title: Antagonists-resistant calcium currents in rat embryo motoneurons.
abstract: Ca2+ channels diversity of cultured rat embryo motoneurons was investigated with whole-cell current recordings. In 5-20 mM Ba2+, the whole-cell currents were separated in low- (LVA) and high-voltage-activated (HVA) current. The LVA current was evident since the first day in culture, while the HVA component was small and increased with time. Recordings after 4 days revealed approximately 20% L-, approximately 45% N- and approximately 35% P- and R-type currents. P-type currents were revealed only in 40% of motoneurons, in which 20-200 nM omega-Aga-IVA caused 20% irreversible block of total current. The remaining 60% of cells were insensitive even to higher doses of the toxin (500 nM in 5 mM Ba2+), suggesting weak expression and heterogeneous distribution of P-type channels compensated by high densities of HVA Ca2+ channels resistant to all the antagonists (R-type). A significant residual current could also be resolved after prolonged applications of 5 microM omega-CTx-MVIIC, which allowed separation of N- and P-type currents by the distinct onset of toxin block. The antagonists-resistant current reveals biophysical characteristics typical of HVA channels, but distinct from the alphaE channel. The current activates around -20 mV in 20 mM Ba2+; inactivates slowly and independently of Ca2+; is blocked by low [Cd2+] and high [Ni2+]; and is larger with Ba2+ than Ca2+. The uncovered R-type calcium current can account for part of the presynaptic Ca2+ current controlling neurotransmitter release at the mammalian neuromuscular junction whose activity is resistant to DHP-and omega-CTx-GVIA, and displays anomalous sensitivity to omega-Aga-IVA and omega-CTx-MVIIC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Magnelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baldelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carbone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D007473:Ion Channels; D010455:Peptides; D013111:Spider Venoms; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA; D001464:Barium; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA