Single-channel activity in cultured cortical neurons of the rat in the presence of a toxic dose of glutamate

17β-Estradiol Upregulated Expression of α and β Subunits of Larger-Conductance Calcium-Activated K(+) Channels (BK) via Estrogen Receptor β

Large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels, which were known as BK channels, were widely distributed in brain tissues and played a crucial role in neuroprotection. Previous studies found that estrogen, a steroid hormone, was able to interact with distinct K(+) channels such as Kv (voltage-gated K(+) channels) in various tissues. However, current knowledge about possible effects of estrogen on BK channels is rather poor. In the present study here, the investigation for the interaction of estrogen with BK channels was performed in mouse N2A cells and human SK-N-SH cells. At first, the different expression patterns of α and β subunits of BK channels in these cells were explored by conducting RT-PCR. After exposure to varying dose of 17β-estradiol (E2) for 24 h, the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of these BK channel subunits in both N2A and SK-N-SH cells were significantly increased in a concentration-dependent way. A prolonged incubation for 48 h also potentiated the effects of E2 on β1 and β4 subunits in N2A cells as well as α and β3 subunits in SK-N-SH cells. The small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against the ERα (siERα) or ERβ (siERβ) was induced into N2A and SK-N-SH cells by transfection and resulted in a decrease in the level of corresponding ER transcript. Furthermore, treatment with siERβ but not siERα attenuated the action of E2 on BK channel subunits, suggesting that estradiol exerted its action by binding to ERβ. Our data indicated that 17β-estradiol was able to regulate the expression of BK channel subunits via ERβ.

BK channel and alcohol, a complicated affair

Alcohol is a fast acting molecule that alters behavior within a few minutes of absorption. Its rapid behavioral impact suggests early action on ion channels. Of all voltage-gated potassium ion channels, BK channels, a subcategory of potassium channels characterized by their large unitary conductance, and by their capacity of being activated synergistically by membrane potential and intracellular free calcium, are unique due to their high sensitivity to alcohol. In this review, we discuss BK channels structure and function, and how they help us understand the various ways BK channel mediates alcohol's effects on neuronal function and on behavior in the striatum.

Tetraethylammonium exacerbates ischemic neuronal injury in rat cerebrocortical slice cultures

We investigated potential contribution of K+ channel activity to regulation of ischemia-induced neuronal injury, using cerebrocortical slice cultures. Exposure of cultures to a glucose-free conditioning solution containing sodium azide and 2-deoxyglucose caused neuronal cell death as assessed by cellular uptake of propidium iodide, which was prevented by MK-801, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. Application of tetraethylammonium markedly exacerbated ischemic neuronal injury. Charybdotoxin, a blocker of large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ (BK(Ca)) channels, also augmented ischemic injury, whereas AM 92016, a blocker of delayed rectifier K+ channels, and dequalinium, a blocker of small-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels, had no significant effect. In addition, tetraethylammonium and charybdotoxin were effective in augmenting NMDA-induced neuronal injury. These results present unprecedented evidence for the ability of tetraethylammonium to enhance ischemic neuronal death, and suggest that BK(Ca) channels constitute an endogenous system to protect cortical neurons from ischemic injury, via prevention of NMDA receptor over-activation.

NMDA-receptor mediated efflux of N-acetylaspartate: physiological and/or pathological importance?

N-Acetylaspartate (NAA) is a largely neuron specific dianionic amino acid present in high concentration in vertebrate brain. Many fundamental questions concerning N-acetylaspartate in brain remain unanswered. One such issue is the predominantly neuronal synthesis and largely glial catabolism which implies the existence of a regulated efflux from neurons. Here we show that transient (5 min) NMDA-receptor activation (60 microM) induces a long lasting Ca2+ -dependent efflux of N-acetylaspartate from organotypic slices of rat hippocampus. The NMDA-receptor stimulated efflux was unaffected by hyper-osmotic conditions (120 mM sucrose) and no efflux of N-acetylaspartate was evoked by high K+ -depolarization (50 mM) or kainate (300 microM). These results indicate that the efflux induced by NMDA is not related directly to either cell swelling or depolarization but is coupled to Ca2+ -influx via the NMDA-receptor. The efflux of N-acetylaspartate persisted at least 20 min after the omission of NMDA, similar to the efflux of the organic anions glutathione and phosphoethanolamine. The efflux of taurine and hypotaurine was also stimulated by NMDA but returned more quickly to basal levels. The NMDA-receptor stimulated efflux of N-acetylaspartate, glutathione, phosphoethanolamine, taurine and hypotaurine correlated with delayed nerve cell death measured 24 h after the transient NMDA-receptor stimulation. However, exogenous administration of high concentrations of N-acetylaspartate to the culture medium was non-toxic. The results suggest that Ca2+ -influx via the NMDA-receptor regulates the efflux of N-acetylaspartate from neurons which may have both physiological and pathological importance.

Maxi-K potassium channels: form, function, and modulation of a class of endogenous regulators of intracellular calcium

Large-conductance calcium-activated (maxi-K, BK) potassium channels are widely distributed in the brain. Maxi-K channels function as neuronal calcium sensors and contribute to the control of cellular excitability and the regulation of neurotransmitter release. Little is currently known of any significant role of maxi-K channels in the genesis of neurological disease. Recent advances in the molecular biology and pharmacology of these channels have revealed sources of phenotypic variability and demonstrated that they can be successfully modulated by pharmacological agents. A potential role is suggested in the treatment of conditions such as ischemic stroke and cognitive disorders.

Excision-activated chloride channels in cultured postnatal rat hippocampal neurons

Chloride permeable intermediate conductance single channel events activated on patch excision were found in outside-out patches from cultured postnatal hippocampal neurons. A majority of the channels had a conductance of 83 +/- 2.1 pS when recorded in a symmetrical TEACl solution. Two other populations of channels with conductance values of 62 +/- 2.1 pS and 145 +/- 1.9 pS were also observed. The reversal potentials for these intermediate conductance Cl- channels coincided with that of the GABA activated channels. The channels characteristically appeared 5-15 min after patch excision, suggesting that these channels may be blocked by some diffusible factors under physiological conditions. Based on the measurements of channel burst durations while the channel was partially blocked, and the channel open times after complete relief from the block, the mechanism of blockade does not appear to be a simple open channel blockade. The high prevalence and its potential regulation by cytosolic factors suggest an important physiological role for these Cl- channels coupling neuronal excitability with cellular metabolism.