Biomaterial Database

Serotonin modulates N- and P-type calcium currents in neocortical pyramidal neurons via a membrane-delimited pathway. 1996

R C Foehring

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee at Memphis 38163, USA.

1. The effects of serotonin (5HT) on neocortical pyramidal neurons were studied using whole cell and ON-cell patch-clamp recordings from acutely dissociated neurons. 2. 5HT decreased high voltage-activated calcium channel currents in a dose-dependent and reversible manner in acutely dissociated neocortical pyramidal neurons. The maximum block was 30% of the peak whole cell current (at -10 mV). 3. The 5HT modulation was mimicked by 5HT1A agonists and was reduced by 5HT1A antagonists. 5HT2 antagonists had no effect on the modulation. These data suggest that the 5HT effects were mediated by 5HT1A receptors. 4. The 5HT1A modulation was reduced in the presence of the specific N-type blocker omega-conotoxin GVIA (CgTx) and by the P-type channel blocker omega-agatoxin IVA (AgTx), but not by the L-type blocker nifedipine. 5HT did not modulate the slowed tail currents in the presence of the dihydropyridine agonist Bay K 8644. These data suggest that N- and P-type channels (but not L-type channels) were targeted by 5HT. 5. The modulation involved G proteins and utilized a membrane-delimited pathway. The modulation was rapid in onset (tau approximately 600 ms) and offset. About 50% of the reduction in current by 5HT1A agonists was overcome by prepulses to 120 mV. 6. Slowing of current onset kinetics in response to 5HT1A agonists was seen rarely in neocortical pyramidal neurons (11% of cases). The presence of slowing depended on agonist concentration, being evident only with high micromolar doses.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D002121	Calcium Channel Blockers	A class of drugs that act by selective inhibition of calcium influx through cellular membranes.	Calcium Antagonists, Exogenous,Calcium Blockaders, Exogenous,Calcium Channel Antagonist,Calcium Channel Blocker,Calcium Channel Blocking Drug,Calcium Inhibitors, Exogenous,Channel Blockers, Calcium,Exogenous Calcium Blockader,Exogenous Calcium Inhibitor,Calcium Channel Antagonists,Calcium Channel Blocking Drugs,Exogenous Calcium Antagonists,Exogenous Calcium Blockaders,Exogenous Calcium Inhibitors,Antagonist, Calcium Channel,Antagonists, Calcium Channel,Antagonists, Exogenous Calcium,Blockader, Exogenous Calcium,Blocker, Calcium Channel,Blockers, Calcium Channel,Calcium Blockader, Exogenous,Calcium Inhibitor, Exogenous,Channel Antagonist, Calcium,Channel Blocker, Calcium,Inhibitor, Exogenous Calcium
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012701	Serotonin	A biochemical messenger and regulator, synthesized from the essential amino acid L-TRYPTOPHAN. In humans it is found primarily in the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and blood platelets. Serotonin mediates several important physiological functions including neurotransmission, gastrointestinal motility, hemostasis, and cardiovascular integrity. Multiple receptor families (RECEPTORS, SEROTONIN) explain the broad physiological actions and distribution of this biochemical mediator.	5-HT,5-Hydroxytryptamine,3-(2-Aminoethyl)-1H-indol-5-ol,Enteramine,Hippophaine,Hydroxytryptamine,5 Hydroxytryptamine
D015220	Calcium Channels	Voltage-dependent cell membrane glycoproteins selectively permeable to calcium ions. They are categorized as L-, T-, N-, P-, Q-, and R-types based on the activation and inactivation kinetics, ion specificity, and sensitivity to drugs and toxins. The L- and T-types are present throughout the cardiovascular and central nervous systems and the N-, P-, Q-, & R-types are located in neuronal tissue.	Ion Channels, Calcium,Receptors, Calcium Channel Blocker,Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channel,Calcium Channel,Calcium Channel Antagonist Receptor,Calcium Channel Antagonist Receptors,Calcium Channel Blocker Receptor,Calcium Channel Blocker Receptors,Ion Channel, Calcium,Receptors, Calcium Channel Antagonist,VDCC,Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channels,Calcium Channel, Voltage-Dependent,Calcium Channels, Voltage-Dependent,Calcium Ion Channel,Calcium Ion Channels,Channel, Voltage-Dependent Calcium,Channels, Voltage-Dependent Calcium,Voltage Dependent Calcium Channel,Voltage Dependent Calcium Channels
D015398	Signal Transduction	The intracellular transfer of information (biological activation/inhibition) through a signal pathway. In each signal transduction system, an activation/inhibition signal from a biologically active molecule (hormone, neurotransmitter) is mediated via the coupling of a receptor/enzyme to a second messenger system or to an ion channel. Signal transduction plays an important role in activating cellular functions, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation. Examples of signal transduction systems are the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-postsynaptic receptor-calcium ion channel system, the receptor-mediated T-cell activation pathway, and the receptor-mediated activation of phospholipases. Those coupled to membrane depolarization or intracellular release of calcium include the receptor-mediated activation of cytotoxic functions in granulocytes and the synaptic potentiation of protein kinase activation. Some signal transduction pathways may be part of larger signal transduction pathways; for example, protein kinase activation is part of the platelet activation signal pathway.	Cell Signaling,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Pathways,Receptor Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Transduction Pathways,Signal Transduction Systems,Pathway, Signal,Pathway, Signal Transduction,Pathways, Signal,Pathways, Signal Transduction,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transductions,Signal Pathway,Signal Transduction Pathway,Signal Transduction System,Signal Transduction, Receptor-Mediated,Signal Transductions,Signal Transductions, Receptor-Mediated,System, Signal Transduction,Systems, Signal Transduction,Transduction, Signal,Transductions, Signal
D051381	Rats	The common name for the genus Rattus.	Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus
D017966	Pyramidal Cells	Projection neurons in the CEREBRAL CORTEX and the HIPPOCAMPUS. Pyramidal cells have a pyramid-shaped soma with the apex and an apical dendrite pointed toward the pial surface and other dendrites and an axon emerging from the base. The axons may have local collaterals but also project outside their cortical region.	Pyramidal Neurons,Cell, Pyramidal,Cells, Pyramidal,Neuron, Pyramidal,Neurons, Pyramidal,Pyramidal Cell,Pyramidal Neuron
D018408	Patch-Clamp Techniques	An electrophysiologic technique for studying cells, cell membranes, and occasionally isolated organelles. All patch-clamp methods rely on a very high-resistance seal between a micropipette and a membrane; the seal is usually attained by gentle suction. The four most common variants include on-cell patch, inside-out patch, outside-out patch, and whole-cell clamp. Patch-clamp methods are commonly used to voltage clamp, that is control the voltage across the membrane and measure current flow, but current-clamp methods, in which the current is controlled and the voltage is measured, are also used.	Patch Clamp Technique,Patch-Clamp Technic,Patch-Clamp Technique,Voltage-Clamp Technic,Voltage-Clamp Technique,Voltage-Clamp Techniques,Whole-Cell Recording,Patch-Clamp Technics,Voltage-Clamp Technics,Clamp Technique, Patch,Clamp Techniques, Patch,Patch Clamp Technic,Patch Clamp Technics,Patch Clamp Techniques,Recording, Whole-Cell,Recordings, Whole-Cell,Technic, Patch-Clamp,Technic, Voltage-Clamp,Technics, Patch-Clamp,Technics, Voltage-Clamp,Technique, Patch Clamp,Technique, Patch-Clamp,Technique, Voltage-Clamp,Techniques, Patch Clamp,Techniques, Patch-Clamp,Techniques, Voltage-Clamp,Voltage Clamp Technic,Voltage Clamp Technics,Voltage Clamp Technique,Voltage Clamp Techniques,Whole Cell Recording,Whole-Cell Recordings