Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J J Lambert.
The interaction of ketamine with the 5-HT3 receptor of rabbit nodose ganglion neurones is described. Ketamine (3-30 microM) enhanced 5-HT3 receptor-mediated currents recorded under voltage-clamp conditions. This action did not appear to be related to the known effect of ketamine of inhibiting 5-HT uptake.
1. The interaction of the intravenous general anaesthetic propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) with the GABAA receptor has been investigated in voltage-clamped bovine chromaffin cells and rat cortical neurones in cell culture. Additionally, the effects of propofol on the glycine and GABAA receptors of murine spinal neurones were determined. 2. Propofol (1.7-16.8 microM) reversibly and dose-dependently potentiated the amplitude of membrane currents elicited by GABA (100 microM) applied locally to bovine chromaffin cells. Intracellular application of propofol (16.8 microM) was ineffective. In rat cortical neurones and murine spinal neurones, extracellular application of 8.4 microM and 1.7-16.8 microM propofol respectively produced a potentiation of GABA-evoked currents qualitatively similar to that seen in the bovine chromaffin cell. 3. The potentiation by propofol (1.7 microM) was not associated with a change in the reversal potential of the GABA-evoked whole cell current. On outside-out membrane patches isolated from bovine chromaffin cells, propofol (1.7 microM) had little or no effect on the GABA single channel conductances, but greatly increased the probability of the GABA-gated channel being in the conducting state. 4. The potentiation of GABA-evoked whole cell currents by propofol (1.7 microM) was not influenced by the benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil (0.3 microM). A concentration of propofol (1.7 microM) that substantially potentiated GABA currents had little effect on currents induced by the activation of the GABAA receptor by pentobarbitone (1 mM). 5. Bath application of propofol (8.4-252 microM), to bovine chromaffin cells voltage clamped at -60 mV, induced an inward current associated with an increase in membrane current noise on all cells sensitive to GABA. Intracellular application of propofol (16.8 microM) was ineffective in this respect. Local application of propofol (600 microM) induced whole cell currents with a reversal potential dependent upon the Cl- gradient across the cell membrane. 6. On outside-out membrane patches formed from bovine chromaffin cells, propofol (30 microM) induced single channels with mean chord conductances of 29 and 12 pS. The frequency of propofol channels was greatly reduced by coapplication of 1 microM bicuculline. Under identical ionic conditions, GABA (1 microM) activated single channels with mean chord conductances of 33, 16 and 10pS. 7. Bath applied propofol (0.84-16.8 microM) dose-dependently potentiated strychnine-sensitive currents evoked by glycine (100 microM) in murine spinal neurones. 8. The relevance of the present results to the general anaesthetic action of propofol is discussed.
5-HT3 receptor-mediated membrane currents were recorded from voltage-clamped clonal N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells. The inward current response to ionophoretically applied serotonin (5-HT) was reversibly antagonised by the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists GR 38032F and metoclopramide with IC50 values of 0.2 nM and 14 nM, respectively. Low concentrations of (+)-tubocurarine [+)-Tc) also blocked the response to 5-HT (IC50 = 0.8 nM), but other nicotinic cholinoceptor antagonists (gallamine, vecuronium and trimetaphan) were ineffective when applied at a relatively high concentration (1 microM). Blockade by (+)-Tc was neither voltage- nor use-dependent, suggesting that (+)-Tc does not block 5-HT-activated ion channels in N1E-115 cells.
The effect of some endogenous and synthetic steroids on the operation of inhibitory and excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter receptors was examined. Anaesthetic pregnane steroids (e.g. alphaxalone, 5 alpha-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one, 5 alpha-pregnane-3 alpha,21-diol-20-one) potentiated GABAA receptor-mediated whole-cell currents recorded from bovine chromaffin cells. The threshold concentration for enhancement was 10-30 nM. Potentiation was stereoselective and was mediated by a steroid-induced prolongation of the burst duration of the GABA-activated channel. Additionally, the pregnane steroids directly activated the GABAA receptor. Both the potentiation and activation appear to be mediated through a site(s) distinct from the well-known barbiturate and benzodiazepine allosteric sites of the GABAA receptor. Intracellularly applied alphaxalone and 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one had no discernible effects on the GABAA receptor, suggesting that the steroid binding site can only be accessed extracellularly. Unlike behaviourally depressant barbiturates, which modulate GABAA receptor function in a manner similar to that of the pregnane steroids, alphaxalone and 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one show striking pharmacological selectivity. Voltage-clamp recordings from rat central neurons in culture indicate that pentobarbitone exerts its potentiating and GABA-mimetic effects over a range of concentrations which also depress currents mediated by glutamate receptor subtypes. In contrast, alphaxalone and several endogenous steroids greatly enhance responses to GABA, but have no direct effect on glutamate receptors. Such pharmacological selectivity, coupled with appropriate stereoselectivity of action, suggests that the GABAA receptor mediates some of the behavioural effects of synthetic and endogenous pregnane steroids.
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The complex modulation of cytoplasmic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]c) in primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells in response to glutamate receptor agonists has been the subject of several contradictory reports. We here show that 3 components of the [Ca2+]c response can be distinguished: (1) Ca2+ entry through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, following KCl- or receptor-evoked depolarization, (2) Ca2+ entry through NMDA receptor channels, and (3) liberation of internal Ca2+ via a metabolotropic receptor. Depolarization with KCl induced a transient [Ca2+]c response (subject to voltage inactivation) decaying to a sustained plateau (largely inhibited by nifedipine). The NMDA response was potentiated by glycine, totally inhibited by (+)5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801), and blocked by Mg2+ in a voltage-sensitive manner. Polarized cells displayed small responses to quisqualate (QA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA). Depolarization enhanced a transient response to QA, but not to AMPA. Trans-1-amino-1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid (trans-ACPD), a selective agonist for the metabolotropic glutamate receptor, caused a transient elevation of [Ca2+]c, which was blocked by prior exposure to QA but not AMPA. The prolonged [Ca2+]c response to kainate (KA) can be resolved into 2 major components: an indirect NMDA receptor-mediated response due to released glutamate and a nifedipine-sensitive component consistent with depolarization-mediated entry via Ca2+ channels. 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), QA at greater than 10 microM, and AMPA (but not trans-ACPD) reversed the KA response, consistent with an inactivation of the KA receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The characteristics and function of gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors expressed on bovine chromaffin cells in culture have been investigated using patch-clamp techniques. In voltage-clamped whole-cells, locally applied GABA (100 microM) evoked a transmembrane chloride current which demonstrated outward rectification. The amplitude of such currents was reversibly suppressed by the GABAA receptor antagonists bicuculline, picrotoxin and RU5135, and enhanced by the general anaesthetic propanidid. Glycine (100 microM) and baclofen (100 microM) were ineffective as agonists. In support of a physiological role for GABA in the adrenal medulla, the co-existence of GABAA and nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors was demonstrated on whole cells and outside-out membrane patches. Ionophoretically applied GABA reduced the amplitude of depolarization and action potential discharge occurring in response to locally applied ACh (100 microM), but had no effect upon the underlying ACh-induced current. In addition, an excitatory action of GABA was demonstrated by recording action potential waveforms in cell-attached patches. The results are discussed in the context of a GABA-ergic regulation of catecholamine secretion.
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1. Some possible molecular mechanisms of action of the anxiolytic, anticonvulsant and neuroprotective agent MK-801 have been examined in 'whole-cell' voltage clamp recordings performed on rat hippocampal and cortical neurones, bovine adrenomedullary chromaffin cells and N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells maintained in cell culture. 2. Transmembrane currents recorded from rat hippocampal and cortical neurones in response to locally applied N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) were antagonized by MK-801 (0.1-3.0 microM). Blockade was use-dependent, and little influenced by transmembrane potential. MK-801 (3 microM) had no effect on currents evoked by kainate (100 microM). 3. The antagonism of NMDA-induced currents by MK-801 was only slowly and incompletely reversed when the cell membrane potential was clamped at -60 mV during washout. Prolonged applications of NMDA at +40, but not -60 mV during washout, markedly accelerated recovery from block. 4. In contrast to MK-801, ketamine (10 microM) blocked NMDA-induced currents in a voltage-dependent manner. Blockade increased with membrane hyperpolarization and was completely reversible upon washout. 5. MK-801 (1-10 microM) produced a voltage- and concentration-dependent block of membrane currents elicited by ionophoretically applied acetylcholine (ACh) recorded from bovine chromaffin cells. The block was readily reversible upon washout. 6. gamma-Aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor-mediated chloride currents of chromaffin cells were unaffected by MK-801 (1-100 microM). In contrast, such currents were potentiated by diazepam (1 microM). MK-801 (100 microM) had no effect on currents evoked by GABA on hippocampal neurones. 7. MK-801 (10 microM) had little effect on membrane currents recorded from N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells in response to ionophoretically applied 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Such currents were antagonized by the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist GR 38032F (1 nM) and also by MK-801 at high concentration (100 microM). 8. Voltage-activated, tetrodotoxin-sensitive, sodium currents of chromaffin cells were unaffected by 10 microM MK-801. However, at a relatively high concentration (100 microM), MK-801 reduced the amplitude of such currents to approximately 77% of control. 9. The relevance of the present results to the central actions of MK-801 is discussed.
1 The characteristics of transmembrane currents evoked by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the neuroblastoma x Chinese hamster brain cell line NCB-20 and neuroblastoma clonal cell line N1E-115 have been studied under voltage-clamp conditions by the whole-cell recording and outside-out membrane patch modes of the patch-clamp technique. 2 In 73% of NCB-20 cells examined (n = 221), and all N1E-115 cells studied (n = 80), 5-HT (10 microM) elicited a transient inward current at negative holding potentials, this being associated with an increase in membrane conductance. In both cell lines responses to 5-HT reversed in sign at a potential of approximately -2 mV and demonstrated inward rectification. 3 The reversal potential of 5-HT-induced currents (E5-HT) recorded from either NCB-20 or N1E-115 cells was unaffected by total replacement of internal K+ by Cs+. In N1E-115 cells, reducing internal K+ concentration from 140 to 20 mM produced a positive shift in E5-HT of approximately 28 mV, whereas reducing external Na+ from 143 to 20 mM was associated with a negative shift in E5-HT of about 37 mV. A large reduction in internal Cl- concentration (from 144 to 6 mM) had little effect on E5-HT. 4 5-HT-induced currents of NCB-20 cells were unaffected by methysergide (1 microM) or ketanserin (1 microM), but were reversibly antagonized by GR38032F (0.1-1.0 nM) with an IC50 of 0.25 nM. GR 38032F (0.3 nM) reduced 5-HT-induced currents in N1E-115 cells to approximately 26% of their control value. 5 On outside-out membrane patches excised from both NCB-20 and N1E-115 cells, 5-HT induced small inward currents which could not be clearly resolved into discrete single channel events. Such responses were: (i) reversibly antagonized by GR 38032F (1 nM) (ii) reversed in sign at 0 mV, and (iii) subject to desensitization. 6 Fluctuation analysis of inward currents evoked by 5-HT (1 microM) in N1E-115 cells suggests that 5-HT gates a channel with a conductance of approximately 310fS. Such a relatively small conductance could readily explain why the response of outside-out membrane patches to 5-HT cannot at present be resolved into clear single channel events.
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The influence of extracellular calcium and magnesium ion concentrations upon 5-HT3 receptor-gated membrane currents in murine N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells has been studied under voltage-clamp conditions. A decrease in the concentration of either Ca2+ or Mg2+ from their standard values of 1.0 and 2.0 mM respectively augmented both the amplitude and duration of the 5-HT-induced current, whereas elevating the concentration of either divalent cation produced the opposite effect. Such modulation did not involve a change in the reversal potential of the response.
1. The modulation of the gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor by reduced metabolites of progesterone and deoxycorticosterone has been compared with that produced by depressant barbiturates in: (a) voltage-clamp recordings from bovine enzymatically isolated chromaffin cells in cell culture, and (b) an assay of the specific binding of [3H]-muscimol to a preparation of porcine brain membranes. 2. The progesterone metabolites 5 alpha- and 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one (greater than or equal to 30 nM) reversibly and dose-dependently enhanced the amplitude of membrane currents elicited by locally applied GABA (100 microM), and over the concentration range 30 nM-100 microM stimulated the binding of [3H]-muscimol. In contrast, 5 alpha- and 5 beta-pregnan-3 beta-ol-20-one (30 nM-100 microM) had little effect in either assay, indicating a marked stereoselectivity of steroid action. 3. Scatchard analysis of the ligand binding data suggested an apparent increase in the number, rather than the affinity, of detectable [3H]-muscimol binding sites as the principle action of the active steroid isomers. 4. GABA-evoked currents were also potentiated by androsterone (1 microM) and the deoxycorticosterone metabolite 5 alpha-pregnane-3 alpha,21-diol-20-one (100 nM). 5. Secobarbitone (10-100 microM), pentobarbitone (10-300 microM) and phenobarbitone (100-500 microM) reversibly and dose-dependently potentiated the amplitude of GABA-evoked currents in the absence of any change in their reversal potential. 6. At relatively high concentrations (greater than or equal to 30 microM) secobarbitone and pentobarbitone directly elicited a membrane current. It is concluded that such currents result from GABAA receptor-channel activation since they share a common reversal potential with GABA-evoked responses (approximately 0 mV), are reversibly antagonized by bicuculline (3 microM), and potentiated by either diazepam (1 microM) or 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one (500 nM). 7. Secobarbitone (1 microM-1 mM) dose-dependently enhanced the binding of [3H]-muscimol. In common with the active steroids, an increase in the apparent number of binding sites was responsible for this effect. 8. A saturating concentration (1 mM) of secobarbitone in the ligand binding assay did not suppress the degree of enhancement of control binding produced by 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one (30 nM-100 microM). Similarly the steroid, at a concentration of 100 microM, did not influence the enhancement of [3H]-muscimol binding by secobarbitone (1 microM-1 mM). In all combinations of concentrations tested, the effects of secobarbitone and 5#-pregnan-3a-ol-20-one on [3H]-muscimol binding were additive. 9. In conjunction with previously published observations, the present data indicate close similarities in the GABA-mimetic and potentiating actions of barbiturates and steroids. However, the results obtained with combinations of steroids and barbiturates in the ligand binding assay appear inconsistent with the two classes of compound interacting with a common site to modulate the GABAA receptor activity.
The naturally occurring progesterone metabolites 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one and 5 beta-pregnane-3,20-dione reversibly enhance membrane currents elicited by locally applied GABA in bovine adrenomedullary chromaffin cells. Such potentiation was not influenced by the benzodiazepine antagonist Ro 15-1788. At concentrations in excess of those necessary to evoke potentiation of GABA currents, 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one and 5 beta-pregane-3,20-dione directly activated a membrane conductance. The resulting currents were potentiated by phenobarbitone and diazepam, and abolished by the GABAA-receptor antagonist, bicuculline. On outside-out membrane patches, 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one and 5 beta-pregnane-3,20-dione activated single channel currents of similar amplitude to those evoked by GABA. The results suggest that certain naturally occurring steroids potentiate the actions of GABA and, additionally, directly activate the GABAA receptor.
The modulation of the gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor by alphaxalone has been investigated by use of voltage-clamp recordings from enzymatically isolated bovine chromaffin cells maintained in cell culture. Alphaxalone (greater than 30 nM) reversibly and dose-dependently potentiated the amplitude of membrane currents elicited by locally applied GABA (100 microM). The potentiation was not associated with a change in the reversal potential of GABA-evoked currents and was not influenced by the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, Ro15-1788 (300 nM). At relatively high concentrations (greater than 1 microM), alphaxalone directly elicited a membrane current. It is concluded that such currents result from GABAA receptor activation since they were reversibly suppressed by bicuculline (3 microM), dose-dependently enhanced by phenobarbitone (100-500 microM), and had a similar reversal potential (approximately 0 mV) to currents elicited by GABA. Additionally, on outside-out membrane patches, alphaxalone activated single channel currents with amplitudes and a reversal potential similar to those evoked by GABA. Alphaxalone (30 nM-1 microM) had no effect upon the amplitude of membrane currents elicited by locally applied acetylcholine (ACh) (100 microM). However, higher concentrations of alphaxalone (10-100 microM) reversibly suppressed ACh-evoked currents, the IC50 for blockade being 20 microM. The beta-hydroxy isomer of alphaxalone, betaxalone (100 nM-1 microM), did not potentiate GABA-induced currents, nor did higher concentrations of the steroid (10-100 microM) directly evoke a membrane current. However, over the latter concentration range, betaxalone suppressed the amplitude of currents elicited either by GABA or ACh. The relevance of the present results to the anaesthetic action of alphaxalone is discussed together with the broader implications of steroidal modulation of the GABAA receptor.
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A description is given of a system for rapidly measuring the durations of open times and closed times of single channel currents obtained by patch clamp techniques. The apparatus required, a BBC microcomputer and a Unilab interface, is inexpensive and easy to use. An outline of the software is given and measurements of the accuracy of timings presented. Examples of analyses of single channel currents obtained from spinal neurones in cultures are also presented.
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