title: Voltage-dependent effect of Al3+ on channel activities in hippocampal neurons.
abstract: The effects of Al3+ on Na+ and K+ channel activities in rat and rabbit hippocampal neurons have been examined. Al3+ mediated a pronounced voltage-dependent inhibition of single Na+ channel activities in inside-out patches excised from neuronal membranes. The reduction in channel activity was more substantial under defined conditions, particularly when changing the holding potential from -120 to -80 mV. This voltage-dependent block indicates that Al3+ can mainly inhibit the excitation of neurons with less negative resting potentials. The observed effect may be related to the pathogenetic mechanism of the specific action of Al3+ on defined types of neurons affected in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanazirska
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Vassilev
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Birzon
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Vassilev
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D015222:Sodium Channels; D000535:Aluminum