title: Expression pattern of T-type Ca(2+) channels in embryonic chick nodose ganglion neurons.
abstract: In this study we have characterized the functional expression of T-type Ca(2+) channels in developing chick nodose neurons, a population of placode-derived sensory neurons innervating the heart and various visceral organs. Voltage-gated Ca(2+) currents were measured using whole cell patch clamp recordings in neurons acutely isolated between embryonic day (E) 7 and E20, prior to hatching. E7 nodose neurons express relatively large high voltage-activated (HVA) Ca(2+) currents. HVA current density progressively increases between E7 and E17. T-type Ca(2+) currents were restricted to a few nodose neurons between E7 and E10 but were present in approximately 60% of nodose neurons by E17. T-type Ca(2+) channels regulate the response of nodose neurons to injection of hyperpolarizing currents, but do not have any effect on the action potential waveform. Nickel ions blocked T-type Ca(2+) currents in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC(50) of 17 microM. The high sensitivity of T-type Ca(2+) channels to nickel blockade combined with sequencing of a partial cDNA suggests that T-type Ca(2+) currents are generated by alpha1H subunits in chick nodose neurons. Steady-state activation and inactivation kinetics were similar to those previously reported for other alpha1H channels in mammalian neurons. Semi-quantitative PCR analysis indicates that alpha1H mRNA was present in chick nodose neurons by E7, suggesting that the functional expression of T-type Ca(2+) channels involves a posttranscriptional mechanism. These findings demonstrate a distinct pattern of T-type Ca(2+) channel functional expression in placode-derived neurons when compared with CNS neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pachuau
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin-Caraballo
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009532:Nickel / Q000494:pharmacology; D009620:Nodose Ganglion / Q000166:cytology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type; D009532:Nickel