G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels in dorsal root ganglion neurons.
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.
Gao
Xiao-fei
XF
Department of Neurobiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Zhang
Hai-lin
HL
You
Zhen-dong
ZD
Lu
Chang-lin
CL
He
Cheng
C
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
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)