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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
18
pubmed:dateCreated
1997-10-3
pubmed:abstractText
The primary sensory Rohon-Beard (R-B) neurons of Xenopus larvae are highly analogous to the C fibers of the mammalian pain pathway. We explored the actions of 5-HT by studying the modulation of Ca2+ currents. In approximately 80% of the acutely isolated R-B neurons, 5-HT inhibited the high voltage-activated (HVA) currents by 16% (n = 29) and the T-type currents by 24% (n = 41). The modulation of the T-type and the HVA currents was mimicked by selective 5-HT1A and 5-HT1D agonists: 8-OH-DPAT and L-694,247. The effects of the agonists were blocked by their respective 5-HT1A or 5-HT1D antagonists: p-MPPI and GR127935, suggesting that both 5-HT1A and 5-HT1D receptors were involved. Approximately 70% of the actions of 5-HT on HVA currents was occluded by omega-conotoxin-GVIA (N-type channel blocker), whereas the rest of the modulation ( approximately 30%) was occluded by <100 nM omega-agatoxin-TK (P/Q-type channel blocker). This suggests that 5-HT acts on N- and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels. Neither the modulation of the T-type nor that of the HVA currents was accompanied by changes in their voltage-dependent kinetics. Cell-attached patch-clamp recordings suggest that the modulation of the T-type channel occurs through a membrane-delimited second messenger. We have studied the functional consequences of the modulation of T-type Ca2+ channels and have found that these channels play a role in spike initiation in R-B neurons. Modulation of T-type channels by 5-HT therefore could modulate the sensitivity of this sensory pathway by increasing the thresholds of R-B neurons. This is a new and potentially important locus for modulation of sensory pathways in vertebrates.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
0270-6474
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
15
pubmed:volume
17
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
6839-49
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1997
pubmed:articleTitle
Serotonergic inhibition of the T-type and high voltage-activated Ca2+ currents in the primary sensory neurons of Xenopus larvae.
pubmed:affiliation
School of Biological and Medical Sciences, St. Andrews University, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TS United Kingdom.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't