title: Voltage-sensitive calcium currents are acutely increased by nerve growth factor in PC12 cells.
abstract: Whole cell calcium currents were recorded from PC12 cells with the perforated patch technique. Currents were evoked by step depolarization from a holding potential of -90 mV. Nerve growth factor (NGF) increased calcium currents through L-type calcium channels by >75% within 3-5 min. This increase was inhibited by K-252a, by nifedipine, and by inhibition or down-regulation of kinase C. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) also increased calcium current, but to a smaller extent. Thus increases in calcium current can be linked to activation of either the high- or the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor. Increases in presynaptic calcium uptake appear to be a crucial element in the short-term actions of the neurotrophins on neurotransmitter release leading to long-term potentiation. Also, the control of calcium uptake is likely to be an important factor in the long-term actions of the neurotrophins on neuronal survival and neuronal protection. The present data indicate that the PC12 cell may be a useful model for studying the effect of the neurotrophins on calcium uptake.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: X W
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guroff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000187:drug effects*; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D002118:Calcium