title: [Inhibition of sodium channels in acutely isolated hippocampal neurons by scorpion venom heat resistant protein].
abstract: The effects of scorpion venom heat resistant protein (SVHRP) on sodium channel were studied in freshly isolated hippocampal neurons in rat using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The results indicated that tetrodotoxin-sensitive voltage-dependent sodium current in hippocampal neurons was inhibited by SVHRP in a dose-dependent manner. The half-inhibition concentration (IC(50)) was (0.0034+/-0.0004) microg/mL, Hill constant (n) was 0.4361+/-0.0318. After SVHRP application, a clear shift of the activation curve of Na(+) channel was shown towards more depolarized potential, resulting in channel opening at more positive membrane potentials. In the presence of 0.1 mug/mL SVHRP, the voltage for half-activation (V(1/2)) and the slope factor of the activation curve were (-23.96+/-0.41) mV and 3.73+/-0.08 (n=8, P<0.05) compared with the control recordings of (-34.38+/-0.62) mV and 4.52+/-0.52 (n=16), respectively. Averaged and normalized curve of steady-state inactivation of Na(+) channel was shifted towards negative potential after treatment of 0.1 and 0.01 mug/mL SVHRP. In the presence of 0.1 mug/mL SVHRP, the voltage for half-inactivation (V(1/2)) and the slope factor determined by a sigmoid fit of the inactivation curve were (-50.69+/-2.55) mV (n=8, P<0.01) and 5.49+/-0.72 (n=8, P<0.05) compared with the control recordings of (-32.60+/-1.52) mV and 6.73+/-0.51 (n=16), respectively. These results suggest that SVHRP blocks the voltage-dependent sodium currents and alters the sodium channel kinetics to decrease the excitability of neurons. This might be an interpretation for the antiepileptic effects of SVHRP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain Disorder, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116027, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yun
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Wan-Qin
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D013779:Tetrodotoxin