title: Functional coupling of voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ current to Ca2+-activated K+ current in pituitary GH3 cells.
abstract: Ca2+-activated K+ currents (I(K(Ca)) can contribute to action potential repolarization and after-hyperpolarization in GH3 cells. In this study, we examined how the activation of I(K(Ca) at the cellular level could be functionally coupled to Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels. A 30-msec Ca2+ influx step to 0 mV was found to exhibit substantial contribution of Ca2+ influx through the activation of I(Ca,L) to the activation of I(K(Ca)). A bell-shaped relationship between the conditioning potentials and the integrated I(K(Ca)) was observed, suggesting that the magnitude of integrated I(Ca,L) correlates well with that of integrated I(K(Ca)) in the same cell. A linear relationship of integrated I(Ca,L) and integrated I(K(Ca)) was found with a coupling ratio of 69+/-7. The value of the coupling ratio was unaffected by the presence of Bay K 8644 or nimodipine, although these compounds could effectively affect the amplitudes of both I(K(Ca)) and I(Ca,L). However, tetrandrine could decrease the coupling ratio. Paxilline or intracellular Ca2+ buffer with EGTA decreased the coupling ratio, while apamin had no effect on it. Interestingly, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate also reduced the coupling ratio significantly, whereas thapsigargin increased this value. Thus, the present study indicates that the activation of I(K(Ca)) during brief Ca2+ influx, which is inhibited by paxilline, is coupled to Ca2+ influx primarily through the L-type channels. The selective modulation of I(K(Ca)) by second messengers or Ca2+ release from internal stores may affect the coupling efficiency and hence cellular excitability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education and Research Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC. snwu@isca.vghks.gov.tw
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated / Q000502:physiology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D019284:Thapsigargin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D024681:Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated; C009438:tetrandrine; C048220:paxilline; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D019284:Thapsigargin; D011388:Prolactin; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D002118:Calcium