title: Selective T-type calcium channel block in thalamic neurons reveals channel redundancy and physiological impact of I(T)window.
abstract: Although it is well established that low-voltage-activated T-type Ca(2+) channels play a key role in many neurophysiological functions and pathological states, the lack of selective and potent antagonists has so far hampered a detailed analysis of the full impact these channels might have on single-cell and neuronal network excitability as well as on Ca(2+) homeostasis. Recently, a novel series of piperidine-based molecules has been shown to selectively block recombinant T-type but not high-voltage-activated (HVA) Ca(2+) channels and to affect a number of physiological and pathological T-type channel-dependent behaviors. Here we directly show that one of these compounds, 3,5-dichloro-N-[1-(2,2-dimethyl-tetrahydro-pyran-4-ylmethyl)-4-fluoro-piperidin-4-ylmethyl]-benzamide (TTA-P2), exerts a specific, potent (IC(50) = 22 nm), and reversible inhibition of T-type Ca(2+) currents of thalamocortical and reticular thalamic neurons, without any action on HVA Ca(2+) currents, Na(+) currents, action potentials, and glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic currents. Thus, under current-clamp conditions, the low-threshold Ca(2+) potential (LTCP)-dependent high-frequency burst firing of thalamic neurons is abolished by TTA-P2, whereas tonic firing remains unaltered. Using TTA-P2, we provide the first direct demonstration of the presence of a window component of Ca(2+) channels in neurons and its contribution to the resting membrane potential of thalamic neurons and to the Up state of their intrinsically generated slow (<1 Hz) oscillation. Moreover, we demonstrate that activation of only a small fraction of the T-type channel population is required to generate robust LTCPs, suggesting that LTCP-driven bursts of action potentials can be evoked at depolarized potentials where the vast majority of T-type channels are inactivated.
authors.affiliation: Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris, 6, Paris F-75005, France.
authors.forename: Fanny M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Dreyfus
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tscherter
authors.forename: Adam C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Errington
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Renger
authors.forename: Hee-Sup
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Victor N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Uebele
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Crunelli
authors.forename: Régis C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leresche
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000502:physiology*; D002415:Cats; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013788:Thalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type