title: Characteristics of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels in dorsal root ganglion neurons at different ages and sizes.
abstract: In rat's sensory neurons, hyperpolarization-activated inward currents (Ih) play an essential role in mediating action potentials and contributing to neuronal excitability. Classified by the size of neurons and ages, we studied the Ih and transcription levels of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels using electrophysiology and the single-cell RT-PCR. In voltage-clamp studies, Ih and half-maximal activation voltage (V1/2) changed with age and size. An analysis of all HCN subtypes in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons by single-cell RT-PCR was carried out. HCN1 and HCN3 in medium-small elderly neurons had a weak expression. HCN2 in newborns and HCN4 in elderly rats also had a weak expression. The aim of this study is to examine the age-related Ih and HCN channels subunits in different ages and sizes of DRG neurons. The results would be significant in understanding the physiological and pathophysiological function of different sizes of DRG neurons in different age periods.
authors.affiliation: aThe Laboratory of Membrane Ion Channels and Medicine, Key Laboratory of Cognitive Science of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, College of Biomedical Engineering, South-Central University for Nationalities bDepartment of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Baohua
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Hengling
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiangwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Xianguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Chenhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D064428:Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis
chemical_list: D064428:Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels; D012333:RNA, Messenger