title: Farnesol modulates membrane currents in human retinal glial cells.
abstract: Farnesol, a C(15) natural isoprenoid, exerts complex modulating effects on the membrane permeability of human retinal glial (Müller) cells. Several glial cationic currents were examined. At low micromolar concentrations, farnesol reduced the amplitudes of all fast and depolarization-activated membrane currents expressed by Müller cells, that is, currents through 1) transient low-voltage-activated (LVA; IC(50) = 2.2 microM), 2) sustained high-voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels (HVA; IC(50) = 1.2 microM), 3) fast Na(+) channels (IC(50) = 9.0 microM), and 4) transient (A-type) K(+) channels (IC(50) = 4.7 microM). Furthermore, farnesol shifted the activation of LVA and HVA currents to more depolarized potentials by 21.3 +/- 7.4 mV and 8.3 +/- 4.5 mV, respectively. On the other hand, neither inwardly rectifying nor iberiotoxin-sensitive calcium-activated K(+) currents were affected by farnesol. Therefore, farnesol is assumed to be a biologically active substance that regulates ion channel activity in the glial cell membrane. Depressing rapid changes of the membrane potential and supporting a stable hyperpolarized status of the glial cells may enhance the efficiency of crucial glial functions such as extracellular K(+) clearance and neurotransmitter uptake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. bria@server3.medizin.uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bringmann
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Skatchkov
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Faude
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Enzmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reichenbach
mesh_terms: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005110:Extracellular Space; D005204:Farnesol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D015222:Sodium Channels; D005204:Farnesol