Biomedical subjects

N Akaike

Publications and source records attributed to N Akaike.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

PubMed1990

Proton-induced sodium current in frog isolated dorsal root ganglion cells.

1. The proton-induced current was examined in isolated frog dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells by the use of the "concentration-clamp" technique, which allows intracellular perfusion and rapid change of external solution with various pH (pHo) within 2 ms under single-electrode voltage-clamp condition. 2. Over one-half of the examined neurons showed no response for a "step" reduction of pHo even in a Ca2(+)-free external solution. In smaller neurons having a diameter less than 20 microns, the persistent and reliable proton-induced responses were obtained, though the current amplitude and the activation and inactivation varied considerably for each cell. 3. The decrease of external Na+ concentration ([Na+]o) reduced the proton response. The proton response reversed the direction and the Na+ equilibrium potential (ENa). 4. With decreasing pHo from 7.4, proton response increased in a sigmoidal fashion. The threshold was around pH 7.0 and the maximum response appeared at pH 5.2, whereas pKa and Hill coefficient were 6.0 and 1.97, respectively. 5. The activation and inactivation phases of the proton-induced current behaved as a single exponential function. The time constants of activation (tau a) and inactivation (tau i) were not affected by changing either the holding membrane potential (VH) or the low external Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]o) between 10(-6) and 5 X 10(-3) M. But the decrease of pHo up to 5.2 decreased both tau a and tau i in a saturable manner. 6. In the inactivation curve of proton-induced current obtained by decreasing pHo from various conditioning pHo to 5.5, half inactivation occurred at pHo 7.45.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Low-threshold calcium current in isolated Purkinje cell bodies of rat cerebellum.

1. The low- and high-threshold Ca2+ currents were observed in Purkinje cell bodies isolated from the cerebellum of newborn (2 wk old) and adult (8 wk old) rats under whole-cell clamp. A transient Ca2+ current (low-threshold or "T-type" ICa) was elicited by depolarizing step pulses to -60 mV or more positive potentials from a holding potential (VH) of -100 mV. In cells dissociated from newborn rats, a long-lasting Ca2+ current (high-threshold or "L-type" ICa) was also elicited by depolarizing command pulses beyond -30 mV. 2. The low-threshold ICa was resistant to the "washout" effect during the internal perfusion, whereas the high-threshold ICa faded gradually with time during the continuous internal perfusion. 3. In the current-voltage (I-V) relationship, the low-threshold ICa had a threshold potential around -60 mV and reached the maximum inward current around -20 mV. The activation and inactivation kinetics of the current depended on membrane potential: for a test-potential change from -60 to +40 mV, the time to peak of the current (activation) decreased from 31.9 to 5.0 ms, and the time constant of current decay (inactivation) decreased from 78.5 to 22.9 ms. 4. Steady-state inactivation of low-threshold ICa was membrane-potential dependent, and the inactivation of the 50% level was -79 mV. Recovery time constant from steady-state inactivation varied depending on the membrane potential. The time constants were 3.3 and 2.5 s at VHs of -100 and -120 mV, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Acetylcholine-activated ionic currents in parasympathetic neurons of bullfrog heart.

1. The electrical and pharmacologic properties of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced current (IACh) were studied in the parasympathetic neurons isolated from bullfrog heart with the use of the concentration-clamp technique, which allows intracellular perfusion and rapid change of external solution within 2 ms under the single-electrode voltage-clamp condition. 2. The IACh consisted of an initial transient peak component and a successive steady-state plateau component. Both currents increased in a sigmoidal fashion with increasing ACh concentration. The dissociation constant (Kd value) and the Hill coefficient for each component were 2.2 X 10(-5) M and 1.6, respectively. 3. In the K(+)-free solution, the reversal potential (EACh) of IACh was close to the Na+ equilibrium potential (ENa). The current-voltage (I-V) relation showed inward rectification at positive potentials. 4. Nicotine mimicked only the peak component of IACh. However both peak and steady-state components were blocked nonselectively by the nicotinic blockers d-tubocurarine and hexamethonium. 5. Carbamylcholine (CCh) mimicked the steady-state component of IACh. The steady-state component was selectively inhibited by atropine at concentrations 1,000 times lower than that required for inhibition of the peak component. The steady state was blocked equally by either pirenzepine (M1 blocker) or AF-DX-116 (M2 blocker). 6. It was concluded that the IACh consisted of a peak component having double exponential activation and inactivation, mediated through the nicotinic actions, and a steady-state component having no inactivation, mediated through the muscarinic action.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1990

Proton-gated sodium current in parasympathetic ganglion cells of frog heart.

1. The proton-gated current was investigated in whole-cell configuration of the neurons isolated from bullfrog heart parasympathetic ganglia with the use of the "concentration-clamp" technique, which combines intracellular perfusion and extremely rapid exchange of external solution within 1-2 ms, under a single-electrode voltage-clamp condition. 2. In all isolated neurons, a "step" decrease in extracellular pH (pHo) induced a transient inward current that was followed by a complete inactivation within 1 s. 3. The proton-gated current increased in a sigmoidal fashion as pHo decreased. In the external solution containing 2 mM Ca2+, the threshold of current activation was at pHo 7.4, and the maximum response appeared at pHo 6.5-5.5. The dissociation constant (Kd) and Hill coefficient were 7.1 and 3.2, respectively. 4. The proton-gated current was reduced by decreasing the extracellular Na+ concentration. In the absence of K+, the current produced by reduced extracellular pH reversed at the Na+ equilibrium potential (ENa), indicating that the current was carried by Na+. 5. Kinetics of both the activation and inactivation phases of proton-induced current were single exponential. The time constants of activation (tau a) and inactivation (tau i) had no potential dependence but decreased slightly by decreasing pHo. 6. In the inactivation curve of the proton-induced current obtained by decreasing pHo from various conditioning pHos to 6.5, the half-maximum inactivation occurred at pHo 7.75. 7. The proton-gated current was suppressed as the extracellular Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]o) increased from 0.1 to 10 mM, and the half inhibition occurred at greater than 10 mM [Ca2+]o.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1990

ATP-induced current in isolated outer hair cells of guinea pig cochlea.

1. Electrical and pharmacologic properties of ATP-induced current in outer hair cells isolated from guinea pig cochlea were investigated in the whole-cell recording mode by the use of a conventional patch-clamp technique. 2. Under current-clamp conditions, rapid application of ATP depolarized the outer hair cells resulting in an increase in conductance. The ATP-induced response did not show any desensitization during a continuous application. 3. At a holding potential of -70 mV, the ATP-induced inward current increased in a sigmoidal fashion over the concentration range between 3 microM and 1 mM. The half-maximum concentration (EC50) was 12 microM and the Hill coefficient was 0.93. 4. The ATP-induced current had a reversal potential near 6 mV, which was close to the theoretical value (1 mV) calculated from the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation for permeable intra- and extracellular cations. 5. In the current-voltage (I-V) relationship for the ATP response, a slight inward-going rectification was observed at more positive potentials than the reversal potential. 6. The substitution of extracellular Na+ by equimolar choline+ shifted the reversal potential of the ATP-induced current to more negative values. The substitution of Cs+ in the internal solution by N-methyl-D-glucamine+ (NMG+) shifted it in the positive direction. The reversal potential of ATP-induced current was also shifted to positive values with increasing extracellular Ca2+ concentration. A decrease of intracellular Cl- by gluconate- did not affect the reversal potential, thereby indicating that the ATP-induced current is carried through a large cation channel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1990

Actions of Ca2+ antagonists on two types of Ca2+ channels in rat aorta smooth muscle cells in primary culture.

Mechanisms of blockade of two types of Ca2+ channels by the organic Ca2+ antagonists, nicardipine, diltiazem, verapamil, and flunarizine, were examined in rat aorta smooth muscle cells in primary culture by using the whole-cell voltage-clamp method. T-type Ca2+ current (T-type ICa) was isolated by an internal perfusion of 5 mM F-, which irreversibly suppressed the L-type ICa, without affecting T-type ICa. L-type ICa was isolated by setting a holding potential at -60 mV, at which most of the T-type Ca2+ channels were inactivated. L-type ICa is halved by 0.1 microM nicardipine, 3.0 microM diltiazem, 0.6 microM verapamil, and 0.1 microM flunarizine, whereas T-type ICa is halved by the same drugs at 0.6, 30, 30, and 0.1 microM, respectively. Diltiazem and verapamil accelerated the decay of L-type ICa and cumulatively blocked L-type ICa during repetitive step depolarizations elicited every 30 seconds ("use-dependent block"). Diltiazem and verapamil neither changed the decay of T-type ICa nor showed a use-dependent block of T-type ICa. Nicardipine and flunarizine blocked both L- and T-type ICa from the first depolarization step after drug treatment ("tonic block") and shifted their steady-state inactivation curves to the left. The estimated binding constants of nicardipine and flunarizine for the inactivated state of T-type Ca2+ channels (48 and 19 nM, respectively) were smaller than those for the resting state of L-type Ca2+ channels (160 and 90 nM, respectively). A low concentration (0.1 microM) of nicardipine initially potentiated T-type ICa and then reduced it. We conclude from these results that 1) nicardipine and flunarizine block not only the resting state but, more preferentially, the inactivated state of both the L- and T-type Ca2+ channels; 2) verapamil and diltiazem preferentially act on the open state of the L-type Ca2+ channel and on the resting and inactivated state of the T-type Ca2+ channel; and 3) the T-type Ca2+ channel of the rat aorta smooth muscle cells appears to be more sensitive to nicardipine and flunarizine than does the L-type Ca2+ channel at around the resting membrane potential.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Influences of external Ca2+ on the GABA-induced chloride current and the efficacy of diazepam in internally perfused frog sensory neurons.

The effects of extracellular Ca2+ on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-induced Cl- current and the efficacy of diazepam in the facilitation of GABA response were studied in frog isolated sensory neurons, using a 'concentration clamp' technique which combines a suction pipette (internal perfusion and voltage clamp) and a rapid drug application system. When nominal Ca2+-free external solution was changed to the solution containing 2 mM Ca2+, the response elicited by 1 x 10(-5) M GABA was reduced by about 40% of the control obtained in nominal Ca2+-free solution. The dose-response curve for GABA was shifted to the right without affecting the maximum response. It can be suggested that the application of external Ca2+ modulates the affinity of the GABA receptor to its agonist, GABA. Diazepam at the concentration of 3 x 10(-6) M shifted the dose-response curve for GABA to the left without changing the maximum response with or without external Ca2+. However, the augmentatory action of diazepam on the GABA response was reduced in the presence of external Ca2+. Possible mechanisms for inhibitory action of external Ca2+ on the GABA-gated response and the reduced efficacy of diazepam are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Alpha-chloralose opens the chloride channel of frog isolated sensory neurons.

The effect of alpha-chloralose on the sensory neurons isolated enzymatically and mechanically from frog dorsal root ganglia was studied using a suction-pipette technique. The threshold concentration of alpha-chloralose was around 3 x 10(-5) M and the current produced by alpha-chloralose saturated at the concentration of 3 x 10(-3) M or more. The dose-response curve for alpha-chloralose provided a Ka value of 6 x 10(-4) M and a Hill coefficient of 1.8. The reversal potential of the response elicited by alpha-chloralose was close to the equilibrium potential for Cl- (ECl), indicating that the current was carried through Cl- channels. The current-voltage relationship indicated that there was little voltage dependence in the alpha-chloralose-induced response. The analysis of the variance of the alpha-chloralose-induced Cl- current fluctuations showed two types of the receptor-ionophore complexes with different channel conductances.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells of rats have four voltage-dependent calcium conductances.

In isolated rat hippocampal neurons, we observed 4 voltage- and extracellular Ca2+-dependent conductances; i.e. the T-, N- and L-type Ca2+ currents and tetrodotoxin-sensitive transient Ca2+ current. Intracellular perfusion with F- suppressed irreversibly the L-type Ca2+ current and partially the N-type one. omega-Conotoxin inhibited selectively the L-type Ca2+ current. Amiloride reduced strongly the T-type Ca2+ current without affecting the L-type one. Gd3+, nicardipine, phenytoin and octanol had no specific inhibition on the T-, N- and L-type Ca2+ currents. Thereby, the pharmacological property of mammalian CNS neurons for Ca2+ channel blockers considerably differs from that in the peripheral and cultured cells.

Amiloride↗

PubMed1989

The low-threshold Ca current in isolated amygdaloid neurons in the rat.

Two types of voltage-dependent Ca currents were recorded from isolated rat amygdaloid neurons under single-electrode voltage-clamp. A low-threshold Ca current was elicited at -60 mV or more positive potentials and inactivated rapidly. At -30 mV or more positive potentials, a high-threshold Ca current was also activated. In steady-state inactivation curve of the low-threshold Ca current, the half-inhibition value (h0.5) was -71 mV. The low-threshold Ca current was inhibited by organic and inorganic Ca blockers in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of these Ca blockers was completely reversible while that of flunarizine was partly so. It is concluded that the membrane and pharmacological properties of the low-threshold Ca channel in the rat amygdaloid neurons are quite similar to those in the hypothalamic neurons.

Amygdala↗

PubMed1989

Effects of chlordiazepoxide, chlorpromazine, diazepam, diphenylhydantoin, flunitrazepam and haloperidol on the voltage-dependent sodium current of isolated mammalian brain neurons.

The effects of chlordiazepoxide, chlorpromazine, diazepam, diphenylhydantoin, flunitrazepam and haloperidol on the voltage-dependent sodium current (INa) were studied on the hippocampal pyramidal neurons, isolated acutely from rats, using a concentration clamp technique. The drugs used here reduced dose-dependently the peak amplitude of INa without affecting its current-voltage relationship. Chlorpromazine was most potent drug inhibiting the INa among them. Chlorpromazine and diphenylhydantoin at the concentration of half inhibition (IC50; 4 x 10(-6) M and 2 x 10(-4) M, respectively) shifted the steady state inactivation curve by more than 20 mV to a hyperpolarizing direction. Both drugs also caused a use-dependent inhibition of the INa. These results suggest that the drugs may block preferentially the inactivated sodium channels. While the concentrations of the drugs for inhibiting the INa are thought to be higher than those for affecting respective receptors for neurotransmitters, the results presented here may provide useful information to elucidate additional modes of action of these drugs in mammalian central nervous system.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Comparison of low-threshold Ca2+ currents in the hippocampal CA1 neurons among the newborn, adult and aged rats.

The electrical and pharmacological properties of the low-threshold Ca2+ current were compared among the newborn, adult and aged rats using the isolated hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. The current-voltage relationship and the time constant of the decay phase of the low-threshold Ca2+ current in adult and aged rats were similar to those in newborn rats. The low-threshold Ca2+ current of adult and aged rats was also sensitive to nicardipine, a dihydropyridine derivative, same as that of newborn rats. We concluded that the nature of low-threshold Ca2+ current in the rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons is not affected by the aging.

Aging↗

PubMed1989

Comparative study on barbiturates using isolated single neurons: GABA-mimetic action and augmentatory action on GABA response.

The comparisons among barbiturate derivatives in both GABA-mimetic action and augmentatory effect on GABA response were made. Experiments were performed on single neurones isolated from frog dorsal root ganglia, using a concentration clamp technique which combines a suction pipette technique (internal perfusion and voltage-clamp) with a rapid external solution exchange within 2 ms. Barbiturates employed here were secobarbital, pentobarbital, hexobarbital and phenobarbital. All barbiturates at the concentrations over 1 x 10(-4) M evoked the chloride current (ICl) dose-dependently. In the GABA-mimetic action of barbiturates the potency was in the order of secobarbital greater than pentobarbital greater than hexobarbital greater than phenobarbital. All barbiturates at the concentrations over 1 x 10(-6) M (but up to 1 x 10(-3) M) augmented the GABA-induced ICl. Potency order of barbiturates in augmenting GABA response was the same as that in their GABA-mimetic actions when the concentration was 1 x 10(-4) M or less. However at the concentration of 1 x 10(-3) M the efficacies of secobarbital and pentobarbital in augmenting GABA response were greatly reduced while the other two barbiturates produced further augmentation.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Scorpion toxin prolongs an inactivation phase of the voltage-dependent sodium current in rat isolated single hippocampal neurons.

The effects of scorpion toxin on the voltage-dependent sodium current (INa) of CA1 pyramidal neurons isolated from rat hippocampus were studied under the single-electrode voltage-clamp condition using a 'concentration-clamp' technique. The toxin increased the peak amplitude of INa and prolonged its inactivation phase in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Inactivation phase of INa proceeded with two exponential components in the absence (control) and presence of the toxin. In the toxin-treated neurons, both the time constant of slow component and its fractional contribution to the total current increased dose-dependently while the fractional contribution of the fast one decreased in a dose-dependent fashion without changing its time constant. Actions of scorpion toxin on the sodium channels of hippocampal pyramidal neurons were essentially similar to those of peripheral preparations. Therefore, it can be concluded that the sodium channels of mammalian brain neurons have structures and functions similar to peripheral channels.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Blockade of the voltage-dependent sodium current in isolated rat hippocampal neurons by tetrodotoxin and lidocaine.

The effects of tetrodotoxin and lidocaine on the voltage-dependent sodium current (INa) were studied in the CA1 pyramidal neurons isolated acutely from rat hippocampus using a 'concentration-clamp' technique which combines the intracellular perfusion with a rapid external solution change within a few ms. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) exerted its inhibitory action in time- and dose-dependent manner on the peak amplitude of INa without any apparent effects on both the current activation and inactivation processes of the current. The time course for reaching a steady-state of the inhibitory action shortened with increasing TTX concentration, but the time course of recovery from the inhibition after washing out the toxin was quite the same at any concentrations used. Lidocaine also inhibited dose-dependently the INa, though with slightly accelerating both the activation and inactivation processes. The time courses for reaching the steady-state inhibition and the recovery from the inhibition were much shorter than those in the case of TTX. The results indicate that the voltage-dependent sodium channel of mammalian brain neuron is TTX-sensitive as well as that of peripheral neuron and that the mode of TTX inhibition on the INa is quite different from that of lidocaine.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

EMG activities of neck muscles underlying lateral flexion of the neck during head-turning induced by electrical stimulation of the caudate nucleus in cats.

Patterns of EMG activities of neck muscles underlying the initiation of head-turning, induced by stimulation of the caudate nucleus, were analyzed with special reference to temporal relations between the onset of head-turning and that of changes in EMG activities. These patterns were compared with those associated with the initiation of lateral flexion of the neck which occurred without electrical stimulation of the caudate nucleus in order to examine whether the caudate-induced head-turning was initiated via the same muscular system as that used in non-caudate-induced head movements. Experiments were carried out using 5 awake, unrestrained cats which were trained to stand still with one limb on each of 4 footplates. Trains of stimulating current pulses were applied to several stimulation points in the caudate nucleus while the animal maintained a stable standing posture with its neck extended. Head movements in the horizontal plane and EMGs of 6 neck muscles (splenius, longissimus cervicis, obliquus capitis caudalis, biventer cervicis, complexus and cervical multifidus) were recorded. Patterns of EMG activities of neck muscles around the onset of the caudate-induced head-turning were characterized by an increase in activity of the splenius, the longissimus cervicis and the obliquus capitis caudalis muscles, and by a decrease in activity of the complexus, the biventer cervicis and the cervical multifidus on the side of flexion. It is suggested that an increase in activity of the splenius, the longissimus cervicis and the obliques capitis caudalis muscles was responsible for the initiation of this evoked response. In non-caudate-induced lateral flexion of the neck, patterns of activities of neck muscles were similar to those in caudate-induced head-turning. It is therefore concluded that the caudate-induced head-turning as an evoked behavioral response was initiated through a muscular system similar to that utilized for similar head movements occurring without electrical stimulation of the caudate nucleus, although the pathways involved are thought to be different.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Augmentation of GABA-induced chloride current in frog sensory neurons by diazepam.

The effect of diazepam (DZP) on the GABA-induced macroscopic and microscopic Cl- current was investigated in isolated frog sensory neurons using both 'concentration-clamp' and patch-clamp techniques. At concentration range between 10(-9) and 10(-4) M, DZP itself evoked no response but potentiated time- and dose-dependently the subthreshold GABA responses, though at high DZP concentrations beyond 10(-5) M the potentiation ratio decreased. The potentiation effect was long-lasting and desensitized slowly over the course of several 10 minutes after washing-out of DZP. DZP potentiated GABA response without shifting the GABA reversal potential. The entire GABA dose-response curve was shifted in a parallel manner to the left by adding DZP without changing cooperatively: the Hill slope was 2.0. The potentiation of GABA response by DZP did not depend on either inward or outward direction of the Cl- current but slightly on the membrane potential. The time constants of activation of desensitization of GABA-gated Cl- current consisted of fast and slow components, respectively. The slow components were concentration-dependent, and significantly changed in the presence of DZP, while DZP had little effects on fast components. In the 'inside-out' configuration, the addition of DZP activated GABA-receptor ionophore complexes under subthreshold without changing the single Cl- channel conductance. It is concluded that DZP may act at a site to modulate GABA binding, in which DZP increases GABA binding affinity and also affects the kinetics of GABA-gated Cl- channels, indicating that DZP has dual action on the GABA-induced responses.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Voltage-dependent anion-selective channels in cultured smooth muscle cells of the rat aorta.

1. Properties of the voltage-dependent anion-selective channel in cultured smooth muscle cells of the rat aorta were studied using the patch-clamp technique. 2. The channel had a single channel conductance of 346 +/- 4 pS (n = 43, mean +/- SEM) with symmetrical 142 mM-Cl- solution in inside-out patch configurations. 3. The channel was activated spontaneously at a potential range -20 approximately +20 mV and inactivated more rapidly with increases to more positive or negative potentials. 4. The channel was selective for anions and the permeability ratio for monovalent anion was Br-:Cl-:HCOO-:CH3COO-:propionate-:aspartate- = 1.1:1:0.7:0.4: less than 0.02: less than 0.02. 5. The openings of the channels were observed more frequently in inside-out membrane patches than in cell-attached ones, and were independent of intracellular free Ca concentrations. 6. The density of this channel was estimated to be 1.3/micron2. 7. Physiological roles of the channel were discussed.

Animals↗