title: G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels in dorsal root ganglion neurons.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels (GIRK) are important for neuronal signaling and membrane excitability. In the present study, we intend to find whether GIRK channels express functionally in adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used RT-PCR to detect mRNA for 4 subunits of GIRK in the adult DRG. The whole-cell patch clamp recording was used to confirm GIRK channels functionally expressed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mRNA for the 4 subunits of GIRK were detected in the adult DRG. GTPgammaS enhanced inwardly rectifying potassium (K+) currents of the DRG neurons, while Ba2+ inhibited such currents. Furthermore, the GIRK channels were shown to be coupled to the GABA(B) receptor, a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family, as baclofen increased the inwardly rectifying K+ currents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GIRK channels are expressed and functionally coupled with GABA(B) receptors in adult rat DRG neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-fei
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hai-lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhen-dong
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Chang-lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017609:Barium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D002712:Chlorides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism*; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D017609:Barium Compounds; D002712:Chlorides; D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; C024986:barium chloride; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate)