title: Activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors inhibits high-voltage-gated calcium channel currents of chicken nucleus magnocellularis neurons.
abstract: Using whole cell patch-clamp recordings, we pharmacologically characterized the voltage-gated Ca2+ channel (VGCC) currents of chicken nucleus magnocellularis (NM) neurons using barium as the charge carrier. NM neurons possessed both low- and high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channel currents (HVA I(Ba2+)). The N-type channel blocker (omega-conotoxin-GVIA) inhibited more than half of the total HVA I(Ba2+), whereas blockers of L- and P/Q-type channels each inhibited a small fraction of the current. Metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR)-mediated modulation of the HVA I(Ba2+) was examined by bath application of glutamate (100 microM), which inhibited the HVA I(Ba2+) by an average of 16%. The inhibitory effect was dose dependent and was partially blocked by omega-conotoxin-GVIA, indicating that mGluRs modulate N and other type HVA I(Ba2+). The nonspecific mGluR agonist, (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarbosylic acid (1S,3R-ACPD), mimicked the inhibitory effect of glutamate on HVA I(Ba2+). Group I-III mGluR agonists showed inhibition of the HVA current with the most potent being the group III agonist L(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid. 1S,3R-ACPD (200 microM) had no effect on K+ or Na+ currents. The firing properties of NM neurons were also not altered by 1S,3R-ACPD. We propose that the inhibition of VGCC currents by mGluRs limits depolarization-induced Ca2+ entry into these highly active NM neurons and regulates their Ca2+ homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center and Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington, Box 357923, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Edwin W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Rubel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D017626:Cochlear Nucleus / Q000166:cytology*; D003515:Cycloleucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D003515:Cycloleucine; C036361:1-amino-1,3-dicarboxycyclopentane; D001464:Barium; D018698:Glutamic Acid