title: Ca2+ influx through both L- and N-type Ca2+ channels increases c-fos expression by electrical stimulation of sympathetic neurons.
abstract: During direct membrane depolarization, Ca2+ influx primarily through L-type Ca2+ (L-) channels initiates activity-dependent gene transcription. This is surprising given that in most neurons a minority of the total Ca2+ current arises from L-channel activity. However, many studies have stimulated Ca2+ influx with unphysiological stimuli such as chronic membrane depolarization using high K+ medium. Few studies have tested whether other Ca2+ channels stimulate gene transcription in adult neurons as a consequence of direct electrical stimulation. Therefore, we evaluated the role of L- and N-type Ca2+ (N-) channel activity in regulating mRNA levels of c-fos, an activity-dependent transcription factor, in adult rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons as the majority of Ca2+ channels are N-type, while only a minority are L-type. Changes in c-fos mRNA levels were measured using semi-quantitative and single-cell RT-PCR. Phosphorylation of CREB (pCREB) and changes in c-Fos levels were visualized in dissociated cells by immunocytochemistry. Increases in pCREB, c-fos mRNA and c-Fos protein with either K+ or electrical depolarization required Ca2+ influx. These results support previous findings that elevated c-fos levels result from pCREB stimulating c-fos transcription. Elevation of pCREB, c-fos and c-Fos with K+ depolarization depended on L-channel activity. By contrast, antagonizing either channel at 10-Hz stimulation minimized these increases despite unequal numbers of the two channel types. Transition to exclusive L-channel involvement occurred with increasing frequency of stimulation (from 10 to 20 to 50 Hz). Our results demonstrate that N- and L-channel participation in regulating c-fos expression is encoded in the pattern of electrical stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Ave, North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
authors.forename: Rubing
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Liwang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ann R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rittenhouse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000166:cytology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D012694:Serine; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium