title: Inhibition of Ih reduces epileptiform activity in rodent hippocampal slices.
abstract: Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated (HCN) ion channels regulate membrane potential, neurotransmitter release, and patterning of synchronized neuronal activity. Currently, there is an intense debate as to whether or not these ion channels play a pro- or anticonvulsant role in vivo. To gain an insight into this question, we have examined how inhibitors of the response mediated by HCN channels (referred to as I(h)) affect epileptiform activity induced in adult hippocampal slices. The archetypal I(h) blocker ZD-7288 produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of both nonsynaptic- (low Ca(2+)/elevated K(+) aCSF) and synaptic- (low Mg(2+) aCSF, elevated K(+) aCSF or convulsant application (bicuculline or pentylenetetrazol)) based epileptiform activities. The IC(50) value for ZD-7288 induced inhibition of epileptiform activity was similar across all forms of epileptiform response and was below concentrations producing nonspecific inhibition of glutamatergic synaptic transmission. Furthermore, capsazepine, which exhibits similar potency to ZD-7288 at inhibiting I(h), failed to inhibit glutamatergic synaptic transmission per se but produced a significant inhibition of bicuculline-induced epileptiform activity. These data suggest that broad spectrum inhibition of I(h) reduces neuronal hyperexcitability in the hippocampus.
authors.affiliation: Neurology and GI CEDD, GlaxoSmithKline, New Frontiers Science Park North, Harlow, Essex CM19 5AW, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Catherine H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Jon T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shivji
authors.forename: Sarah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lappin
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farmer
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Randall
authors.forename: Nicolle C L
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: McNaughton
authors.forename: Stuart R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Cobb
authors.forename: Ceri H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D007473:Ion Channels; D011743:Pyrimidines; C082246:ICI D2788; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D001640:Bicuculline