Endothelin-1 Decreases Excitability of the Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons via ETB Receptor

Abstract

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been demonstrated to be a pro-nociceptive as well as an anti-nociceptive agent. However, underlying molecular mechanisms for these pain modulatory actions remain unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of ET-1 to alter the nociceptor excitability using a patch clamp technique in acutely dissociated rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. ET-1 produced an increase in threshold current to evoke an action potential (I threshold) and hyperpolarization of resting membrane potential (RMP) indicating decreased excitability of DRG neurons. I threshold increased from 0.25±0.08 to 0.33±0.07nA and hyperpolarized RMP from -57.51±1.70 to -67.41±2.92mV by ET-1 (100nM). The hyperpolarizing effect of ET-1 appears to be orchestrated via modulation of membrane conductances, namely voltage-gated sodium current (I Na) and outward transient potassium current (I KT). ET-1, 30 and 100nM, decreased the peak I Na by 41.3±6.8 and 74±15.2%, respectively. Additionally, ET-1 (100nM) significantly potentiated the transient component (I KT) of the potassium currents. ET-1-induced effects were largely attenuated by BQ-788, a selective ETBR blocker. However, a selective ETAR blocker BQ-123 did not alter the effects of ET-1. A selective ETBR agonist, IRL-1620, mimicked the effect of ET-1 on I Na in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 159.5±92.6μM). In conclusion, our results demonstrate that ET-1 hyperpolarizes nociceptors by blocking I Na and potentiating I KT through selective activation of ETBR, which may represent one of the underlying mechanisms for reported anti-nociceptive effects of ET-1.