title: Selective enhancement of P-type calcium currents by isoproterenol in the rat amygdala.
abstract: We investigated activation of beta-adrenergic receptor-adenylyl cyclase-cAMP cascade on the whole-cell voltage-dependent Ca2+ currents (ICa) in acutely isolated rat basolateral amygdala neurons. Application of beta-receptor agonist isoproterenol (Iso) caused a long-term enhancement of ICa. The effect of Iso was blocked by concurrent application of beta-receptor antagonist propranolol. However, delayed application of propranolol after the ICa enhancement did not affect Iso-induced potentiation, suggesting that the sustained effect was not caused by a slow washout of Iso. Nimodipine and omega-conotoxin-GVIA reduced the ICa by approximately 35 and approximately 29%, respectively, without reducing enhancement of ICa by Iso significantly. The modulation appeared to involve P-type current, because the enhancement was abolished after pretreatment with omega-agatoxin-IVA. Forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator, mimicked the action of Iso in enhancing ICa, and this effect was blocked by an inhibitor of cAMP cascade, indicating a cAMP-dependent mechanism. Iso also induced a long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission, which could be prevented by P-type Ca2+ channel blockers. These results suggest that P-type Ca2+ channels were selectively upregulated in the basolateral amygdala neurons, and enhancement of P-type currents could contribute to presynaptic form of LTP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan 70101, USA.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Gean
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D015220:Calcium Channels; D005576:Colforsin; D007545:Isoproterenol