during washing with control saline. The effects on Na+ and K+ currents were not uniform and often insignificant. The present study indicates that CBZ has calcium-antagonistic properties.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologie, Universität-GH Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schirrmacher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walden
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Düsing
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bingmann
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017950:Ganglia, Sensory / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008566:Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D015222:Sodium Channels; D002220:Carbamazepine; D013779:Tetrodotoxin