title: Lack of regulation by intracellular Ca2+ of the hyperpolarization-activated cation current in rat thalamic neurones.
abstract: 1. The regulation of the hyperpolarization-activated cation current, Ih, in thalamocortical neurones by intracellular calcium ions has been implemented in a number of mathematical models on the waxing and waning behaviour of synchronized rhythmic activity in thalamocortical circuits. In the present study, the Ca2+ dependence of Ih in thalamocortical neurones was experimentally investigated by combining Ca2+ imaging and patch-clamp techniques in the ventrobasal thalamic complex (VB) in vitro. 2. Properties of Ih were analysed before and during rhythmic stimulation of Ca2+ entry by trains of depolarizing voltage pulses. Despite a significant increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) from resting levels of 74 +/- 23 nM to 251 +/- 78 nM upon rhythmic stimulation, significant differences in the voltage dependence of Ih activation did not occur (half-maximal activation at -86.4 +/- 1.3 mV vs. -85.2 +/- 2.9 mV; slope of the activation curve, 11.2 +/- 2.4 mV vs. 12.5 +/- 2.5 mV). Recording of Ih with predefined values of [Ca2+]i (13.2 nM or 10.01 microM in the patch pipette) revealed no significant differences in the activation curve or the fully activated I-V relationship of Ih. 3. In comparison, stimulation of the intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway induced a significantly positive shift in Ih voltage dependence of +5.1 +/- 1.9 mV, with no alteration in the fully activated I-V relationship. 4. These data argue against a direct regulation of Ih by intracellular Ca2+, and particularly do not support a primary role of Ca(2+)-dependent modulation of the Ih channels in the waxing and waning of sleep spindle oscillations in thalamocortical neurones.
authors.affiliation: Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Medizinische Fakultät, Institut für Physiologie, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Budde
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biella
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Munsch
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Pape
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006706:Homeostasis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D013788:Thalamus / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005576:Colforsin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D002118:Calcium