title: Effects of barbiturates on ATP-sensitive K channels in rat substantia nigra.
abstract: ATP-sensitive K channels are widely expressed in cytoplasmic membranes of neurons, and they couple cell metabolism to excitability. They are thought to be involved in neuroprotection against cell damage during hypoxia, ischemia and excitotoxicity by hyperpolarizing neurons and reducing excitability. Although barbiturates are often used in patients with brain ischemia, the effects of these agents on neuronal ATP-sensitive K channels have not been clarified. We studied the effects of thiopental and pentobarbital on surface ATP-sensitive K channels in principal neurons of rat substantia nigra pars compacta. Whole cell voltage- and current-clamp recordings were made using rat midbrain slices. ATP-sensitive K channels were activated by intracellular dialysis with an ATP-free pipette solution during perfusion with a glucose-free solution. When the pipette solution contained 4mM ATP and the perfusing solution contained 25 mM glucose, the membrane current at -60 mV remained stable. When intracellular ATP was depleted, hyperpolarization and an outward current developed slowly. Although thiopental did not affect the membrane current in the presence of ATP and glucose, it reversibly inhibited the hyperpolarization and outward current induced by intracellular ATP depletion at 100 and 300 microM. Thiopental reduced the ATP depletion-induced outward current by 4.7%, 36.7% and 87% at 30, 100 and 300 microM, respectively. The high dose of pentobarbital also exhibited similar effects on ATP-sensitive K channels. These results suggest that barbiturates at high concentrations but not at clinically relevant concentrations inhibit ATP-sensitive K channels activated by intracellular ATP depletion in rat substantia nigra.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohtsuka
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ishiwa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamiya
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sumitomo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Andoh
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013874:Thiopental / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001463:Barbiturates; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D010424:Pentobarbital; D013874:Thiopental; D011188:Potassium