title: Involvement of hyperpolarization-activated cation channels in synaptic modulation.
abstract: The frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in cultured hippocampal neurons increases under the action of drugs that trigger a rise in the intracellular concentration of cyclicAMP. It is generally believed that this type of effect is mediated by protein kinase A. Here, we show that it largely depends on the activation of hyperpolarization-activated cation channels (Ih) by cyclicAMP. In mammals, Ih channels control membrane excitability, thanks to their function as ionic channels. Here, we show that the effect of Ih channels on glutamate release is not mediated by the depolarization induced by their activation and thus is not linked to the ionic channel aspect of Ih channels. This suggests that the Ih channel could be a bifunctional protein.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurosciences, University of Mons-Hainaut, Mons, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marlène
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Genlain
authors.forename: Emile
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Godaux
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ris
mesh_terms: D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D064428:Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; D064428:Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011743:Pyrimidines; C082246:ICI D2788; D005576:Colforsin; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D011188:Potassium; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine