title: N-arachidonoyl L-serine, a putative endocannabinoid, alters the activation of N-type Ca2+ channels in sympathetic neurons.
abstract: The effect of N-arachidonoyl l-serine (ARA-S), a recently discovered lipoamino acid found in the CNS, on N-type Ca2+ channels of rat sympathetic ganglion neurons was determined using whole cell patch clamp. Application of ARA-S produced a rapid and reversible augmentation of Ca2+ current that was voltage dependent and resulted from a hyperpolarizing shift in the activation curve. ARA-S did not influence G protein modulation of Ca2+ channels and appeared to act independently of G-protein-coupled receptors. These findings provide a foundation for investigating possible roles for ARA-S in nervous system function.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Health, 5625 Fishers Ln., MSC 9411, Bethesda, MD 20892-9411, USA.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Damian J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type / Q000502:physiology*; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012694:Serine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D002118:Calcium; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D009638:Norepinephrine; D010852:Picrotoxin; D012694:Serine; C509235:N-arachidonoyl L-serine