Spontaneous Action Potential Activity Research Articles

Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia Facilitates Action Potential Firing in PVN-projecting MnPO Neurons

Our previous results indicate that Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) enhances glutamatergic neurotransmitter release in PVN-projecting MnPO neurons. Very little information exists regarding how CIH affects the excitability of PVN-projecting MnPO neurons. MnPO neurons exhibit a wide diversity of spontaneous and evoked firing patterns. Initial studies indicate CIH modulates resting membrane properties and AP firing patterns which may be associated with alterations in hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated currents (Ih). The Ih current is an inward current activated by hyperpolarization from the resting potential and is an important modulator of action potential firing frequency. Data were collected in PVN-projecting MnPO neurons which play an important role in CIH-induced hypertension. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats (250-350g) received bilateral PVN injections of 200 nL retrograde adeno-associated virus pAAV-CAG-tdTomato. Three weeks following injections, rats were either exposed to a 7-day intermittent hypoxia protocol consisting of 6 min cycles (3 min 21% O2, 3 min 10% O2) repeated 10x/hr for 8 hours (during the normal inactive/sleep phase) or room air (Norm). Following CIH/Norm treatment, rats were deeply anesthetized and sagittal brain slices of MnPO were prepared using standard slice procedures. Spontaneous activity and responses to current injections were recorded from PVN projecting MnPO neurons using whole cell current-clamp. Data was analyzed off-line using Clampfit. There was a trend for spontaneous activity to be higher in PVN-projecting MnPO neurons from rats exposed to 7 days CIH when compared to normoxic controls (Norm: 2.29 ± 0.51 vs CIH: 3.3 ± 0.84) that was not due to a change in resting membrane potential. The threshold to evoke AP potentials was significantly lower in CIH neurons (5 pA injecting current, 17/19 CIH neurons vs 9/13 Norm neurons, CIH 8.6 ± 0.79 mv vs Norm 13.06±1.53 mv, p<0.01; 10 pA injecting current, 19 CIH neurons vs 12/13 Norm neurons CIH 14.74±0.92 mv vs Norm 19.72 ±1.64 mv, p<0.01). However, evoked action potentials were less sensitive to increasing current injection amplitudes in CIH vs Norm treated rats. Following bath application of the specific Ih blocker ZD7288 (ZD, 30 μm) spontaneous action potential activity was reduced by 24% in Norm neurons and 47% in CIH neurons (p=0.0313). These data demonstrate that CIH facilitates action potential generation in PVN projecting MnPO neurons and changes in Ih currents may contribute to this increase in excitability. R01 HL155977 This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

AT1a-dependent GABAA inhibition in the MnPO following chronic intermittent hypoxia.

Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is associated with diurnal hypertension, increased sympathetic nerve activity (SNA), and increases in circulating angiotensin II (ANG II). In rats, CIH increases angiotensin type 1 (AT1a) receptor expression in the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO), and pharmacological blockade or viral knockdown of this receptor prevents CIH-dependent increases in diurnal blood pressure. The current study investigates the role of AT1a receptor in modulating the activity of MnPO neurons following 7 days of CIH. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received MnPO injections of an adeno-associated virus with an shRNA against the AT1a receptor or a scrambled control. Rats were then exposed to CIH for 8 h a day for 7 days. In vitro, loose patch recordings of spontaneous action potential activity were made from labeled MnPO neurons in response to brief focal application of ANG II or the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol. In addition, MnPO K-Cl cotransporter isoform 2 (KCC2) protein expression was assessed using Western blot. CIH impaired the duration but not the magnitude of ANG II-mediated excitation in the MnPO. Both CIH and AT1a knockdown also impaired GABAA-mediated inhibition, and CIH with AT1a knockdown produced GABAA-mediated excitation. Recordings using the ratiometric Cl- indicator ClopHensorN showed CIH was associated with Cl- efflux in MnPO neurons that was associated with decreased KCC2 phosphorylation. The combination of CIH and AT1a knockdown attenuated reduced KCC2 phosphorylation seen with CIH alone. The current study shows that CIH, through the activity of AT1a receptors, can impair GABAA-mediated inhibition in the MnPO and contribute to sustained hypertension.

Impact of soman and acetylcholine on the effects of propofol in cultured cortical networks

Patients intoxicated with organophosphorous compounds may need general anaesthesia to enable mechanical ventilation or for control of epileptiform seizures. It is well known that cholinergic overstimulation attenuates the efficacy of general anaesthetics to reduce spontaneous network activity in the cortex. However, it is not clear how propofol, the most frequently used intravenous anaesthetic today, is affected. Here, we investigated the effects of cholinergic overstimulation induced by soman and acetylcholine on the ability of propofol to depress spontaneous action potential activity in organotypic cortical slices measured by extracellular voltage recordings.Cholinergic overstimulation by co-application of soman and acetylcholine (10 μM each) did not reduce the relative inhibition of propofol (1.0 μM; mean normalized action potential firing rate 0.49 ± 0.06 of control condition, p < 0.001, Wilcoxon signed rank test) but clearly reduced its efficacy. Co-application of atropine (10 nM) did not improve the efficacy.Propofol preserved its relative inhibitory potential but did not produce a degree of neuronal depression which can be expected to assure hypnosis in humans. Since a combination with atropine did not improve its efficacy, an increase in dosage will probably be necessary when propofol is used in victims suffering from organophosphorous intoxication.

Zolpidem Activation of Alpha 1-Containing GABAA Receptors Selectively Inhibits High Frequency Action Potential Firing of Cortical Neurons.

Introduction: High frequency neuronal activity in the cerebral cortex can be induced by noxious stimulation during surgery, brain injury or poisoning. In this scenario, it is essential to block cortical hyperactivity to protect the brain against damage, e.g., by using drugs that act as positive allosteric modulators at GABAA receptors. Yet, cortical neurons express multiple, functionally distinct GABAA receptor subtypes. Currently there is a lack of knowledge which GABAA receptor subtypes would be a good pharmacological target to reduce extensive cortical activity.Methods: Spontaneous action potential activity was monitored by performing extracellular recordings from organotypic neocortical slice cultures of wild type and GABAAR-α1(H101R) mutant mice. Phases of high neuronal activity were characterized using peri-event time histograms. Drug effects on within-up state firing rates were quantified via Hedges’ g.Results: We quantified the effects of zolpidem, a positive modulator of GABAA receptors harboring α1-subunits, and the experimental benzodiazepine SH-053-2′F-S-CH3, which preferably acts at α2/3/5- but spares α1-subunits. Both agents decreased spontaneous action potential activity but altered the firing patterns in different ways. Zolpidem reduced action potential firing during highly active network states. This action was abolished by flumazenil, suggesting that it was mediated by benzodiazepine-sensitive GABAA receptors. SH-053-2′F-S-CH3 also attenuated neuronal activity, but unlike zolpidem, failed to reduce high frequency firing. To confirm that zolpidem actions were indeed mediated via α1-dependent actions, it was evaluated in slices from wild type and α(H101R) knock-in mice. Inhibition of high frequency action potential firing was observed in slices from wild type but not mutant mice.Conclusion: Our results suggest that during episodes of scarce and high neuronal activity action potential firing of cortical neurons is controlled by different GABAA receptor subtypes. Exaggerated firing of cortical neurons is reduced by positive modulation of α1-, but not α2/3/5-subunit containing GABAA receptors.

AT1a influences GABAA-mediated inhibition through regulation of KCC2 expression.

The median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) is an integrative site involved in body fluid homeostasis, cardiovascular control, thermoregulation, and sleep homeostasis. Angiotensin II (ANG II), a neuropeptide shown to have excitatory effects on MnPO neurons, is of particular interest with regard to its role in body fluid homeostasis and cardiovascular control. The present study investigated the role of angiotensin type 1a (AT1a) receptor activation on neuronal excitability in the MnPO. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were infused with an adeno-associated virus with an shRNA against the AT1a receptor or a scrambled control. In vitro loose-patch voltage-clamp recordings of spontaneous action potential activity were made from labeled MnPO neurons in response to brief focal application of ANG II or the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol. Additionally, tissue punches from MnPO were taken to asses mRNA and protein expression. AT1a receptor knockdown neurons were insensitive to ANG II and showed a marked reduction in GABAA-mediated inhibition. The reduction in GABAA-mediated inhibition was not associated with reductions in mRNA or protein expression of GABAA β-subunits. Knockdown of the AT1a receptor was associated with a reduction in the potassium-chloride cotransporter KCC2 mRNA as well as a reduction in pS940 KCC2 protein. The impaired GABAA-mediated inhibition in AT1a knockdown neurons was recovered by bath application of phospholipase C and protein kinase C activators. The following study indicates that AT1a receptor activation mediates the excitability of MnPO neurons, in part, through the regulation of KCC2. The regulation of KCC2 influences the intracellular [Cl-] and the subsequent efficacy of GABAA-mediated currents.

Kir2 inward rectification-controlled precise and dynamic balances between Kir2 and HCN currents initiate pacemaking activity.

Spontaneous rhythmic action potential or pacemaking activity of pacemaker cells controls rhythmic signaling such as heartbeat. The mechanism underlying the origin of pacemaking activity is not well understood. In this study, we created human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells that show pacemaking activity through heterologous expression of strong inward rectifier K+ subfamily 2 isoform 1 (Kir2.1) channels, hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated isoform 2 (HCN2) nonselective cation channels, and voltage-gated Na+ subfamily 1 isoform 5 or Ca2+ subfamily 3 isoform 1 (Nav1.5 or Cav3.1) channels. A range of relative levels of Kir2.1 and HCN2 currents dynamically counterbalance, generating spontaneous rhythmic oscillation of resting membrane potential between -64 and -34 mV and determining oscillation rates. Each oscillation cycle begins with an autodepolarization phase, which slowly proceeds to the threshold potential that activates Nav1.5 or Cav3.1 channels and triggers action potential, causing engineered HEK293 cells to exhibit pacemaking activity at a rate of ≤67 beats/min. Engineered HEK293 cells with Kir2.1 and either HCN3 or HCN4 also show the oscillation. Engineered HEK293 cells expressing HCN2 and other Kir2 channels, which lack Kir2.1-like complete inward rectification, do not show the oscillation. Therefore, Kir2.1-like inward rectification-controlled precise and dynamic balances between Kir2 and HCN currents initiate spontaneous rhythmic action potential and form an origin of pacemaking activity; Kir2 and HCN channels play essential roles in pacemaking activity.-Chen, K., Zuo, D., Wang, S.-Y. Chen, H. Kir2 inward rectification-controlled precise and dynamic balances between Kir2 and HCN currents initiate pacemaking activity.

108 Neuropathic Pain and Ectopic Spontaneous Action Potential Activity of Human Primary Sensory Neurons

Abstract INTRODUCTION Hyperexcitability of primary sensory neurons and its most extreme form, spontaneous activity, are key cellular-level drivers of neuropathic pain. Though extensively studied in animal models of neuropathic pain and established as a phenomenon occurring in human primary sensory neurons, this altered electrophysiology has not been rigorously studied for human primary sensory neurons nor has its relationship to clinical symptoms of neuropathic pain been established. METHODS The study was approved by the M.D. Anderson IRB. Written informed consent for participation was obtained from each tissue donor. Human dorsal root ganglia and medical histories were obtained from patients undergoing oncological spine surgery that necessitated sacrifice of spinal nerve roots as part of standard of care. Clinical data regarding presence of radicular/neuropathic pain was obtained through retrospective review of medical records or collected at time of study enrollment. Neurons were dissociated from surrounding tissue, briefly maintained in cell-culture (24-72 hours), and examined with whole-cell patch clamp techniques. RESULTS &gt;Electrophysiological recordings were obtained from a total of 110 neurons, dissociated from 23 dorsal root ganglia, donated by 13 patients. Spontaneous activity was noted in 15% (12/79) of neurons from ganglia with pain in a corresponding dermatome vs 0% (0/31) of neurons from pain free ganglia (P &lt; 0.05) Compared to neurons without spontaneous activity, human sensory neurons with spontaneous activity had significantly altered intrinsic membrane properties; depolarized resting membrane potential, hyperexcitability, and altered action potential kinetics (all P &lt; 0.05). CONCLUSION Utilizing whole-cell patch clamp of dissociated human primary sensory neurons from patients both with and without neuropathic pain this study presents two important new findings: 1) first demonstration of a statistically significant association between in vitro spontaneous activity of dissociated human primary sensory neurons and neuropathic pain 2) the first characterization of the altered intrinsic membrane properties associated with spontaneous activity in human primary sensory neurons.

Improving and accelerating the differentiation and functional maturation of human stem cell-derived neurons: role of extracellular calcium and GABA.

Neurons differentiated from pluripotent stem cells using established neural culture conditions often exhibit functional deficits. Recently, we have developed enhanced media which both synchronize the neurogenesis of pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitors and accelerate their functional maturation; together these media are termed SynaptoJuice. This pair of media are pro-synaptogenic and generate authentic, mature synaptic networks of connected forebrain neurons from a variety of induced pluripotent and embryonic stem cell lines. Such enhanced rate and extent of synchronized maturation of pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells generates neurons which are characterized by a relatively hyperpolarized resting membrane potential, higher spontaneous and induced action potential activity, enhanced synaptic activity, more complete development of a mature inhibitory GABAA receptor phenotype and faster production of electrical network activity when compared to standard differentiation media. This entire process - from pre-patterned neural progenitor to active neuron - takes 3weeks or less, making it an ideal platform for drug discovery and disease modelling in the fields of human neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Schizophrenia.

Ih Equalizes Membrane Input Resistance in a Heterogeneous Population of Fusiform Neurons in the Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus.

In a neuronal population, several combinations of its ionic conductances are used to attain a specific firing phenotype. Some neurons present heterogeneity in their firing, generally produced by expression of a specific conductance, but how additional conductances vary along in order to homeostatically regulate membrane excitability is less known. Dorsal cochlear nucleus principal neurons, fusiform neurons, display heterogeneous spontaneous action potential activity and thus represent an appropriate model to study the role of different conductances in establishing firing heterogeneity. Particularly, fusiform neurons are divided into quiet, with no spontaneous firing, or active neurons, presenting spontaneous, regular firing. These modes are determined by the expression levels of an intrinsic membrane conductance, an inwardly rectifying potassium current (IKir). In this work, we tested whether other subthreshold conductances vary homeostatically to maintain membrane excitability constant across the two subtypes. We found that Ih expression covaries specifically with IKir in order to maintain membrane resistance constant. The impact of Ih on membrane resistance is dependent on the level of IKir expression, being much smaller in quiet neurons with bigger IKir, but Ih variations are not relevant for creating the quiet and active phenotypes. Finally, we demonstrate that the individual proportion of each conductance, and not their absolute conductance, is relevant for determining the neuronal firing mode. We conclude that in fusiform neurons the variations of their different subthreshold conductances are limited to specific conductances in order to create firing heterogeneity and maintain membrane homeostasis.

Synergistic Modulation of γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptor-Mediated Synaptic Inhibition in Cortical Networks by Allopregnanolone and Propofol

The neuroactive steroid allopregnanolone (ALLO) is an endogenous allosteric modulator of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors. There is evidence that ALLO, at physiologically relevant concentrations, modulates GABAA receptor function in the cerebral cortex. The widely used anesthetic agent propofol and ALLO share a similar mode of molecular action. Here, we ask how GABAA receptor-mediated synaptic inhibition and action potential firing of neurons in cultured cortical slices are altered by either ALLO or propofol or by coapplying both agents. We explored the effects of ALLO and propofol on spontaneous action potential activity of neocortical neurons in organotypic slices cultured from C57BL6 mice by performing extracellular multiunit recordings. Furthermore, we carried out whole-cell voltage-clamp experiments to quantify the drug effects on GABAA receptor-mediated tonic and phasic currents. We found that ALLO (100 nM) decreased multiunit action potential firing of neocortical neurons by approximately 21%. Moreover, the duration of GABAA receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) was prolonged (mean Δdecay time prolongation: 12.9 ± 2.2 milliseconds; n = 23), and a bicuculline-sensitive tonic current was induced (mean Δbaseline shift: -24.6 ± 13.6 pA; P = .002; n = 6). A subanesthetic concentration of propofol (250 nM) decreased the discharge rates of cortical neurons to a similar degree as ALLO (100 nM). ALLO and propofol administered in combination acted in an additive manner to reduce action potential firing. However, during ALLO administration, propofol was significantly more effective in enhancing GABAergic synaptic transmission. Propofol (250 nM) prolonged the inhibitory postsynaptic currents decay times by 10.4 ± 6.1 milliseconds (n = 9) with ALLO added to the bathing solution; in the absence of ALLO, however, propofol prolonged the decay time by only 3.8 ± 2 milliseconds (n = 13). In cortical neurons, GABAA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission is potentiated by ALLO and propofol in a synergistic manner, whereas the effects on spontaneous action potential activity appear additive. A coapplication of neurosteroids and propofol in general anesthesia and intensive care medicine may open new ways to reduce anesthetic dose requirements and, thus, avoid undesired anesthetic-induced side effects.

Developmental axon stretch stimulates neuron growth while maintaining normal electrical activity, intracellular calcium flux, and somatic morphology.

Elongation of nerve fibers intuitively occurs throughout mammalian development, and is synchronized with expansion of the growing body. While most tissue systems enlarge through mitosis and differentiation, elongation of nerve fibers is remarkably unique. The emerging paradigm suggests that axons undergo stretch as contiguous tissues enlarge between the proximal and distal segments of spanning nerve fibers. While stretch is distinct from growth, tension is a known stimulus which regulates the growth of axons. Here, we hypothesized that the axon stretch-growth process may be a natural form of injury, whereby regenerative processes fortify elongating axons in order to prevent disconnection. Harnessing the live imaging capability of our axon stretch-growth bioreactors, we assessed neurons both during and following stretch for biomarkers associated with injury. Utilizing whole-cell patch clamp recording, we found no evidence of changes in spontaneous action potential activity or degradation of elicited action potentials during real-time axon stretch at strains of up to 18% applied over 5 min. Unlike traumatic axonal injury, functional calcium imaging of the soma revealed no shifts in free intracellular calcium during axon stretch. Finally, the cross-sectional areas of nuclei and cytoplasms were normal, with no evidence of chromatolysis following week-long stretch-growth limited to the lower of 25% strain or 3 mm total daily stretch. The neuronal growth cascade coupled to stretch was concluded to be independent of the changes in membrane potential, action potential generation, or calcium flux associated with traumatic injury. While axon stretch-growth is likely to share overlap with regenerative processes, we conclude that developmental stretch is a distinct stimulus from traumatic axon injury.

MDMA modulates spontaneous firing of subthalamic nucleus neurons in vitro.

3,4-Methylene-dioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') has a broad spectrum of molecular targets in the brain, among them receptors and transporters of the serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and noradrenergic systems. Its action on the serotonergic system modulates motor systems in rodents and humans. Although parts of the basal ganglia could be identified as mediators of the motor effects of MDMA, very little is known about the role of the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Therefore, this study investigated the modulation of spontaneous action potential activity of the STN by MDMA (2.5-20 µM) in vitro. MDMA had very heterogeneous effects, ranging from a complete but reversible inhibition to a more than twofold increase in firing at 5 µM. On average, MDMA excited STN neurons moderately, but lost its excitatory effect in the presence of the 5-HT(2A) antagonist MDL 11,939. 5-HT(1A) receptors did not appear to play a major role. Effects of MDMA on transporters for serotonin (SERT) and norepinephrine (NET) were investigated by coapplication of the reuptake inhibitors citalopram and desipramine, respectively. Similar to the effects of 5-HT(2A) receptor blockade, antagonism of SERT and NET bestowed an inhibitory effect on MDMA. From these results, we conclude that both the 5-HT and the noradrenergic system mediate MDMA-induced effects on STN neurons.

ALX 1393 inhibits spontaneous network activity by inducing glycinergic tonic currents in the spinal ventral horn

BackgroundStrychnine-sensitive glycine receptors are activated by glycine and facilitate chloride influx into neurons. Glycinergic transmission might be either mediated by synaptic or extrasynaptic glycine receptors. While phasic neurotransmission is provided by a synaptic pathway, activation of extrasynaptic glycine receptors induces tonic inhibition. The glycine transporter 2 (GlyT2) regulates the uptake of glycine into presynaptic boutons. It is not determined yet, whether inhibition of GlyT2 by ALX 1393 can produce inhibition of spinal motoric networks and, whether phasic or tonic glycinergic inhibition is mostly enhanced. MethodsWe investigated the effect of ALX 1393 on spontaneous action potential firing activity by extracellular recordings in the ventral horn area of organotypic spinal cultures. Additionally, using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, we defined the influence of GlyT2 inhibition on tonic and phasic glycinergic transmission in commissural interneurons of the ventral horn. ResultsGlyT2 inhibition by ALX 1393 potently reduced neuronal action potential activity in a concentration-dependent manner (n=211). The half maximal effect of ALX 1393 was observed at 100±31nM. Moreover, 88.3±2.6% of the action potential activity was suppressed at 1μM. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings unveiled that ALX 1393 (200nM) induced a tonic current (−45.7±11.6pA, n=5) that was significantly reversed by application of the competitive glycine receptor antagonist strychnine. Contrastingly, phasic glycinergic transmission was not augmented by GlyT2 inhibition (charge transferred per time period for control conditions: 1.1±0.1pC, n=7, for ALX 1393: 0.9±0.2pC, n=7, p>0.05). ConclusionGlyT2 inhibition induced glycinergic tonic currents, which might be the underlying mechanism for the observed suppression of spontaneous action potential activity by ALX 1393 in the spinal ventral horn. Silencing neuronal action potential activity by blocking GlyT2 might be a novel principle to inhibit locomotor circuits in the ventral horn area and to induce muscle relaxation.

Impairment of GABA transporter GAT-1 terminates cortical recurrent network activity via enhanced phasic inhibition

In the central nervous system, GABA transporters (GATs) very efficiently clear synaptically released GABA from the extracellular space, and thus exert a tight control on GABAergic inhibition. In neocortex, GABAergic inhibition is heavily recruited during recurrent phases of spontaneous action potential activity which alternate with neuronally quiet periods. Therefore, such activity should be quite sensitive to minute alterations of GAT function. Here, we explored the effects of a gradual impairment of GAT-1 and GAT-2/3 on spontaneous recurrent network activity – termed network bursts and silent periods – in organotypic slice cultures of rat neocortex. The GAT-1 specific antagonist NO-711 depressed activity already at nanomolar concentrations (IC50 for depression of spontaneous multiunit firing rate of 42 nM), reaching a level of 80% at 500–1000 nM. By contrast, the GAT-2/3 preferring antagonist SNAP-5114 had weaker and less consistent effects. Several lines of evidence pointed toward an enhancement of phasic GABAergic inhibition as the dominant activity-depressing mechanism: network bursts were drastically shortened, phasic GABAergic currents decayed slower, and neuronal excitability during ongoing activity was diminished. In silent periods, NO-711 had little effect on neuronal excitability or membrane resistance, quite in contrast to the effects of muscimol, a GABA mimetic which activates GABAA receptors tonically. Our results suggest that an enhancement of phasic GABAergic inhibition efficiently curtails cortical recurrent activity and may mediate antiepileptic effects of therapeutically relevant concentrations of GAT-1 antagonists.

Anaesthetic potency of diazepam is resistant to cholinergic overstimulation

Patients suffering from organophosphorus intoxication are compromised by generalised seizures and respiratory insufficiency, either being potentially lethal. In these patients induction of general anaesthesia to allow artificial ventilation is an important therapeutic option. Previously, it has been demonstrated that cholinergic overstimulation impaired network depressing effects of etomidate and sevoflurane. In this study we tested the impact of cholinergic overstimulation on inhibitory effects of diazepam in organotypic slice cultures of cerebrocortical neurons. Effects of clinically relevant concentrations of diazepam on spontaneous action potential activity were assessed by extracellular action potential recordings under basal cholinergic tone as well as in the presence of acetylcholine (1 μM). Diazepam at anaesthetic concentrations (25–500 μM) impeded spontaneous network activity in a concentration dependent manner (EC 50 80.5 ± 8.0 μM). In the presence of 1 μM acetylcholine the potency of diazepam was not significantly altered (EC 50 83.6 ± 8.4 μM). The results demonstrate that the potency of diazepam to depress neocortical network-excitability is not significantly impaired by cholinergic overstimulation. Diazepam thereby differs from other anaesthetics like etomidate or sevoflurane whose potencies and efficacies were severely attenuated. Hence diazepam might be preferable for induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia in patients suffering from nerve agent intoxication.

Position-dependent patterning of spontaneous action potentials in immature cochlear inner hair cells.

Spontaneous action potential activity is crucial for mammalian sensory system development. In the auditory system, patterned firing activity has been observed in immature spiral ganglion cells and brain-stem neurons and is likely to depend on cochlear inner hair cell (IHC) action potentials. It remains uncertain whether spiking activity is intrinsic to developing IHCs and whether it shows patterning. We found that action potentials are intrinsically generated by immature IHCs of altricial rodents and that apical IHCs exhibit bursting activity as opposed to more sustained firing in basal cells. We show that the efferent neurotransmitter ACh, by fine-tuning the IHC’s resting membrane potential (Vm), is crucial for the bursting pattern in apical cells. Endogenous extracellular ATP also contributes to the Vm of apical and basal IHCs by activating SK2 channels. We hypothesize that the difference in firing pattern along the cochlea instructs the tonotopic differentiation of IHCs and auditory pathway.

Functional Properties of Suburothelial Microvessels in the Rat Bladder

We investigated the properties of suburothelial microvessels, which have a vital role in maintaining microcirculation to cells involved in bladder afferent signaling. Changes in the diameter of rat bladder suburothelial microvessels were measured using video microscopy. Membrane potential changes and intracellular Ca(2+) dynamics of suburothelial venules were examined using intracellular recording techniques and Ca(2+) imaging of fluo-4 fluorescence, respectively. Suburothelial venules showed spontaneous action potential and vasoconstriction activity while suburothelial arterioles were quiescent. Venular vasoconstriction was prevented by cyclopiazonic acid or nicardipine and decreased by 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, niflumic acid or 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid. Venular smooth muscle cells and perivascular interstitial cells showed spontaneous Ca(2+) transients. Nicardipine decreased the amplitude and disrupted the synchronicity of Ca(2+) transients in and between the 2 cell populations. Residual Ca(2+) transients in nicardipine occurred asynchronously and were abolished by cyclopiazonic acid. Suburothelial arterioles constricted in response to transmural nerve stimulation. These nerve induced constrictions were suppressed by prazosin or the selective α(1A) blocker RS17053 but not by the α(1D) blocker BMY7378. Remaining constrictions were abolished by guanethidine. Spontaneous vasoconstriction of suburothelial venules appears to result upon Ca(2+) release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum upon activation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors. This Ca(2+) opens Ca(2+) activated Cl(-) channels to trigger action potentials and Ca(2+) influx through L-type Ca(2+) channels. Adjacent perivascular interstitial cells may also have a role in generating this spontaneous venular vasoconstriction. In contrast, sympathetic nerve released noradrenaline acts on α(1A)-adrenoceptors to constrict suburothelial arterioles.

Interactions between atropine and etomidate in cortical and spinal networks during cholinergic crisis

General anaesthesia is an important measure in the treatment of patients suffering from organophosphorus intoxication. The intravenous anaesthetic etomidate seems to be well suited for this purpose because of its stable haemodynamics. Here we raise the question whether the anaesthetic properties of etomidate are altered by cholinergic overstimulation and by the cholinergic antagonist atropine. As the neocortex and spinal cord mediate unconsciousness and immobility, organotypic cultures from these regions were used for pharmacological in vitro studies. The effects of etomidate on spontaneous action potential activity were assessed by extracellular action potential recordings under basal cholinergic tone, in the presence of acetylcholine, and in the additional presence of atropine. Etomidate (1 μM) depressed neuronal activity in cortical slices by 47.5 ± 6.9%, but only by 24.9 ± 16.7% in the presence of acetylcholine. If atropine (10 nM) was given in addition, the depression by etomidate was restored (53.4 ± 4.2%). Similar results were obtained using cultured slices from the spinal cord. In summary, cholinergic overstimulation decreased the ability of etomidate to depress neuronal activity in neocortex and spinal cord. Atropine reversed this decrease. Hence, etomidate is potentially applicable for induction of anaesthesia in patients suffering from severe cholinergic crisis, preconditioned that atropine is co-applied.

Atropine increases sevoflurane potency in cortical but not spinal networks during cholinergic overstimulation

In the event of mass destruction with nerve agents a number of victims can be expected to suffer from symptoms of cholinergic overstimulation due to intoxication as well as from physical trauma. Since previous studies have demonstrated that cholinesterase inhibitors may reverse general anaesthesia in humans this scenario raises the question of how these patients can be anaesthetised in order to enable surgical interventions. A likely reason for this reversal is a reduction of anaesthetic potency by acetylcholine as observed for volatile anaesthetics in vitro. In order to test whether a combination of cholinergic antagonists with general anaesthetics improves their potency, we investigated the effects of clinically relevant concentrations of atropine on sevoflurane potency in cortical and spinal slice cultures during cholinergic overstimulation. As the spinal cord and neocortex are important substrates for general anaesthetics cultured spinal and cortical tissue slices were obtained from embryonic and newborn mice, respectively. Drug effects were assessed by extracellular voltage recordings of spontaneous action potential activity. Application of acetylcholine elevated spontaneous activity in neocortical and spinal slices. Atropine (10 nM) reduced discharge rates and reversed the increase of spontaneous activity induced by acetylcholine. In the presence of acetylcholine and atropine sevoflurane caused a concentration-dependent decrease of neuronal activity in neocortical (EC 50 = 0.35 ± 0.33 MAC) and spinal slices (EC 50 = 0.43 ± 0.03 MAC). Comparing our results with previous studies which investigated the effects of acetylcholine on anaesthetic potency it is concluded that small concentrations of atropine increase sevoflurane potency in cortical networks during cholinergic overstimulation. Thus, in a clinical setting, we recommend that anaesthetic drugs should be co-applied with atropine for adequate performance of general anaesthesia.

K+ Channel Regulator KCR1 Suppresses Heart Rhythm by Modulating the Pacemaker Current If

Hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide sensitive (HCN) channels underlie the pacemaker current If, which plays an essential role in spontaneous cardiac activity. HCN channel subunits (HCN1-4) are believed to be modulated by additional regulatory proteins, which still have to be identified. Using biochemistry, molecularbiology and electrophysiology methods we demonstrate a protein-protein interaction between HCN2 and the K+ channel regulator protein 1, named KCR1. In coimmunoprecipitation experiments we show that KCR1 and HCN2 proteins are able to associate. Heterologously expressed HCN2 whole-cell current density was significantly decreased by KCR1. KCR1 profoundly suppressed IHCN2 single-channel activity, indicating a functional interaction between KCR1 and the HCN2 channel subunit. Endogenous KCR1 expression could be detected in adult and neonatal rat ventriculocytes. Adenoviral-mediated overexpression of KCR1 in rat cardiomyocytes (i) reduced If whole-cell currents, (ii) suppressed most single-channel gating parameters, (iii) altered the activation kinetics, (iv) suppressed spontaneous action potential activity, and (v) the beating rate. More importantly, siRNA-based knock-down of endogenous KCR1 increased the native If current size and single-channel activity and accelerated spontaneous beating rate, supporting an inhibitory action of endogenous KCR1 on native If. Our observations demonstrate for the first time that KCR1 modulates IHCN2/If channel gating and indicate that KCR1 serves as a regulator of cardiac automaticity.