Ca 2+ channel currents in dorsal root ganglion neurons of P/Q-type voltage-gated Ca 2+ channel mutant mouse, rolling mouse Nagoya

Nao Fukumoto, Naoki Kitamura, Kimie Niimi, Eiki Takahashi, Chitoshi Itakura, Izumi Shibuya

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The role of the P/Q-type voltage-gated Ca 2+ channels (VGCCs) in release of neurotransmitters involved in nociception is not fully understood. Rolling mouse Nagoya (tg rol), a P/Q-type channel mutant mouse, expresses P/Q-type VGCC whose activation curve has a higher half activation potential and a smaller slope factor than the wild type channel. We previously reported that tg rol mice showed hypoalgesic responses to noxious stimuli. In this study, we examined the VGCC current in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons by the whole-cell patch-clamp method. Both ω-agatoxin IVA (0.1μM) and ω-conotoxin GVIA (1μM) inhibited the VGCC current by about 40-50% in both the homozygous tg rol (tg rol/tg rol) and wild type (+/+) mice. The voltage-activation relationships of the total VGCC current and the ω-agatoxin IVA-sensitive component in the tg rol/tg rol mice shifted positively compared to the +/+ mice, whereas that sensitive to the ω-conotoxin GVIA was not different between the two genotypes. The time constant of activation of the VGCC current at -20mV was longer in the tg rol/tg rol mice than in the +/+ mice. These changes in the properties of the VGCC in the tg rol/tg rol mouse may reduce the amount of the released neurotransmitters and account for the hypoalgesic responses.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)199-206
Number of pages8
JournalNeuroscience Research
Volume73
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2012
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Neuroscience(all)

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