Morphological and electrophysiological properties of C-cells in bullfrog dorsal root ganglia

Expression of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channels in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons innervating urinary bladder

Afferent pathways innervating the urinary bladder consist of myelinated Adelta- and unmyelinated C-fibers, the neuronal cell bodies of which correspond to medium and small-sized cell populations of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, respectively. Since hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation (HCN) channel currents have been identified in various peripheral sensory neurons, we examined the expression of isoforms of HCN channels in the L6-S1 spinal cord and bladder afferent neurons from L6-S1 DRG in rats. Among HCN-1, HCN-2 and HCN-4 channel subtypes, positive staining with HCN-2 antibodies was found in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord and small- and medium-sized unidentified DRG neurons. In dye-labeled bladder afferent neurons, HCN-2-positive cells were found in approximately 60% of neurons, and HCN-2 was expressed in both small- and medium-sized neurons with a higher ratio (expression ratio: 61% and 50% of neurons, respectively) compared with unidentified DRG neurons, in which the HCN expression ratio was 47% and 21% of small- and medium-sized cells, respectively. These results suggest that HCN-2 is the predominant subtype of HCN channels, which can control neuronal excitability, in small-sized C-fiber and medium-sized Adelta fiber DRG neurons including bladder afferent neurons, and might modulate activity of bladder afferent pathways controlling the micturition reflex.

Characterization of hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) in dorsal root ganglion neurons innervating rat urinary bladder

Afferent pathways innervating the urinary bladder consist of myelinated Adelta-fibers and unmyelinated C-fibers. Normal voiding is dependent on mechanoceptive Adelta-fiber bladder afferents that respond to bladder distention. However, the mechanisms for controlling the excitability of Adelta-fiber bladder afferents are not fully understood. We therefore used whole cell patch-clamp techniques to investigate the properties of hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) currents (I(h)) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons innervating the urinary bladder of rats. The neurons were identified by axonal tracing with a fluorescent dye, Fast Blue, injected into the bladder wall. Hyperpolarizing voltage step pulses from -40 to -130 mV produced voltage- and time-dependent inward I(h) currents in bladder afferent neurons. The amplitude and current density of I(h) at a holding potential of -130 mV was significantly larger in medium-sized bladder afferent neurons (diameter: 37.8 +/- 0.3 microm), a small portion (19%) of which were sensitive to capsaicin (1 microM), than in uniformly capsaicin-sensitive small-sized (27.6 +/- 0.5 microm) bladder neurons. In medium-sized bladder neurons, a selective HCN channel inhibitor, ZD7288, dose-dependently inhibited I(h) currents. ZD7288 (10 microM) also increased the time constant of the slow depolarization phase of spike after-hyperpolarization from 91.8 to 233.0 ms. These results indicate that I(h) currents are predominantly expressed in medium-sized bladder afferent neurons innervating the bladder and that inhibition of I(h) currents delayed recovery from the spike after-hyperpolarization. Thus, it is assumed that I(h) currents could control excitability of mechanoceptive Adelta-fiber bladder afferent neurons, which are usually capsaicin-insensitive and larger in size than capsaicin-sensitive C-fiber bladder afferent neurons.

A functional role for small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels in sensory pathways including nociceptive processes

We investigated the role of small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) and intermediate-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels in modulating sensory transmission from peripheral afferents into the rat spinal cord. Subunit-specific antibodies reveal high levels of SK3 immunoreactivity in laminas I, II, and III of the spinal cord. Among dorsal root ganglion neurons, both peripherin-positive (C-type) and peripherin-negative (A-type) cells show intense SK3 immunoreactivity. Furthermore, dorsal root-stimulated sensory responses recorded in vitro are inhibited when SK channel activity is increased with 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone (1-EBIO). In vivo electrophysiological recordings show that neuronal responses to naturally evoked nociceptive and nonnociceptive stimuli increase after application of the selective SK channel blocker 8,14-diaza-1,7(1,4)-diquinolinacyclotetradecaphanedium di-trifluoroacetate (UCL 1848), indicating that SK channels are normally active in moderating afferent input. Conversely, neuronal responses evoked by mechanical stimuli are inhibited when SK channel activity is increased with 1-EBIO. These effects are reversed by the subsequent application of UCL 1848. Our data demonstrate that SK channels have an important role in controlling sensory input into the spinal cord.

The cAMP transduction cascade mediates the PGE2-induced inhibition of potassium currents in rat sensory neurones

1. The role of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) transduction cascade in mediating the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-induced decrease in potassium current (IK) was investigated in isolated embryonic rat sensory neurones using the whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique. 2. Exposure to 100 microM chlorophenylthio-adenosine cyclic 3', 5'-monophosphate (cpt-cAMP) or 1 microM PGE2 caused a slow suppression of the whole-cell IK by 34 and 36 %, respectively (measured after 20 min), without a shift in the voltage dependence of activation for this current. Neither of these agents altered the shape of the voltage-dependent inactivation curve indicating that the suppression of IK did not result from alterations in the inactivation properties. 3. To determine whether the PGE2-mediated suppression of IK depended on activation of the cAMP pathway, cells were exposed to this prostanoid in the presence of the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, PKI. The PGE2-induced suppression of IK was prevented by PKI. In the absence of PGE2, PKI had no significant effect on the magnitude of IK. 4. Results obtained from protocols using different conditioning prepulse voltages indicated that the extent of cpt-cAMP- and PGE2-mediated suppression of IK was independent of the prepulse voltage. The subtraction of control and treated currents revealed that the cpt-cAMP- and PGE2-sensitive currents exhibited little time-dependent inactivation. Taken together, these results suggest that the modulated currents may be delayed rectifier-like IK. 5. Exposure to the inhibitors of IK, tetraethylammonium (TEA) or 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), reduced the control current elicited by a voltage step to +60 mV by 40-50 %. In the presence of 10 mM TEA, treatment with cpt-cAMP did not result in any further inhibition of IK. In contrast, cpt-cAMP reduced IK by an additional 25-30 % in the presence of 1 mM 4-AP. This effect was independent of the conditioning prepulse voltage. 6. These results establish that PGE2 inhibits an outward IK in sensory neurones via activation of PKA and are consistent with the idea that the PGE2-mediated sensitization of sensory neurones results, in part, from an inhibition of delayed rectifier-like IK.

Modulation of the hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) by cyclic nucleotides in guinea-pig primary afferent neurons

1. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were made from dissociated guinea-pig nodose and trigeminal ganglion neurons in culture to study second messenger mechanisms of the hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) modulation. 2. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and forskolin modulate Ih in primary afferents by shifting the activation curve in the depolarizing direction and increasing the maximum amplitude. 3. The cAMP analogues, RP-cAMP-S (an inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA)) and SP-cAMP-S (an activator of PKA), both shifted the activation curve of Ih to more depolarized potentials and occluded the effects of forskolin. These results suggest that Ih is modulated by a direct action of the cAMP analogues. 4. Superfusion of other cyclic nucleotide analogues (8-Br-cAMP, 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP and 8-Br-cGMP) mimicked the actions of forskolin and PGE2, but dibutyryl cGMP, 5'-AMP and adenosine had no effect on Ih. 8-Br-cAMP and 8-Br-cGMP had similar concentration response profiles, suggesting that Ih has little nucleotide selectivity. 5. The inhibitor peptide (PKI), the catalytic subunit of PKA (C subunit) and phosphatase inhibitors (microcystin and okadaic acid) had no effect on forskolin modulation of Ih. 6. These results indicate that Ih is regulated by cyclic nucleotides in sensory neurons. Positive regulation of Ih by prostaglandins produced during inflammation may lead to depolarization and facilitation of repetitive activity, and thus contribute to sensitization to painful stimuli.

Voltage-gated calcium currents in whole-cell patch-clamped bullfrog dorsal root ganglion cells: effects of cell size and intracellular solutions

Acutely dissociated bullfrog dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells could be divided into two classes by measurement of cell capacitance. A bimodal distribution of cell capacitance was found and a value of 75 pF was used to divide frog DRG cells into 'small' and 'large' types. Two distinct voltage-activated Ca2+ currents were evoked in both classes of cells: a rapidly inactivating, low-voltage-activated current and a slowly-inactivating, high-voltage-activated current. When the recording pipette contained CsCl, greater peak inward current values and densities were seen in large cells compared to small cells. No significant differences were observed in the distribution of low-and high-voltage-activated currents in small and large cells. Replacement of pipette solutions containing CsCl with solutions containing equimolar concentrations of Cs glutamate, L-arginine Cl, or N-methyl-D-glucamine significantly increased both the reversal potential and the maximum amplitude of the Ca2+ currents in both small and large DRG cells. These increases indicate that internal substitutions with organic ions suppresses outward currents more effectively than does CsCl. In contrast to findings with CsCl, when organic ions were used in the pipette solution a significantly higher proportion of low-threshold Ca2+ channels was observed in small cells compared to large cells. These observations indicate that when organic solutions were used internally, significant differences in the proportion of low-threshold to high-threshold Ca2+ channels were observed in small and large cells. The composition of the internal solution is a critical variable when determining the type and amount of inward Ca2+ current in different types of neurons.

Differential expression of membrane currents in dissociated mouse primary sensory neurons

The whole cell configuration of the patch clamp technique has been applied to identify the membrane currents expressed by populations of dissociated mouse primary sensory neurons. Three discrete populations of cells were distinguished on the basis of cell size and the array of currents expressed. Group 1 cells (capacitance 10-30 pF) expressed a Na+ current resistant to tetrodotoxin (1 microM) and a prominent, low threshold, inactivating, K+ current sensitive to 4-aminopyridine (IA). A population (53%) of these small cells responded to capsaicin (10 microM) with an inward current, suggesting a functional correlate with nociceptive "C"-cells. The cells of Group 2 (capacitance 55-85 pF) were characterized by the expression of a Na+ current sensitive to tetrodotoxin and a prominent inward current activated by hyperpolarization (IH). They also showed a variant of the A-type K+ current, which was a low threshold, but sustained K+ current, sensitive to dendrotoxin (30 nM). Group 3 cells, of intermediate size (capacitance 30-55 pF) were similar to Group 2 cells, in that they expressed a tetrodotoxin-sensitive Na+ current and (through reduced in amplitude), IH. The most notable feature of Group 3 cells was the expression of a transient, low threshold Ca2+ current. The differential expression of these conductances was reflected in the behaviour of cells under current clamp control. Each group of cells could thus be distinguished by the selective expression of specific ionic conductances which correlated clearly with cell size, suggesting a correlation with well recognised functional differentiation of sensory neurons. The selective expression of specific subsets of membrane channels may provide valuable markers in studying the developmental regulation of phenotype in this population of cells.

Opioid inhibition of Ih via adenylyl cyclase

Opioids are coupled through G proteins to both ion channels and adenylyl cyclase. This study describes opioid modulation of the voltage-dependent cation channel, Ih, in cultured guinea pig nodose ganglion neurons. Forskolin, PGE2, and cAMP analogs shifted the voltage dependence of activation of Ih to more depolarized potentials and increased the inward current at -60 mV. Opioids had no effect on Ih alone, but reversed the effect of forskolin on Ih. This action of opioids was blocked by naloxone. Opioids had no effect on Ih in the presence of cAMP analogs, suggesting that modulation occurs at the level of adenylyl cyclase. The shift in the voltage dependence of Ih by agents that induce inflammation (i.e., PGE2) is one potential mechanism to mediate an increased excitability. Opioid inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and subsequent inhibition of Ih may be a mechanism by which opioids inhibit primary afferent excitability and relieve pain.

Chemosensitivity of C-cells in bullfrog dorsal root ganglia to substance P and adenosine 5'-triphosphate

Dissociated bullfrog dorsal root ganglion cells were voltage clamped in the whole-cell configuration. In small C-cells having 20 microns as averaged diameter, substance-P (0.1-1 microM) inhibited an M-type potassium current while ATP (1-10 microM) activated a sodium-potassium current. In large A-cells (approximately 65 microns in diameter) in which ATP has been shown to inhibit M-current, substance P (0.1-1 microM) also inhibited this potassium current without activating the sodium-potassium current. Results provided evidence for the distinction between A- and C-cells in terms of their chemosensitivity.

Intracellular ATP changes the voltage-dependence of delayed rectifier potassium current in bullfrog primary afferent neurons

Dissociated bullfrog dorsal root ganglion cells were voltage-clamped in the whole-cell configuration to study the steady-state activation and inactivation curves for a delayed rectifier potassium current. The 50%-activation of the current occurred at +15 mV when measured with ATP (5 mM) in the pipette solution as opposed to -11 mV with 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP, 5 mM) and -15 mV with adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (5 mM). The 50%-inactivation of the current occurred at -6 mV with ATP but at -31 mM with AMP-PNP. The results suggest that intracellular ATP modulates voltage-dependence of the delayed rectifier in amphibian afferent neurons.