Biomedical subjects

F F Weight

Publications and source records attributed to F F Weight.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Different types of Na+ and A-type K+ currents in dorsal root ganglion neurones innervating the rat urinary bladder.

1. Whole-cell patch-clamp recording in combination with axonal tracing techniques was used to examine the electrical properties of afferent neurones innervating the urinary bladder of the adult rat. Individual bladder afferent cells were labelled by Fast Blue (FB), injected into the bladder wall. 2. Passive and active electrical parameters at room temperature (20-22 degrees C) in FB-labelled bladder afferent neurones were comparable with those in unlabelled neurones. Unselected dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurones as well as bladder afferent neurones exhibited two different types of action potential: high-threshold humped spikes in small-sized neurones and low-threshold narrow spikes in large-sized neurones. 3. The majority (70%) of bladder neurones which were small in size expressed high-threshold tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant Na+ channels and slow-inactivating A-type K+ channels (KA), which were available at the resting membrane potential, whereas large-sized DRG neurones had low-threshold TTX-sensitive Na+ channels and fast-inactivating KA channels, which were almost completely inactivated at the resting membrane potential. 4. Half-maximal conductances of activation of TTX-resistant and TTX-sensitive Na+ currents were obtained at -10.3 and -25.3 mV, respectively. The TTX-resistant and TTX-sensitive Na+ currents were half-inactivated at -25.3 and -56 mV, respectively. 5. In the TTX-resistant neurones, the transient outward K+ current (A-type current, IA) with half-maximal conductance at -40.8 mV was half-inactivated at -77.5 mV, and exhibited slower decaying kinetics (mean decay constant (tau), 240 ms) than the IA current recorded from the large-sized TTX-sensitive neurones (mean tau, 20 ms). 6. These results suggest that the majority of bladder afferent neurones have high electrical thresholds for spike activation due to the TTX-resistant Na+ current and the slow-inactivating IA current, which reflect the large population of unmyelinated high-threshold C fibre afferents that innervate the urinary bladder.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1996

Differential mu opiate receptor phosphorylation and desensitization induced by agonists and phorbol esters.

mu opiate receptors, the principal sites for opiate analgesia and reward, can display compensatory responses to opiate agonist drug administration. Agonist-induced K+ channel responses mediated by these receptors desensitize when examined in Xenopus oocyte expression systems. Mechanisms underlying such processes could include phosphorylation events similar to those reported to desensitize other G-protein-linked receptors. We used C-terminally directed anti-mu receptor antibodies to immunoprecipitate a phosphoprotein with size appropriate for the mu receptor from stably expressing Chinese hamster ovary cells. Phosphorylation of this mu opiate receptor protein was enhanced approximately 5-fold by treatment with the mu agonist morphine. The time course and dose-response relationships between mu receptor phosphorylation and agonist-induced desensitization display interesting parallels. Phosphorylation of mu opiate receptor protein is also enhanced approximately 5-fold by treatment with the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine blocked the effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate on mu receptor phosphorylation. However, staurosporine failed to block morphine-induced phosphorylation. These observations suggest that several biochemical pathways can lead to mu receptor phosphorylation events that may include mechanisms involved in mu receptor desensitization.

Analgesics↗

PubMed1996

Directional neurite outgrowth and axonal differentiation of embryonic hippocampal neurons are promoted by a neurite outgrowth domain of the B2-chain of laminin.

Molecular cues involved in directional neurite outgrowth and axonal differentiation of embryonic hippocampal neurons were studied on substrates coated in a striped 5 microns pattern with synthetic peptides from a neurite outgrowth (RDIAEIIKDI, P1543) and cell attachment (CDPGYIGSR, P364) domain of the B2- and B1-chains of laminin, respectively. Both peptides supported neuronal attachment, but only the B2-chain-derived P1543 promoted expression of a mature neuronal phenotype. Directional neurite outgrowth and axonal differentiation of embryonic hippocampal neurons were selectively induced by striped substrates of the B2-chain-derived P1543. Axonal differentiation was determined by expression of a phosphorylated epitope of the 200 kDa neurofilament protein in the longer "axonal" neurite of the bipolar embryonic hippocampal neurons. Ethanol (100 mM), a neuroactive compound known to delay neuronal development, impaired both directional neurite outgrowth and expression of a phosphorylated epitope of the 200 kDa neurofilament protein on a patterned P1543 substratum. The present results provide direct evidence that a 10 amino acid peptide (P1543), derived from a neurite outgrowth domain of the B2-chain of laminin, may be an axonal guidance and differentiation factor for embryonic hippocampal neurons in vitro.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Lipid vs protein theories of alcohol action in the nervous system.

There has been a long-standing debate concerning whether alcohols produce their effects in the central nervous system (CNS) by acting on lipids or proteins. Lipid theories postulate that alcohols act via some perturbation of the membrane lipids of CNS neurons, whereas protein theories propose that alcohols act by interacting with a neuronal protein site. Although the primary site of action differs in the two theories, both theories postulate that the CNS effects of alcohols ultimately result from alterations in protein function. This review discusses lipid and protein theories of alcohol action and the evidence supporting these theories. In addition, the effects of alcohols on the function of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels are discussed, as several types of these receptor-ion channels have been found to be sensitive to the actions of alcohols, and recent studies on those actions have yielded new insights into the question of whether the primary action of alcohols involves lipids or proteins.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed1996

Proton potentiation of ATP-gated ion channel responses to ATP and Zn2+ in rat nodose ganglion neurons.

1. The modulation by protons of ATP-gated ion channel responses to ATP and Zn2+ was studied in freshly isolated rat nodose ganglion neurons using the whole cell patch-clamp technique. 2. Reduced external pH enhanced, whereas elevated external pH suppressed, current activated by 10 microM ATP. The pH producing the half-maximal effect (EC50) at this ATP concentration was 7.1. 3. Acidification shifted the ATP concentration-response curve to the left, decreasing the EC50 for ATP, and alkalinization shifted the ATP concentration-response curve to the right, increasing the EC50 for ATP. Fitting the data to a single-site pH model yielded an apparent pKa of the site on the ATP-gated ion channel of 7.6. Between pH 6.8 and 7.8, a change of 0.1 pH unit was calculated to change the ATP EC50 by 4.03 microM. Changing pH did not alter the maximal response to ATP. 4. The potentiating effect of protons appeared to be due to a direct action on the ATP-gated channel, as it could not be explained by an increase in the concentration of one or more species of ATP. 5. Lowering pH also increased the potency of Zn2+ for enhancement of ATP-activated current without altering its maximal response. Changing the pH from 7.3 to 6.8 changed the Zn2+ EC50 from 12 to 1.7 microM. 6. The potentiation of ATP-activated current by protons could not be attributed solely to an increase in the affinity of the receptor for Zn2+, as the Zn2+ chelator N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine did not alter the effect of protons. 7. Protons and Zn2+ do not appear to act at the same site on ATP-gated channels, as responses to maximally effective concentrations of Zn2+ were enhanced further by protons and vice versa. 8. These results suggest that protons regulate the function of P2X purinoceptors in rat nodose ganglion neurons by modulating the affinity of the binding sites for ATP and Zn2+ on these receptor channels.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1996

Ethanol inhibition of nicotinic acetylcholine type alpha 7 receptors involves the amino-terminal domain of the receptor.

Recent studies have suggested that alcohols can affect the function of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels by a direct interaction with the receptor protein. However, the molecular region of the receptor protein that mediates the alcohol action is not known. To address this question, we studied the effect of ethanol on the function of recombinant nicotinic acetylcholine type alpha 7 (nACh alpha 7) receptors, 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) type 3 (5-HT3) receptors, and a chimeric receptor constructed from these two receptors. The receptors were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and their function was studied using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique. Ethanol inhibited the response of nACh alpha 7 receptors in a concentration-dependent manner over the concentration range of 5-100 mM; the EC50 for this inhibition was 33 mM ethanol. Ethanol decreased the maximal amplitude (Emax) of the nACh alpha 7 receptor agonist concentration-response curve, without significantly affecting the EC50. In contrast, ethanol potentiated 5-HT3 receptor-mediated responses at low agonist concentrations. The potentiation was concentration-dependent over the concentration range of 10-100 mM; the EC50 for this potentiation was 57 mM ethanol. The magnitude of the ethanol potentiation of 5-HT3 receptor-mediated responses decreased with increasing agonist concentration. The chimeric receptor had the amino-terminal domain from the nACh alpha 7 receptor and the transmembrane and carboxyl-terminal domains from the 5-HT3 receptor. Ethanol was found to inhibit the function of this chimeric receptor in a manner similar to that of nACh alpha 7 receptors. Because the inhibition transfers with the amino-terminal domain of the receptor, the observations suggest that the amino-terminal domain of the receptor is involved in the inhibition.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Differential sensitivity of recombinant N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits to inhibition by dynorphin.

Dynorphin is an endogenous ligand for kappa-opioid receptors. We investigated the effect of dynorphin 1-13 on different heteromeric subunits of recombinant mouse N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes by using voltage-clamp recording methods. Dynorphin inhibited the NMDA-activated currents of all heteromeric NMDA receptor subunits tested. The different NMDA receptor subunits, however, exhibited a differential sensitivity to dynorphin. For the epsilon-1/zeta-1 subunit combination the EC50 was 19 microM; the other NMDA receptor subunit combinations were less sensitive to dynorphin and had the following order of sensitivity: epsilon-2/zeta-1 > epsilon-4/zeta-1 > epsilon-3/zeta-1. Inhibition of NMDA-activated currents by dynorphin was not competitive with NMDA, and was voltage-independent. NMDA-activated currents were not affected by the synthetic kappa-opioid receptor agonist U50488 ¿trans-3, 4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl]benzene-acetamide¿, the specific kappa-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine1 or the nonspecific opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. In addition, nor-binaltorphimine1 or naloxone did not attenuate dynorphin inhibition of NMDA-activated current. The observations suggest that dynorphin inhibition of NMDA receptor function is mediated by an interaction of dynorphin with NMDA receptors, rather than an action involving kappa-opioid receptors. The data also show that different heteromeric NMDA receptor subunits exhibit a differential sensitivity to dynorphin.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Potentiation of 5-HT3 receptor-mediated responses by protein kinase C activation.

The effect of agents that activate or inhibit protein kinase C (PKC) on the function of recombinant 5-HT3 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes was studied. The PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced a long-lasting increase in the amplitude of 5-HT-activated ion current. The potentiation was maximal at 20 min and had a duration of approximately 60 min. The inactive phorbol ester, 4 alpha-PMA, had no effect on 5-HT3 receptor-mediated current. The PMA-induced potentiation was concentration-dependent over the concentration range 0.1-300 nM. The percentage potentiation by PMA was maximal at low 5-HT concentrations and decreased with increasing concentrations of 5-HT. For current activated by 0.1 microM 5-HT, maximal potentiation (Emax) was 667% of control, the EC50 was 15 nM and the apparent Hill coefficient was 0.99. The PKC inhibitor, staurosporin, antagonized the PMA potentiation; whereas, inhibitors of protein kinase A (PKA) or tyrosine kinase had no effect on this potentiation. The observations show that PMA can potentiate 5-HT3 receptor-mediated responses and suggest that this potentiation is mediated by activation of PKC.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed1995

Cutoff in potency implicates alcohol inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in alcohol intoxication.

As the number of carbon atoms in an aliphatic n-alcohol is increased from one to five, intoxicating potency, lipid solubility, and membrane lipid disordering potency all increase in a similar exponential manner. However, the potency of aliphatic n-alcohols for producing intoxication reaches a maximum at six to eight carbon atoms and then decreases. The molecular basis of this "cutoff" effect is not understood, as it is not correlated with either the lipid solubility or the membrane disordering potency of the alcohols, which continue to increase exponentially. Since it has been suggested that inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors by alcohols may play a role in alcohol intoxication, we investigated whether a series of aliphatic n-alcohols would exhibit a cutoff in potency for inhibition of NMDA receptors. We found that although potency for inhibition of NMDA receptors increased exponentially for alcohols with one to five carbon atoms, potency for inhibition of NMDA receptors reached a maximum at six to eight carbon atoms and then abruptly disappeared. This cutoff for alcohol inhibition of NMDA receptors is consistent with an interaction of the alcohols with a hydrophobic pocket on the receptor protein. In addition, the similarity of the cutoffs for alcohol inhibition of NMDA receptors and alcohol intoxication suggests that the cutoff for NMDA receptor inhibition may contribute to the cutoff for alcohol intoxication, which is consistent with an important role of NMDA receptors in alcohol intoxication.

Alcoholic Intoxication↗

PubMed1995

Effect of cocaine on the 5-HT3 receptor-mediated ion current in Xenopus oocytes.

The cloned 5-HT3 receptor from NCB-20 neuroblastoma cells was expressed in Xenopus oocytes. In these oocytes, 5-HT, the selective 5-HT3 receptor agonists, 2-methyl-5-HT and m-chlorophenylbiguanide activated an inward current which was sensitive to the specific 5-HT3 receptor antagonist LY278584. Cocaine (0.1 to 10 microM) reversibly inhibited the current activated by 1 microM 5-HT in a concentration-dependent manner. The IC50 value is 0.7 microM and the apparent Hill coefficient is 1.55. This effect of cocaine was not dependent on membrane potential. Cocaine also produced a parallel shift of the 5-HT concentration-response curve to the right and did not reduce the maximal current induced by 5-HT. In the presence of 3 microM cocaine, the EC50 value of 5-HT was increased from 3.08 microM to 6.1 microM. Other local anesthetics such as tricaine and lidocaine also inhibited the current induced by 5-HT. These results suggest that the 5-HT3 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes exhibit properties similar to those in sensory neurons and neuroblastoma cells and were blocked by cocaine in a competitive manner.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Alcohol action on a neuronal membrane receptor: evidence for a direct interaction with the receptor protein.

For almost a century, alcohols have been thought to produce their effects by actions on the membrane lipids of central nervous system neurons--the well known "lipid theory" of alcohol action. The rationale for this theory is the correlation of potency with oil/water or membrane/buffer partition coefficient. Although a number of recent studies have shown that alcohols can affect the function of certain neuronal neurotransmitter receptors, there is no evidence that the alcohols interact directly with these membrane proteins. In the present study, we report that inhibition of a neuronal neurotransmitter receptor, an ATP-gated ion channel, by a series of alcohols exhibits a distinct cutoff effect. For alcohols with a molecular volume of < or = 42.2 ml/mol, potency for inhibiting ATP-activated current was correlated with lipid solubility (order of potency: 1-propanol = trifluoroethanol > monochloroethanol > ethanol > methanol). However, despite increased lipid solubility, alcohols with a molecular volume of > or = 46.1 ml/mol (1-butanol, 1-pentanol, trichloroethanol, and dichloroethanol) were without effect on the ATP-activated current. The results suggest that alcohols inhibit the function of this neurotransmitter receptor by interacting with a small hydrophobic pocket on the receptor protein.

1-Butanol↗

PubMed1994

Procaine impairs the function of 5-HT3 receptor-ion channel complex in rat sensory ganglion neurons.

Previous studies have shown that local anesthetics block voltage-dependent Na+ channels and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The present study investigated the effect of the local anesthetic, procaine on another ligand-gated ion channel, the 5-HT3 receptor, in rat nodose ganglion neurons. Procaine (0.01-100 microM) inhibited the 5-HT3 receptor-mediated inward current in the whole-cell patch clamp recording. The inhibition was fully reversible, concentration-dependent but not sensitive to changes in membrane potential. Concentration-response curves indicated that procaine appears to produce a competitive inhibition on 5-HT3 receptors with a KD of 1.7 microM. These observations suggest that one of the actions of procaine in nervous system is on 5-HT3 receptors.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Patch-clamp recordings from subpopulations of autonomic and afferent neurons identified by axonal tracing techniques.

This study determined whether axonal tracing methods can be used in combination with patch-clamp techniques to examine the electrical properties of identified populations of autonomic and afferent neurons in the adult rat. Fluorescent dyes (Fast Blue, FB and Fluoro-Gold, FG) were injected into the wall of the urinary bladder or colon and into various somatic structures to label postganglionic neurons in the major pelvic ganglia (MPG) as well as visceral and somatic afferent neurons in the lumbosacral dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and trigeminal ganglia (TG). One to 3 weeks after dye injection, neurons were isolated from ganglia by enzymatic dissociation. Following dissociation, single neurons labelled with FB were identified in the three types of ganglion preparations; however FG was only identified consistently in TG neurons. FB was retained in neurons during short-term culture (1-5 days). Following 10 to 20 s exposure to UV light which was required for identification of the cells, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings revealed that the electrophysiological properties of FB-labelled cells did not differ from those of unlabelled cells. However, a more prolonged exposure (1-5 min) of the neurons to UV light produced irreversible damage to the cells which was evident as changes in the action potential, sodium current and resting membrane potential. These results indicate that patch-clamp recording in combination with axonal tracing is a useful approach for studying the electrical properties of identified populations of autonomic and afferent neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1994

The effect of atropine on the activation of 5-hydroxytryptamine3 channels in rat nodose ganglion neurons.

It has been suggested that changes in brain 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptor function may contribute to some behavior disorders, such as anxiety, schizophrenia and drug abuse. We are using the whole-cell version of the patch-clamp technique to study the function of 5-hydroxytryptamine3 channels in neurons freshly dissociated from rat nodose ganglion. In these cells, 5-hydroxytryptamine elicits an inward current over the concentration range of 0.25-100 microM (EC50 = 2.62 microM) by activating 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptors. The muscarinic cholinergic antagonist atropine reduced the amplitude of 5-hydroxytryptamine activated inward current in a concentration-dependent manner. Other muscarinic antagonists, scopolamine, dexetimide, the M1 muscarinic receptor antagonist pirenzepine, the M2 receptor antagonist methoctramine and the M3 receptor antagonist 4-DAMP methiodide also inhibited 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced inward current. Atropine did not appear to change the reversal potential of this current. In the presence of 5 microM atropine, the concentration-response curve for 5-hydroxytryptamine current was shifted to the right in a parallel fashion. The EC50 value for 5-hydroxytryptamine was increased from 2.62 to 8.76 microM. Schild plots of increasing atropine and 5-hydroxytryptamine concentrations revealed a pA2 value of 5.74 for atropine (apparent KD = 1.8 microM). These observations suggest that atropine competitively antagonizes the activation of a receptor for the neurotransmitter serotonin, a novel action of muscarinic antagonists in the nervous system. This effect of atropine may contribute to the clinical symptoms seen in severe atropine intoxication.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Trichloroethanol potentiation of gamma-aminobutyric acid-activated chloride current in mouse hippocampal neurones.

1. The action of 2,2,2-trichloroethanol on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-activated Cl- current was studied in mouse hippocampal neurones in tissue culture by use of whole-cell patch-clamp recording. 2. Trichloroethanol increased the amplitude of currents activated by 1 microM GABA or 0.1 microM muscimol. Trichloroethanol, 1-25 mM, potentiated current activated by 1 microM GABA in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC50 of 3.0 +/- 1.4 mM and a maximal response (Emax) of 576 +/- 72% of control. 3. Trichloroethanol potentiated currents activated by GABA concentrations < 10 microM, but did not increase the amplitude of currents activated by concentrations of GABA > or = 10 microM. Despite marked potentiation of currents activated by low concentrations of GABA, trichloroethanol did not significantly alter the EC50, slope, or Emax of the GABA concentration-response curve. 4. Trichloroethanol, 5 mM, potentiated GABA-activated current in neurones in which ethanol, 10-500 mM, did not. The effect of trichloroethanol was not altered by the putative ethanol antagonist, Ro 15-4513. Trichloroethanol did not potentiate currents activated by pentobarbitone. 5. In the absence of exogenous GABA, trichloroethanol at concentrations > or = 2.5 mM activated a current that appeared to be carried by Cl- as its reversal potential changed with changes in the Cl- gradient and as it was inhibited by the GABAA antagonists, bicuculline methiodide and picrotoxin. 6. Since trichloroethanol is thought to be the active metabolite of chloral hydrate and other chloral derivative anaesthetics, potentiation of the GABA-activated current in central nervous system neurones by trichloroethanol may contribute to the sedative/hypnotic effects of these agents.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Effects of cocaine on the serotonin-induced inward current in rat nodose ganglion neurons.

Application of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) to freshly isolated rat nodose ganglion neurons produced a fast inward current when measured using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. This current was blocked by the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist MDL72222. The selective 5-HT3 receptor agonist 2-methyl-5-HT induced a similar current. Cocaine (0.1-300 microM) applied simultaneously with 5-HT (0.25-50 microM) inhibited the 5-HT-induced current. The inhibition did not appear to be voltage dependent. If cocaine was preapplied for about 30 sec, the effect of cocaine on 5-HT current was increased. Both the peak and the steady-state 5-HT current was depressed by cocaine. However, the peak current was more sensitive to cocaine than the steady-state current. The concentration-response curves of cocaine in different agonist concentrations revealed that cocaine competitively inhibited the 5-HT3 receptor-mediated current with a pA2 value of 5.8 and an apparent KD of 1.6 microM. These results suggest that in addition to the other well known mechanisms, the 5-HT3 receptor-ion channel complex is another site for cocaine action.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Differential ethanol sensitivity of recombinant N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits.

The recombinant N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit zeta 1 and the heteromeric subunit combinations epsilon 1/zeta 1, epsilon 2/zeta 1, and epsilon 3/zeta 1 were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and their sensitivities to ethanol were investigated using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique. NMDA-activated currents in oocytes expressing subunit combinations epsilon 1/zeta 1 or epsilon 2/zeta 1 were significantly inhibited by 50 mM ethanol, whereas NMDA-activated currents associated with the homomeric expression of zeta 1 or the heteromeric epsilon 3/zeta 1 combination were not significantly affected by 50 mM ethanol. Ethanol decreased the maximal amplitude (Emax) of the concentration-response curve for NMDA-activated current, without significantly affecting the EC50. The values of percentage inhibition by ethanol were not significantly different, regardless of the amplitude of current activated by NMDA concentrations from 10 to 250 microM. Different NMDA receptor subunits and subunit combinations exhibited differences in the concentration-response curves for ethanol. NMDA-activated current associated with the epsilon 1/zeta 1 subunit combination was increasingly inhibited by increasing concentrations of ethanol from 25 to 100 mM, whereas 25 mM ethanol elicited nearly maximal inhibition of NMDA-activated current associated with the epsilon 2/zeta 1 subunits, i.e., the inhibition by 50 or 100 nM ethanol was not significantly different. NMDA-activated current associated with the epsilon 3/zeta 1 subunit combination, on the other hand, was significantly inhibited only by 100 mM ethanol, and NMDA-activated current associated with the homomeric zeta 1 subunit was not significantly affected by ethanol concentrations of < or = 100 mM. Because NMDA receptor subunits are differentially distributed throughout the brain, the observations suggest that the differential sensitivity of NMDA receptor subunits to ethanol may contribute to the differences in ethanol sensitivity observed in different types of neurons.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1993

Zn2+ potentiates excitatory action of ATP on mammalian neurons.

Despite the increasing recognition that ATP is an important extracellular excitatory mediator in the nervous system, the regulation of ATP receptors is poorly understood. Because the extracellular Zn2+ concentration is regulated in a variety of biological tissues, we studied modulation of the ATP-gated cation channel by Zn2+ in mammalian neurons using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. In approximately 73% of cells tested, the amplitude of ATP-activated membrane ion current increased up to 5-fold in the presence of micromolar concentrations of Zn2+. The characteristics of this action suggest that Zn2+ increases the apparent affinity of the receptor for ATP. In addition, Zn2+ increased membrane depolarization and action potential firing elicited by ATP. These observations suggest that Zn2+ may play a physiological role in regulating the excitatory action of ATP on mammalian neurons.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗