Modification of Na channel gating by an alpha scorpion toxin from Tityus serrulatus.

The effects of TsIV-5, a toxin isolated from the Brazilian scorpion Tityus serrulatus, on whole-cell and single-channel Na currents were determined in N18 neuroblastoma cells. In whole-cell records at a test potential of -10 mV, external application of 500 nM TsIV-5 slowed inactivation 20-fold and increased peak current by about one-third without changing time-to-peak. Both the steady-state activation and inactivation curves were shifted to more negative potentials. Other alpha scorpion toxins produce similar effects but the single-channel mechanism is not known. TsIV-5 caused a voltage-dependent prolongation of mean single-channel open time such that at a test potential of -60 mV no change was observed, whereas at -20 mV mean open time increased about threefold and prolonged bursting was observed. Macroscopic current reconstructed from summed single-channel records showed a characteristic toxin-induced potentiation of peak current and a 20-fold slowing of the decay phase. TsIV-5 does not discriminate between tissue-specific Na channel subtypes. Prolonged open times and bursting were also observed in toxin-treated Na channels from rat ventricular myocytes, rat cortical neurons, and mouse skeletal muscle. The toxin effects are shown to be consistent with a kinetic model in which TsIV-5 selectively interferes with the ability of the channel to reach the inactivated state.

Regional distribution of calcium channel ligand (1,4-dihydropyridine) binding sites and 45Ca2+ uptake processes in rat brain.

The binding of nimodipine, a 1,4-dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel antagonist, and of Bay K 8644, a Ca2+ channel activator, was measured in several regions of rat brain and compared to the distribution of K+ depolarization-induced 45Ca2+ uptake into synaptosomes. The maximum binding densities (Bmax) of [3H]nimodipine and [3H]Bay K 8644 were not significantly different one from the other, but differed according to brain region with binding being highest in the olfactory bulb and hippocampus, intermediate in the caudate nucleus and cerebral cortex (various regions), and lowest in the cerebellum [563 to 107 fmol/mg protein (mean)]. The KD values, [3H]nimodipine = 1.8 X 10(-10) M (mean) and [3H]Bay K 8644 = 1.4 X 10(-9) M (mean), did not differ according to region. Depolarization-induced 45Ca2+ uptake in synaptosomes occurred as fast (1 sec) and slow (10 sec) components distinguished by their selective occurrence in choline-containing and pre-depolarized preparations respectively. Distribution of the fast component of uptake paralleled that of [3H]nimodipine binding, being least in the cerebellum and greatest in the hippocampus and cortex, but the magnitude of the slow phase of 45Ca2+ uptake did not vary in the three brain regions studied.

Regulation by chronic drug administration of neuronal and cardiac calcium channel, beta-adrenoceptor and muscarinic receptor levels.

Chronic administration of atropine (40-100 mg/kg, 23 days) produced a 29-33% increase in muscarinic receptors, measured by [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate binding, in rat brain. Diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (0.9 mg/kg, 14 days) produced a 35% decrease in muscarinic receptors. Propranolol administration (800 micrograms/kg/hr, 10 days) increased beta-adrenoceptors, measured by [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding, by 69 and 50% in brain and heart respectively. Isoproterenol administration (800 micrograms/kg/hr, 10 days) produced a 50% reduction in cardiac beta-adrenoceptors but did not alter brain receptors. These drug treatments were without effect on binding of the Ca2+ channel ligands, [3H]nimodipine and [3H]nitrendipine, to brain or heart respectively. However, chronic administration of nifedipine for 20 days (36 and 360 micrograms/kg/hr) did produce down-regulation of both cardiac and neuronal Ca2+ channels and a similar down-regulation of beta-adrenoceptors. Co-regulation of Ca2+ channels and neurotransmitter receptors may occur but may not be an automatic consequence of either receptor or channel regulation.

6-Hydroxydopamine treatment increases beta-adrenoceptors and Ca2+ channels in rat heart.

Rats received 6-hydroxydopamine (50 mg/kg i.v.) on two successive days. After 14 days cardiac beta-adrenoceptors and Ca2+ channels were measured by radioligand binding. Ca2+ channel binding [( 3H]nitrendipine) was increased 31% with no change in affinity, and beta-adrenoceptor binding [( 3H]dihydroalprenolol) was increased 28% with no change in affinity. Innervation may be important in the regulation of Ca2+ channel expression.

Kainic acid lesions decrease striatal dopamine receptors and 1,4-dihydropyridine sites.

The effects of intrastriatal injection of kainic acid (2 microliters, 1 mg/ml) in the rat were determined. Four weeks after the lesioning, striatal dopamine receptors and 1,4-dihydropyridine sites were measured by radioligand binding with [3H]spiperone and [3H]nimodipine, respectively. Dopamine receptor and 1,4-dihydropyridine binding densities were decreased by 58% and 43% respectively, with no change in binding affinity for either ligand. 1,4-Dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels may be located primarily on postsynaptic elements.

45Ca2+ uptake in rat brain neurons: absence of sensitivity to the Ca2+ channel ligands nitrendipine and Bay K 8644.

K+-stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake into intact rat brain cells was biphasic, consisting of a fast first phase and a slow second phase; the latter was Na+ dependent. Cobalt and cadmium at 10(-4) and 10(-3) M produced 19-97% block of first phase 45Ca2+ uptake, but nitrendipine (to 10(-6) M) and Bay K 8644 (to 10(-6) M) were without effect on uptake and were similarly without effect in cells prepared in the presence of ATP, cAMP, Mg2+, and protease inhibitors. The second phase of K+-stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake was inhibited by 3,4-dichlorobenzamil (IC50, 29.6 microM). Depolarization-induced 45Ca2+ uptake into intact rat brain cells occurs by at least two different mechanisms. The first phase probably represents uptake through 1,4-dihydropyridine-insensitive Ca2+ channels, while the second phase is probably due to Na+-Ca2+ exchange.

Homologous regulation of voltage-dependent calcium channels by 1,4-dihydropyridines.

Chronic treatment of PC 12 cells with the 1,4-dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel antagonist nifedipine [5 x 10-8M/5 days] and the activator S Bay K 8644 [5 x 10-7 M/5 days] resulted in up- and down-regulation of 1,4-dihydropyridine binding site density by 29 and 24%, respectively, without change in affinity. These changes in binding site density represent functional changes as indicated by the corresponding changes in K+ depolarization-induced 45Ca2+ uptake and in whole cell currents carried by Ba2+ ions. This homologous regulation of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels [VDCC] by potent and specific ligands parallels that observed for other classes of membrane receptors.

Effects of McN-6186 on voltage-dependent Ca++ channels in heart and pituitary cells.

McN-6186 (N-[2-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]-5-methoxy-alpha-methyl-2 -(phenylethynyl) benzeneethanamine hydrochloride is a compound structurally distinct from other Ca++ channel ligands. McN-6186 showed some stimulation of 1,4-dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca++ uptake in neonatal rat ventricular cells at concentrations of 1 and 3 nM. At higher concentrations McN-6186 inhibited this uptake in rat ventricular cells at concentrations approximately 100-fold less than those needed to block the corresponding Ca++ uptake in rat anterior pituitary (GH3) cells. McN-6186 (2 microM) inhibited L-type Ca++ channel current in neonatal rat ventricular cells in a voltage-dependent manner while having little or no effect on this current in GH3 cells. In some ventricular cells tested, the T-type Ca++ current was also blocked by 2 microM McN-6186. McN-6186 inhibited (+)-[3H]PN200-110 binding in rat cardiac membranes with an IC50 value of 1.45 X 10(-7) M and a shallow Hill slope (nH = 0.42). It is concluded that McN-6186 blocks L-type Ca++ channels in heart cells preferentially to those found in GH3 cells. Furthermore, McN-6186 may have other sites and mechanisms of action in addition to L-type Ca++ channel blockade.