title: Modulation of high-voltage-activated calcium channels in dentate granule cells by topiramate.
abstract: In this study, we assessed the effects of topiramate (TPM) on high-voltage-activated calcium channel (HVACC) currents in vitro.
  
  
  
  HVACC currents were recorded from rat dentate gyrus granule cells by using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. The biophysical properties of HVACCs were used to separate voltage-activated Ca2+ currents into different subtypes. Three concentrations of TPM were tested: 1, 10, and 50 microM.
  
  
  
  TPM inhibited L-type currents and was more effective at 10 microM than at 50 microM, suggesting that there may be an optimal concentration at which TPM decreases L-type currents. Non-L-type currents were transiently increased by TPM at a high concentration (50 microM).
  
  
  
  Because the location of L-type calcium channels on soma and proximal dendrites gives these channels a crucial role in controlling dendritic excitability and in providing calcium for intracellular effectors, the decrease in the L-type HVA Ca2+ currents may be an important anticonvulsant mechanism of TPM.
authors.affiliation: Toronto Hospital Research Institute, Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Velumian
authors.forename: O T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Carlen
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000077236:Topiramate
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D015220:Calcium Channels; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose