title: Constitution of calcium channel current in hamster submandibular ganglion neurons.
abstract: The submandibular ganglion (SMG) neuron has been well established as the parasympathetic ganglion that innervates the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands. Thus this neuron plays a key role in salivary secretion. In a previous study, we reported that SMG possessed T-, L-, N-, P/Q- and R-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs). In this study, we analyzed the contribution of the distinct subtypes of VDCCs currents (ICa) using the whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp technique in SMG neurons. In addition, we also investigated the effects of a strong voltage prepulse on the contributions of the subtypes of VDCCs. In SMG neuronal ICa without a prepulse, the mean percentages of L-, N-, P-, Q- and R-type were 39.7, 31.5, 10.6, 7.1 and 7.9%. In SMG neuronal ICa with prepulse, the mean percentages of L-, N-, P-, Q- and R-type were 37.2, 34.0, 14.0, 7.6 and 7.0%. Thus, these results showed that SMG possess multiple types of VDCCs and that N- and P-type VDCCs are facilitated by a prepulse in SMG neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Tokyo Dental College, 1-2-2 Masago, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Endoh
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamaishi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005726:Ganglia, Parasympathetic / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000294:innervation*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels