title: mGluR-mediated calcium signalling in the thalamic reticular nucleus.
abstract: The thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) plays a major role in modulating the transfer of information from the thalamus to the cortex. GABAergic inhibition via the TRN is differentially regulated by metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and the effect of mGluRs on the membrane potential, on ion channels, and on the plasticity of electrical coupling of TRN neurons has been studied previously. Although mGluRs are generally known to trigger Ca(2+) transients, mGluR-mediated Ca(2+)-transients in TRN neurons have not yet been investigated. In this study, we show that mGluRs can trigger Ca(2+)-transients in TRN neurons, that these transients depend on intracellular Ca(2+)-stores, and are mediated by IP3 receptors. Ca(2+) transients caused by the group I mGluR agonist DHPG elicit a current that is sensitive to flufenamic acid and has a reversal potential around -40mV. Our results add mGluR-mediated Ca(2+)-signalling in the TRN to the state-dependent modulators of the thalamocortical system.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologie I, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neyer
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologie I, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herr
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologie I, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kohmann
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologie I, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Budde
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologie I, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Pape
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologie I, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany; Center For Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: philippe.coulon@seattlechildrens.org.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coulon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019817:Benzoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000378:metabolism*; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D019817:Benzoic Acid; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Calcium; Calcium activated nonselective cation conductance; Genetic absence epilepsy rats from strasbourg; IP(3) receptors; Metabotropic glutamate receptors; Thalamic reticular nucleus; Thalamus