Na v1.6 channels generate resurgent sodium currents in spinal sensory neurons

Abstract

The Na v1.6 voltage-gated sodium channel has been implicated in the generation of resurgent currents in cerebellar Purkinje neurons. Our data show that resurgent sodium currents are produced by some large diameter dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from wild-type mice, but not from Na v1.6-null mice; small DRG neurons do not produce resurgent currents. Many, but not all, DRG neurons transfected with Na v1.6 produce resurgent currents. These results demonstrate for the first time the intrinsic ability of Na v1.6 to produce a resurgent current, and also show that cell background is critical in permitting the generation of these currents.