title: Dopamine D(2) receptor modulation of K(+) channel activity regulates excitability of nucleus accumbens neurons at different membrane potentials.
abstract: The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a forebrain area in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system that regulates many aspects of drug addiction. Neuronal activity in the NAc is modulated by different subtypes of DA receptors. Although DA signaling has received considerable attention, the mechanisms underlying D(2)-class receptor (D(2)R) modulation of firing in medium spiny neurons (MSNs) localized within the NAc remain ambiguous. In the present study, we performed whole cell current-clamp recordings in rat brain slices to determine whether and how D(2)R modulation of K(+) channel activity regulates the intrinsic excitability of NAc neurons in the core region. D(2)R stimulation by quinpirole or DA significantly and dose-dependently decreased evoked Na(+) spikes. This D(2)R effect on inhibiting evoked firing was abolished by antagonism of D(2)Rs, reversed by blockade of voltage-sensitive, slowly inactivating A-type K(+) currents (I(As)), or eliminated by holding membrane potentials at levels in which I(As) was inactivated. It was also mimicked by inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity, but not phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) activity. Moreover, D(2)R stimulation also reduced the inward rectification and depolarized the resting membrane potentials (RMPs) by decreasing "leak" K(+) currents. However, the D(2)R effects on inward rectification and RMP were blocked by inhibition of PI-PLC, but not PKA activity. These findings indicate that, with facilitated intracellular Ca(2+) release and activation of the D(2)R/G(q)/PLC/PIP(2) pathway, the D(2)R-modulated changes in the NAc excitability are dynamically regulated and integrated by multiple K(+) currents, including but are not limited to I(As), inwardly rectifying K(+) currents (I(Kir)), and "leak" currents (I(K-2P)).
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064-3095, USA.
authors.forename: Mariela F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Francis J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Xiu-Ti
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D015222:Sodium Channels; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D010738:Type C Phospholipases