Voltage- and Use-dependent Effect of 7-chlor-benzylte-trahydropalmatine on Sodium Currents in Guinea Pig Ventricular Myocytes

The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was employed to obtain information about the voltage-dependence and kinetics of interaction of 7-chlor-benzylte-trahydropalmatine (7-Cl-BTHP) with cardiac sodium channels. 7-Cl-BTHP (30 mol/L) significantly decreased the peak sodium current (from 7. 8±1. 8 nA to 5. 3±1. 4 nA, P<0. 01, n=5), without producing a shift of the current-voltage curve. It shifted the inactivation curves of sodium current to hyperpolarized potentials, and the V(0.5) was shifted from - (82. 5±2. 5) mV to - (95±2.4) mV (P <0. 05, n=4). 7-Cl-BTHP produced a significant use-dependent effect that was proportional to the duration of the voltage step. In addition, 7-Cl-BTHP slowed the recovery of sodium channel from inactivation, which could explain its use-dependent effects on sodium current. The characteristics of 7-Cl-BTHP blockage suggest that this agent binds preferentially to inactivated sodium channels.

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 enhances discharge activity of cortical neurons

Transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1)has been extensively studied for its pleiotropic effects on central nervous system diseases.The neuroprotective or neurotoxic effects of TGF-β1 in specific brain areas may depend on the pathological process and cell types involved.Voltage-gated sodium channels(VGSCs)are essential ion channels for the generation of action potentials in neurons,and are involved in various neuroexcitation-related diseases.However,the effects of TGF-β1 on the functional properties of VGSCs and firing properties in cortical neurons remain unclear.In this study,we investigated the effects of TGF-β1 on VGSC function and firing properties in primary cortical neurons from mice.We found that TGF-β1 increased VGSC current density in a dose-and time-dependent manner,which was attributable to the upregulation of Nav1.3 expression.Increased VGSC current density and Nav1.3 expression were significantly abolished by preincubation with inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase(PD98059),p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(SB203580),and Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1/2 inhibitor(SP600125).Interestingly,TGF-β1 significantly increased the firing threshold of action potentials but did not change their firing rate in cortical neurons.These findings suggest that TGF-β1 can increase Nav1.3 expression through activation of the ERK1/2-JNK-MAPK pathway,which leads to a decrease in the firing threshold of action potentials in cortical neurons under pathological conditions.Thus,this contributes to the occurrence and progression of neuroexcitatory-related diseases of the central nervous system.

Effects of Intrathecally Administerd NaV1.8 Antisense Oligonucleotide on the Expression of Sodium Channel mRNA in Dorsal Root Ganglion

Neuropathic pain has been hypothesized to be the result of aberrant expression and function of sodium channels at the site of injury. To investigate the effects of NaV1.8 antisense oligonucleotide on the expression of sodium channel mRNA in dorsal root ganglion （DRG） neurons in chronic neuropathic pain. 24 Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200--260 g were anesthetized with the intraperitoneal injection of 300 mg· kg^-1 choral hydrate. The CCI model was made by loose ligation of sciatic nerve trunk by 4--0 chromic gut. The mechanical and thermal pain threshold were measured before operation and 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 days after operation. A PE-10 catheter was implanted in subarachnoid space at lumbar region. On the 7th postoperative day the animals were randomly divided into 4 groups. The drugs were injected intrathecally twice a day for 5 consecutive days in group 2--4. The animals were decapitated 14 days after the surgery. The L4--L6 DRG of the operated side was removed and crushed, and total RNA was extracted with Trizol reagent. The contralateral side was used as control. The change of NaV1.8 sodium channel transcripts was determined by RT-PCR. Pain threshold was significantly lowered after CCI as compared with that in control group and was elevated 3 days after antisense oligonucleotide injection. Sensory neuron specific TTX-R sodium channel NaV1.8 transcript was down-regulated after antisense oligonucleotide injection at the dosage of 45 μg as compared with that in CCI group （P〈0.01）, and it was even greater at the dosage of 90 μg. The intrathecally injected NaV1.8 antisense oligonucleotide can reduce the mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia partially by downregulating the SNS transcript expression.

Effect of Allocryptopine on Late sodium current of atrial myocytes in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Objective To explore the effect of allocryptopine （All） on the Late sodium current （INa,Late） of atrial myocytes in spontaneously hyper- tensive rats （SHR）. Method The enzyme digestion method was used to separate single atrial myocytes from SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rat （WKY） rats. INa,Late was record by patch-clamp technique and the effect of All on the current was evaluated. Results Comparing with WKY cells, markedly increasing of INa,Late current in SHR myocytes was found from 0.24 ± 0.02 pA/pF of WKY cells to 1.73± 0.04 pA/pF of SHR cells （P 〈 0.01, n = 15）. After treament with 30 μmol/L All; the current densities was reduced to 0.92 ± 0.03 pA/pF. The ratio of INa,Late/INa,peak of WKY and SHR were 0.09% ± 0.01% and 0.71% ± 0.02%, INa, Late/INa,peak of SHR was reduced to 0.37% ± 0.02% by 30 μmol/L All （P 〈 0.01, n = 15）. We also determined the effect of All on the gating mechanism of the INa,Late in the SHR cells. It was found that All decreased the INa,Late by alleviating the inactivation of the channels and increasing the window current of sodium channel. Conclusion Increased INa,Late in SHR atrial myocytes and the prolonged APD were inhibited by All coming from Chinese herb medicine.

Effects of hypoxia on sodium current in rat cardiomyocytes

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hypoxia on the sodium current of rat cardiomyocytes in order to explore ion channel mechanism of cardiomyocyte hypoxia.The rat cardiomyocytes were isolated by acute enzymatic hydrolysis.A group of untreated cells were used to record sodium currents using whole-cell patch-clamp technique,another group was subjected to hypoxia and record sodium currents using same technique.The results showed that the morphological trajectory of sodium hypoxia was not changed compared with that of normal cells.The I-V curve of hypoxic cells was significantly higher than that of normal cells,and the peak current of INa was 15.68%higher than that of normal cells(P<0.0001).Activation potential of normal and hypoxia cells was about-40mV,the maximum peak current corresponds to the stimulation voltage of-25mV.The above results suggest that rat cardiomyocytes sodium current increases in the case of hypoxia.

Activin A maintains cerebral cortex neuronal survival and increases voltage-gated Na^+ neuronal current

Activin A, which was first described in 1986, has been shown to maintain hippocampal neuronal survival. Activin A increases intracellular free Ca2＋ via L-type Ca2＋ channels. Our previous study showed that activin A promotes neurite growth of dorsal root ganglia in embryonic chickens and inhibits nitric oxide secretion. The present study demonstrated for the first time that activin A could maintain cerebral cortex neuronal survival in vitro for a long period, and that activin A was shown to increase voltage-gated Na＋ current （/Na） in Neuro-2a cells, which was recorded by patch clamp technique. The present study revealed a novel mechanism for activin A, as well as the influence of activin A on neurons by regulating expressions of vasoactive intestine peptide and inducible nitric oxide synthase.

More severe toxicity of gold nanoparticles with rougher surface in mouse hippocampal neurons

Gold nanoparticles(GNPs)have been extensively used in nanomedicine and neuroscience owing to their biological inertness,peculiar opto-electronic and physico-chemical features.However,the effect of GNPs shape on the neurophysiological properties of single neuron is still unclear.To tackle this issue,different shape GNPs(nanosphere,nanotriakisoctahedron and nanoflower)were synthesized to investigate the effect of GNPs on the voltage-dependent sodium channel and the action potential(AP)of hippocampal CA1 neurons in mice.The results indicated that GNPs inhibited the amplitudes of voltage-gated sodium current(I_(Na))and led to a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage-dependence curve of both activation and inactivation of I_(Na).GNPs also increased neuronal excitability and altered some properties of AP.Moreover,most alterations in AP properties were observed in nanoflower GNPs treated CA1 neurons,suggesting that the neurotoxicity of gold nanoparticles is surface roughness-dependent.These results may provide a valuable direction in the clinical application of GNPs.

Flunarizine inhibits sensory neuron excitability by blocking voltage-gated Na＋ and Ca2＋ currents in trigeminal ganglion neurons

Background Although flunarizine has been widely used for migraine prophylaxis with clear success, the mechanisms of its actions in migraine prophylaxis are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of flunarizine on tetrodotoxin-resistant Na＋ channels and high-voltage activated Ca2＋ channels of acutely isolated mouse trigeminal ganglion neurons. Methods Sodium currents and calcium currents in trigeminal ganglion neurons were monitored using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Paired Student＇s t test was used as appropriate to evaluate the statistical significance of differences between two group means. Results Both tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium currents and high-voltage activated calcium currents were blocked by flunarizine in a concentration-dependent manner with the concentration producing half-maximal current block values of 2.89 μmol/L and 2.73 μmol/L, respectively. The steady-state inactivation curves of tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium currents and high-voltage activated calcium currents were shifted towards more hyperpolarizing potentials after exposure to flunarizine. Furthermore, the actions of flunarizine in blocking tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium currents and high-voltage activated calcium currents were use-dependent, with effects enhanced at higher rates of channel activation. Conclusion Blockades of these currents might help explain the peripheral mechanism underlying the preventive effect of flunarizine on migraine attacks.

Antiarrhythmic ionic mechanism of Guanfu base A—Selective inhibition of late sodium current in isolated ventricular myocytes from guinea pigs

The present study was designed to determine the effects of Guanfu base A(GFA) on the late sodium current(INa.L),transient sodium current(INa.T),HERG current(IHERG),and Kv1.5 current(IKv1.5).The values of INa.L,INa.T,IHERG and IKv1.5 were recorded using the whole-cell patch clamp technique.Compared with other channels,GFA showed selective blocking activity in late sodium channel.It inhibited INa.L in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 of(1.57 ± 0.14) μmol·L-1,which was significantly lower than its IC50 values of(21.17 ± 4.51) μmol·L-1 for the INa.T.The inhibitory effect of GFA on INa,L was not affected by 200μmol·L-1 H2O2.It inhibited IHERG with an IC50 of(273 ± 34) μmol·L-1 and has slight blocking effect on IKv1.5,decreasing IKv1.5 by only 20.6% at 200 μmol·L-1.In summary,GFA inhibited INa.L selectively and remained similar inhibition in presence of reactive oxygen species..These findings may suggest a novel molecular mechanism for the potential clinical application of GFA in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders.

Sodium current kinetics of transitional myocytes in Koch triangle of rabbit hearts

Background Few studies have explored the inward sodium current （INa） kinetics of transitional cardiomyocytes. This study aimed to explore the kinetics of transitional cardiomyocytes types α and β. Methods The whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to study the rapid INa of isolated transitional cardiomyocytes in the Koch triangle of rabbit hearts. Results Maximal amplitude and density of INa in type a and type β was （-1627±288） pA （α）, （-35.17±6.56） pA/pF （β） and （-3845±467） pA （α）, （-65.64±10.23） pA/pF （β） （P 〈0.05）. Steady state activation curves of INa, fitted to a Boltzmann distribution for both types, were sigmoid in shape. Half activation voltage and slope factors did not significantly differ between types at （-43.46±0.85） mV （α）, （-41.39±0.47） mV （β） or （9.04±0.66） mV （α）, （11.08±0.89） mV （β）. Steady state inactivation curves of INa, fitted to a Boltzmann distribution in both types were inverse ＂S＂ shape. Half inactivation voltage and slope factors were （-109.9±0.62） mV （α）, （-107.5±0.49） mV （β） and （11.78±0.36） mV （α）, （11.57±0.27） mV （β）, （P〉0.05）, but time constants of inactivation were significantly different at （1.10±0.19） mV （α） and （2.37±0.33） ms （β）, （P 〈0.05）. Time constants of recovery from inactivation of INa for both types were （122.16±27.43） mV （α） and （103.84±2.8.97） ms （β） （P 〈0.05）. Conclusions Transitional cardiomyocytes in rabbit hearts show a heterogeneous, voltage gated and time dependent fast inward sodium current. Types α and β show the features of INa similar to those in slow- and fast-response myocytes, with probably better automaticity and conductivity, respectively.

Effect of New O-Superfamily Conotoxin on Voltage-Activated Currents of Hippocampal Neurons

The effects of a new O-superfamily conotoxin, SO3, on sodium current (INa), transient A-type potassium currents (IA),and delayed rectified potassium currents (IK), were examined in cultured rat hippocampal neurons using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Addition of SO3 caused a concentration-dependent, rapidly developing, and reversible inhibition of voltage-activated currents. The IC50 values for the blockage of INa , IA, and IK were calculated as 0.49, 33.9, and 7.6 mmol/L, respectively. The determined Hill coefficients were 1.7, 0.6, and 1.2, respectively. These results indicate that SO3 can selectively inhibit neuronal sodium and potassium currents.

Morphological and electrophysiological properties of single myocardial cells from Koch triangle of rabbit heart

Background The morphological and electrophysiological characteristics of cardiac cells in Koch triangle are still disputed. We studied the appearance and electrical properties of these diverse myocytes to elucidate their complex electrophysiological phenomena. Methods Experiments were conducted using cooled charge coupling device （CCD） system and whole cell, patch clamp technique to determine the morphology, action potential and sodium current density of single viable myocytes enzymatically isolated from the Koch triangle of rabbit hearts. Results Morphologically, cardiac cells in shape of spider, tiny spindle, slender spindle, rod and strip were observed in percentage of 3.0±0.3, 35.0±5.0, 15.0±2.0, 40.0±5.0 and 6.0±0.7 respectively. The cellular dimensions and capacitance gradually increased in the above order （all P〈0.05）. Electrophysiologically, action potential configurations recorded from them were similar respectively to nodal （N）, atrial nodal （AN）, nodal Hisian （NH）, atrial （A） and Hisian like potentials obtained from the intact atrioventricular nodal preparations. Diastolic depolarization appeared in all myocytes except for rod cells. Sodium current density increased in the order of tiny spindle, strip, rod, slender spindle cell （all P〈0.05）, but could not be detected in spider-shaped cells. Linear regression analysis revealed that membrane capacitance was correlated negatively to the rate of diastolic depolarization r=-0.70, P〈0.001, but positively to maximum depolarization potential, amplitude of action potential, upstroke velocity and maximum peak value of sodium current density r=0.84, 0.80, 0.87 and 0.75, respectively; all P〈0.001. Conclusions The results demonstrated that spider-shaped, spindle, rod and strip cells in Koch triangle might correspond to pacemaking, transitional, atrial and Purkinje like cells, respectively. Furthermore, tiny spindle and slender spindle cells were referred to transitional cell α （TCα） and β （TCβ） accordingly considering their distinctive electrical properties. Different myocytes with diverse electrical properties constituted the infrastructure of sophisticated electrophysiological phenomena in Koch triangle. In view of the prominent percentage and electrical properties, tiny spindle and slender spindle cells were presumed to play important roles.

Carvedilol Inhibits Na^+ Current in Rat Ventricular Myocytes

Objectives The effects of carvedilol on sodium current （INa） were investigated in isolated adult rat ventricular myocytes. Methods Single ventricular myocytes were enzymatically dissociated. INa was recorded by whole-cell patch- clamp recording technique. Results an IC50of （6. 35 - 0.40） mol . L^- 1. Carvedilol reversibly inhibited INa in a concentration-dependent manner, with 2. This inhibition was voltage- and frequency-dependent. 3. Carvedilol decreased the peak of the I-V relationship curve at -35 mV from （17.31± 1.68） pA/pF to （6. 58 ± 1.35） pA/pF, but did not change active potential, peak potential and the reverse potential significantly. 4. The steady-state inactivation curve of INa was shifted to more negative potentials. Conclusions Carvedilol inhibits INa in adult rat ventricular myocytes by mechanisms involving preferential interaction with the inactivated state of sodium channel.