Biomedical subjects

F Dreyer

Publications and source records attributed to F Dreyer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

A genetic linkage map of Lens sp. based on microsatellite and AFLP markers and the localization of fusarium vascular wilt resistance.

Microsatellites have currently become the markers of choice for molecular mapping and marker-assisted selection for key traits such as disease resistance in many crop species. We report here on the mapping of microsatellites which had been identified from a genomic library of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.). The majority of microsatellite-bearing clones contained imperfect di-nucleotide repeats. A total of 41 microsatellite and 45 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were mapped on 86 recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross ILL 5588 x L 692-16-1(s), which had been previously used for the construction of a random amplified polymorphic DNA and AFLP linkage map. Since ILL 5588 was resistant to fusarium vascular wilt caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum Shlecht. Emend. Snyder & Hansen f.sp. lentis Vasud. & Srini., the recombinant inbreds were segregating for this character. The resulting map contained 283 markers covering about 751 cM, with an average marker distance of 2.6 cM. The fusarium vascular wilt resistance was localized on linkage group 6, and this resistance gene was flanked by microsatellite marker SSR59-2B and AFLP marker p17m30710 at distances of 8.0 cM and 3.5 cM, respectively. These markers are the most closely linked ones known to date for this agronomically important Fw gene. Using the information obtained in this investigation, the development and mapping of microsatellite markers in the existing map of lentil could be substantially increased, thereby providing the possibility for the future localization of various loci of agronomic interest.

Chromosome Mapping↗

PubMed2003

[Persistent skin reaction and Raynaud phenomenon after a sting by Echiichthys draco (great weever fish)].

A 54-year-old recreational angler was stung in his right forefinger by Echiichthys draco. Within a few seconds he developed severe swelling with extreme pain sensation at the sting site, accompanied by dizziness and chill. Even under morphine therapy the pain symptoms were only slightly reduced. During the subsequent weeks, an erythema with marginate medium-sized scaling developed at the sting site and the patient experienced a approximately 50% reduced bending capacity of the forefinger and permanent numbness in this region. After 4 months, Raynaud phenomenon developed limited to the right forefinger. Great weever fishes (Echiichthys spp.) are the most venomous fishes in European waters. In humans, life-threatening sting reactions occur only in exceptional cases. As a commercial antiserum is not available, the therapy is mainly empiric (General measures of first aid and emergency medicine, the wound should be thoroughly washed). Patients should be informed that reduced motion ability, swelling or Raynaud's phenomenon can persist for several months.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed2002

Lysophospholipids induce membrane hyperpolarization in microglia by activation of IKCa1 Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channels.

Effects of the lysophospholipids sphingosine-1-phosphate and lysophosphatidic acid were studied in cultured murine microglia using the patch-clamp and video imaging techniques. Both lysophospholipids induced transient membrane hyperpolarization and K(+) current activation. The lysophospholipid-induced K(+) current was blocked by charybdotoxin or iberiotoxin, but was unaffected by apamin. In recordings with 1 microM intracellular free Ca(2+), Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) currents of microglia showed a similar pharmacological profile to lysophospholipid-induced currents. The Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channels activated in microglia by lysophospholipids are most likely encoded by the IKCa1 channel gene. The presence of IKCa1 mRNA in microglia was demonstrated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction studies. Ca(2+) imaging experiments revealed increases in the intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration of microglia to a mean value of about 400 nM after application of 1 microM sphingosine-1-phosphate or 1 microM lysophosphatidic acid. We suggest that the transient membrane hyperpolarization seen in microglia following exposure to sphingosine-1-phosphate or lysophosphatidic acid is caused by activation of IKCa1 Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channels. Increases in the concentration of intracellular free Ca(2+) evoked by the lysophospholipids are sufficient to activate microglial Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channels.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Bacillus intermedius ribonuclease as inhibitor of cell proliferation and membrane current.

The antiproliferative action of the guanine-specific ribonuclease secreted by Bacillus intermedius (binase) was studied in different chicken and mouse cell lines. The proliferation rate of chicken embryo fibroblasts, either normal or Rous sarcoma virus-transformed, was significantly reduced by binase treatment. Among mouse fibroblasts, v-ras-transformed NIH3T3 cells were sensitive to binase, whereas the growth of non-transformed, v-src-transformed or v-fms-transformed NIH3T3 cells was not affected. A 48 h treatment with binase inhibited the Ca2+-dependent K+ current of v-ras-transformed NIH3T3 cells but had no effect on this membrane current in non-transformed and in v-src- or v-fms-transformed NIH3T3 cells. Our results suggest that mammalian cells expressing the ras-oncogene are a potential target for the antiproliferative action of binase.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed2001

Activation of a Ca2+-dependent K+ current in mouse fibroblasts by sphingosine-1-phosphate involves the protein tyrosine kinase c-Src.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a phospholipid that acts through G-protein-coupled plasma membrane receptors and induces a broad spectrum of cellular responses, including proliferation, migration, differentiation and apoptosis. Here we report that in NIH3T3 and C3H10T1/2 mouse fibroblasts S1P activates a Ca2+-dependent, voltage-independent K+ current (EC50-value 113 nM) that is blocked by the K+ channel blockers charybdotoxin, margatoxin, and iberiotoxin. The K+ current activation by S1P is transient and leads to a large membrane hyperpolarization. Recently, we showed that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a serum lipid with similar biological effects compared to those of S1P, can activate a Ca2+-dependent K+ current in NIH3T3 cells that has identical properties compared to the one that is activated by S1P. When applied consecutively, both S1P and LPA induced a K+ current response in NIH3T3 cells, which indicates that the K+ current activation is not subjected to cross-desensitization between S1P and LPA. In C3H10T1/2 mouse fibroblasts that overexpress the nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase c-Src, the amplitude of the S1P-induced K+ current was almost doubled compared to the one that we found in control cells. Expression of a non-myristylated c-Src mutant led to a further increase in the K+ current response to S1P, whereas expression of a kinase-defective c-Src mutant reduced it to about 40% compared to the control value. Our data show that S1P activates Ca2+-dependent K+ channels in mouse fibroblasts via an intracellular signalling pathway that involves the non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase c-Src.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1998

Infectious bursal disease virus changes the potassium current properties of chicken embryo fibroblasts.

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is the causative agent of an economically significant poultry disease. IBDV infection leads to apoptosis in chicken embryos and cell cultures. Since changes in cellular ion fluxes during apoptosis have been reported, we investigated the membrane ion currents of chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) inoculated with the Cu-1 strain of IBDV using the patch-clamp recording technique. Incubation of CEFs with IBDV led to marked changes in their K+ outward current properties, with respect to both the kinetics of activation and inactivation and the Ca2+ dependence of the activation. The changes occurred in a time-dependent manner and were complete after 8 h. UV-treated noninfectious virions induced the same K+ current changes as live IBDV. When CEFs were inoculated with IBDV after pretreatment with a neutralizing antibody, about 30% of the cells showed a normal K+ current, whereas the rest exhibited K+ current properties identical to or closely resembling those of IBDV-infected cells. Incubation of CEFs with culture supernatant from IBDV-infected cells from which the virus particles were removed had no influence on the K+ current. Our data strongly suggest that the K+ current changes induced by IBDV are not due to virus replication, but are the result of attachment and/or membrane penetration. Possibly, the altered K+ current may delay the apoptotic process in CEFs after IBDV infection.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Activation of a Ca2+-dependent K+ current by the oncogenic receptor protein tyrosine kinase v-Fms in mouse fibroblasts.

We investigated the effects of the receptor-coupled protein tyrosine kinase (RTK) v-Fms on the membrane current properties of NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts. We found that v-Fms, the oncogenic variant of the macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor c-Fms, activates a K+ current that is absent in control cells. The activation of the K+ current was Ca2+-dependent, voltage-independent, and was completely blocked by the K+ channel blockers charybdotoxin, margatoxin and iberiotoxin with IC50 values of 3 nM, 18 nM and 76 nM, respectively. To identify signalling components that mediate the activation of this K+ current, NIH3T3 cells that express different mutants of the wild-type v-Fms receptor were examined. Mutation of the binding site for the Ras-GTPase-activating protein led to a complete abolishment of the K+ current. A reduction of 76% and 63%, respectively, was observed upon mutation of either of the two binding sites for the growth factor receptor binding protein 2. Mutation of the ATP binding lobe, which disrupts the protein tyrosine kinase activity of v-Fms, led to a 55% reduction of the K+ current. Treatment of wild-type v-Fms cells with Clostiridium sordellii lethal toxin or a farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor, both known to inhibit the biological function of Ras, reduced the K+ current amplitude to 17% and 6% of the control value, respectively. This is the first report showing that an oncogenic RTK can modulate K+ channel activity. Our results indicate that this effect is dependent on the binding of certain Ras-regulating proteins to the v-Fms receptor and is not abolished by disruption of its intrinsic protein tyrosine kinase activity. Furthermore, our data suggest that Ras plays a key role for K+ channel activation by the oncogenic RTK v-Fms.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1998

Activation of a Ca2+-dependent K+ current in mouse fibroblasts by lysophosphatidic acid requires a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein and Ras.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lipid that acts through G protein-coupled plasma membrane receptors and mediates a wide range of cellular responses. Here we report that LPA activates a K+ current in NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts that leads to membrane hyperpolarization. The activation occurs with an EC50 value of 1.7 nM LPA. The K+ current is Ca2+-dependent, voltage-independent, and completely blocked by the K+ channel blockers charybdotoxin, margatoxin, and iberiotoxin with IC50 values of 1.7, 16, and 62 nM, respectively. The underlying K+ channels possess a single channel conductance of 33 pS in symmetrical K+ solution. Pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin (PTX), Clostridium sordellii lethal toxin, or a farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor reduced the K+ current amplitude in response to LPA to about 25% of the control value. Incubation of cells with the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein or microinjection of the neutralizing anti-Ras monoclonal antibody Y13-259 reduced it by more than 50%. In contrast, the phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122 and the protein kinase A activator 8-bromo-cAMP had no effect. These results indicate that the K+ channel activation by LPA is mediated by a signal transduction pathway involving a PTX-sensitive G protein, a protein tyrosine kinase, and Ras. LPA is already known to activate Cl- channels in various cell types, thereby leading to membrane depolarization. In conjunction with our results that demonstrate LPA-induced membrane hyperpolarization by activation of K+ channels, LPA appears to be significantly involved in the regulation of the cellular membrane potential.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1995

Src-transformation of mouse fibroblasts induces a Ca(2+)-activated K+, current without changing the T-type Ca2+ current.

Membrane currents of src-transformed NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts were analyzed in comparison with their non-transformed counterparts using the patch-clamp technique. Normal NIH3T3 cells exhibit two types of Ca2+ currents and a membrane current of ohmic behaviour (current amplitude 135 pA at +30 mV) that can partially be blocked by Cd2+. Src-transformed NIH3T3 cells show an additional membrane current that becomes activated after the establishment of the whole-cell configuration with a maximum amplitude of 1040 pA at +30 mV within 30-60 s. This current then inactivates irreversibly within 5-10 min. The additional current is highly K(+)-selective and Ca(2+)-dependent but voltage-independent. It can be blocked by charybdotoxin (IC50 = 20 nM) and by internal tetraethylammonium (TEA; IC50 = 2.9 mM), but it is not sensitive to external TEA (up to 30 mM). Single-channel analysis revealed only one K+ channel type with a conductance of 37 pS at negative potentials and 18 pS at positive potentials (in symmetrical 145 mM K+ solutions), a voltage-independent open-state probability of 0.6 and the same pharmacological properties as the macroscopic KCa current. The properties of the KCa current and the underlying channels of src-transformed NIH3T3 cells are identical to those observed in ras-transformed NIH3T3 cells. In contrast, src- or ras-transformation affects differently the voltage-dependent, transient (T-type) Ca2+ current. While ras-transformation of NIH3T3 cells suppresses their T-type Ca2+ current, this current remains unchanged in src-transformed NIH3T3 cells.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1994

Pore formation by tetanus toxin, its chain and fragments in neuronal membranes and evaluation of the underlying motifs in the structure of the toxin molecule.

The pore-forming activity of tetanus toxin, its chains and fragments was studied on membrane patches from spinal cord neurons of fetal mice using the outside-out patch-clamp configuration. 1. The dichain tetanus toxin forms pores at pH 5, but not at pH 7.4. The elementary pore conductance is 38.4 +/- 1.1 pS and nonselective for small cations. The open probability of the pores is voltage-dependent and increases with membrane depolarisation. The pores activate at +80 mV with a time constant of about 20 ms and deactivate at -80 mV with two time constants of about 2 ms and 10 ms. Besides the elementary pore conductance, larger pore conductances which are multiples of the elementary conductance were observed. With increasing conductances, their frequency of occurrence decreases exponentially. 2. The light chain of tetanus toxin alone does not form pores in neuronal membranes at pH 5 or at pH 7.4. 3. The heavy chain of tetanus toxin forms pores at pH 5 as well as at pH 7.4. The single pore conductance increases from 35.0 +/- 1.2 pS at pH 5 to 43.2 +/- 1.8 pS at pH 7.4. The pores allow mono- and divalent cations and chloride ions to pass. Only at pH 5 do they have a voltage dependence with time constants identical to those obtained with tetanus toxin. 4. Secondary structure predictions show a high density of presumably helically organized elements in fragment beta 2 (45 kDa) of the heavy chain between residues 700-850.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Potassium single-channel properties in normal and Rous sarcoma virus-transformed chicken embryo fibroblasts.

Ion channels in normal and Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-transformed chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) were examined by using the patch-clamp technique. Three different types of ion channels were observed with single-channel conductances in symmetrical 140 mM KCl (with frequencies of occurrence in parentheses) of 186 pS (70%), 110 pS (10%), and 65 pS (20%), which are identical in normal and RSV-transformed CEFs. The total channel density in both cell types is about 0.13 per micron2. All three types of channels are highly selective for K+ ions, they are Ca(2+)- and voltage-dependent, and they can be completely blocked by external tetraethylammonium (10 mM) in both normal and RSV-transformed cells. Some channel properties, however, are different in normal and RSV-transformed CEFs. The K186 channel of normal CEFs is almost completely activated in the presence of about 1 nM free internal Ca2+ and is insensitive to charybdotoxin (100 nM). In contrast, the K186 channel of RSV-transformed CEFs has an EC50 value for activation by internal Ca2+ of about 100 nM and is highly sensitive to charybdotoxin (IC50 = 9 nM). In normal CEFs, the K186 channel activity starts at membrane potentials more positive than -50 mV and reaches a high open state probability of 0.94 at +50 mV. In RSV-transformed CEFs, the threshold of K186 channel activity is also -50 mV but the maximal open state probability is only 0.70 at +50 mV membrane potential. Averages of current traces of K186 channels show the typical features of the macroscopic K+ currents described previously for normal and RSV-transformed CEFs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Profound differences in potassium current properties of normal and Rous sarcoma virus-transformed chicken embryo fibroblasts.

The membrane currents of chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) transformed by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) were compared with the currents of their nontransformed counterparts by using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. In nontransformed CEFs, the main membrane current is a delayed outward K+ current that is sensitive to tetraethylammonium ion but insensitive to 4-aminopyridine. This K+ current is almost independent of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and becomes completely inactivated at positive membrane potentials with a time constant of about 10 s at +30 mV. In contrast, transformed CEFs exhibit a noninactivating K+ current that strongly depends on the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. This Ca(2+)-dependent K+ current is blocked by the scorpion toxin charybdotoxin with an IC50 value of 19 nM, whereas the K+ current of normal CEFs is insensitive to charybdotoxin (up to 300 nM). The K+ current properties of transformed CEFs were also found after microinjection of purified, enzymatically active pp60v-src into normal CEFs but not after infection of CEFs with the Rous-associated virus RAV5, which lacks the v-src oncogene. Our results suggest that the oncogene product pp60v-src modulates existing K+ channel proteins, leading to profound electrophysiological and pharmacological alterations of the K+ current properties in RSV-transformed CEFs. Furthermore, our experiments identify for the first time K+ channels as possible substrates of pp60v-src.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Sulfonylurea-sensitive K+ channels and their probable role for the membrane potential of mouse motor nerve endings.

We studied the effect of the KATP channel blockers tolbutamide and glibenclamide on presynaptic membrane currents in the mouse M. triangularis sterni preparation using the perineural recording technique. Both sulfonylureas blocked part of the fast K+ component within 2 min after application. The block was much more pronounced under glucose-free conditions and was completely reversible by washing. Addition of glucose to glucose-free bath solution also reduced the K+ component. A further effect of the sulfonylureas was observed under glucose-free conditions. With a delay of 5 to 10 min, the nodal Na+ component began to diminish and disappeared within 30 min. This was associated with a dramatic increase in spontaneous quantal transmitter release suggesting that the block of sulfonylurea-sensitive K+ channels causes depolarization of motor nerve terminals and fibres thus inactivating Na+ channels. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) which blocks ATP-dependent K+ channels in high concentrations caused, under glucose-free conditions, the same delayed effect as the sulfonylureas. This delayed effect was fully reversible by washing with glucose-containing, but not with glucose-free solution. Our findings strongly suggest that KATP channels exist in mammalian motor nerve endings and that under hypoglycemic conditions these channels open and become essential for the maintenance of the membrane potential.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1992

Biological properties of a crude venom extract from the greater weever fish Trachinus draco.

Crude venom of the greater weever fish, Trachinus draco was analyzed to assess its toxicity, stability and biological properties. The best yield of venom was obtained by extraction in physiological saline of the whole venom apparatus of the fish which were shock-frozen and stored at -70 degrees C. This extract had a mouse i.v. minimum lethal dose of 1.8 micrograms protein per gram mouse and a total of 61,000 minimum lethal doses were obtained from venom apparatus of one fish. The lethal activity was unstable at room temperature especially at lower protein concentrations. Stability was achieved either by storing the extract at -70 degrees C or by precipitation with ammonium sulfate at 50% saturation. Toxicity of the crude venom was abolished by trypsin treatment. The crude venom did not possess any proteolytic or histamine-releasing activities. The venom caused an outflow of tetraphenylphosphonium from preloaded rat brain particles in a concentration-dependent manner. Like toxicity, this effect was also abolished by trypsin treatment or by keeping the venom at higher temperatures. The crude venom also possessed hemolytic activity with an EC50 for rabbit erythrocytes of 75 ng/ml venom protein. The hemolytic activity was also sensitive to heat and proteolytic treatment. Rabbit erythrocytes were most sensitive to venom followed by rat erythrocytes. Mouse and cattle erythrocytes were only slightly sensitive, whereas human, chicken and guinea pig erythrocytes were totally resistant.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Isolation and characterization of dracotoxin from the venom of the greater weever fish Trachinus draco.

Dracotoxin, a protein possessing toxic, membrane depolarizing and hemolytic activities, was isolated from the crude venom of the greater weever fish Trachinus draco. The purification involved ammonium sulfate precipitation of crude venom followed by gel filtration on a high performance liquid chromatograph column. About 300 micrograms of dracotoxin was obtained from 18 mg of crude venom proteins extracted from one average size fish. Dracotoxin consists of a single polypeptide of about 105,000 mol. wt. It hemolyzed rabbit erythrocytes with an EC50 of 3 ng/ml. Rabbit erythrocytes possessed binding sites for dracotoxin on their surface. Preincubation of dracotoxin with rabbit ghosts increased its EC50 value for rabbit erthrocytes from 3 to 25 ng/ml. Incubation of dracotoxin with enriched glycophorin fraction from rabbit erythrocytes also led to an increase in the EC50 to 70 ng/ml. The high specificity of dracotoxin for rabbit erythrocytes resembles that of staphylococcal alpha-toxin. Dracotoxin, however, caused hemolysis even at 4 degrees C and did not interact with cholesterol indicating substantial differences between the two hemolysins. Dracotoxin represents a major toxic component of T. draco venom.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Tetanus toxin inhibits depolarization-stimulated protein phosphorylation in rat cortical synaptosomes: effect on synapsin I phosphorylation and translocation.

Synapsin I, a prominent phosphoprotein in nerve terminals, is proposed to modulate exocytosis by interaction with the cytoplasmic surface of small synaptic vesicles and cytoskeletal elements in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Tetanus toxin (TeTx), a potent inhibitor of neurotransmitter release, attenuated the depolarization-stimulated increase in synapsin I phosphorylation in rat cortical particles and in synaptosomes. TeTx also markedly decreased the translocation of synapsin I from the small synaptic vesicles and the cytoskeleton into the cytosol, on depolarization of synaptosomes. The effect of TeTx on synapsin I phosphorylation was both time and TeTx concentration dependent and required active toxin. One- and two-dimensional peptide maps of synapsin I with V8 proteinase and trypsin, respectively, showed no differences in the relative phosphorylation of peptides for the control and TeTx-treated synaptosomes, suggesting that both the calmodulin- and the cyclic AMP-dependent kinases that label this protein are equally affected. Phosphorylation of synapsin IIb and the B-50 protein (GAP43), a known substrate of protein kinase C, was also inhibited by TeTx. TeTx affected only a limited number of phosphoproteins and the calcium-dependent decrease in dephosphin phosphorylation remained unaffected. In vitro phosphorylation of proteins in lysed synaptosomes was not influenced by prior TeTx treatment of the intact synaptosomes or by the addition of TeTx to lysates, suggesting that the effect of TeTx on protein phosphorylation was indirect. Our data demonstrate that TeTx inhibits neurotransmitter release, the phosphorylation of a select group of phosphoproteins in nerve terminals, and the translocation of synapsin I. These findings contribute to our understanding of the basic mechanism of TeTx action.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Cooperative action of the light chain of tetanus toxin and the heavy chain of botulinum toxin type A on the transmitter release of mammalian motor endplates.

Purified heavy chain of botulinum toxin type A and light chain of tetanus toxin were combined to form a chimeric toxin. It was active on the mouse phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm with a potency 6 times higher than that of native tetanus toxin. Electrophysiological data from poisoned neuromuscular junctions revealed that the pattern of nerve-evoked and spontaneous transmitter release was equivalent to that seen with tetanus toxin i.e. asynchronous release, and did not resemble that after botulinum toxin type A poisoning. We conclude that the light chain of tetanus toxin alone is responsible for the characteristic effects on spontaneous and nerve-evoked transmitter release of the native toxin and that these properties can be introduced into a new, more potent complex with the heavy chain of botulinum toxin A.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Two types of fast K+ channels in rat myelinated nerve fibres and their sensitivity to dendrotoxin.

The effect of dendrotoxin (DTX), a component of the venom of the Eastern green mamba snake, Dendroaspis angusticeps, on K+ currents in rat myelinated nerve fibres was studied in voltage clamp experiments, immunocytochemistry and binding experiments. The analysis of K+ tail currents in 160 mM KCl solution revealed that K+ channels with slow gating kinetics predominate in the intact node of Ranvier. These slow K+ channels were not blocked by DTX. Intact nerve fibres additionally showed fast K+ tail currents of small amplitude which could be blocked by DTX. After enzymatic demyelination with pronase, fast K+ currents of large amplitude appeared. Analysis of the non-monotonous voltage dependence of the fast K+ conductance and the partial pharmacological block by DTX suggest the presence of two subtypes of fast K+ channels in rat nerve fibres similar to the Kf1 and Kf2 channels previously described in the frog and toad node of Ranvier. The DTX concentration required for 50% inhibition (IC50) for the Kf1 component was 8 nM. The IC50 of the blocked Kf2 component was the same as that for Kf1, but the Kf2 component was only partially blocked (about 50%). In contrast to frog nerve, these two fast K+ channel subtypes are located predominantly in the paranodal region. Immunocytochemical staining experiments with DTX using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique confirmed the electrophysiological data. In intact nodes, either no staining or only slight staining in some fibres was found. After demyelination, extensive staining of paranodal and internodal regions occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗