title: Voltage-dependent K+ currents contribute to heterogeneity of olfactory ensheathing cells.
abstract: The olfactory nerve is permissive for axon growth throughout life. This has been attributed in part to the olfactory ensheathing glial cells that encompass the olfactory sensory neuron fascicles. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) also promote axon growth in vitro and when transplanted in vivo to sites of injury. The mechanisms involved remain largely unidentified owing in part to the limited knowledge of the physiological properties of ensheathing cells. Glial cells rely for many functions on the properties of the potassium channels expressed; however, those expressed in ensheathing cells are unknown. Here we show that OECs express voltage-dependent potassium currents compatible with inward rectifier (Kir ) and delayed rectifier (KDR ) channels. Together with gap junction coupling, these contribute to the heterogeneity of membrane properties observed in OECs. The relevance of K(+) currents expressed by ensheathing cells is discussed in relation to plasticity of the olfactory nerve.
authors: Departments of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.|Systems Neuroscience Section, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.|Institute of Physiology and Biophysics Bernardo Houssay (IFIBIO Houssay-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Lorena
authors: L
authors: Rela
authors: Systems Neuroscience Section, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.|Institute of Physiology and Biophysics Bernardo Houssay (IFIBIO Houssay-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Ana Paula
authors: AP
authors: Piantanida
authors: Departments of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.|Yale University School of Medicine, Departments of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors: Angelique
authors: A
authors: Bordey
authors: Departments of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.|Yale University School of Medicine, Departments of Neurobiology, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors: Charles A
authors: CA
authors: Greer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009832:Olfactory Nerve / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000378:metabolism*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D011188:Potassium
keywords: ensheathing glia; gap junctions; potassium conductance