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Differential effects of unaggregated and aggregated amyloid β protein (1–40) on K + channel currents in primary cultures of rat cerebellar granule and cortical neurones
Author(s) -
Ramsden Martin,
Plant Leigh D.,
Webster Nicola J.,
Vaughan Peter F. T.,
Henderson Zaineb,
Pearson Hugh A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2001.00618.x
Subject(s) - chemistry , patch clamp , biophysics , medicine , endocrinology , biochemistry , biology , receptor
The effects of amyloid β protein on voltage‐gated K + channel currents were studied using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique. The 1–40 amino acid form of amyloid β protein was applied to primary cultures of rat cerebellar granule and cortical neurones for 24 h. Both the unaggregated and aggregated forms of the peptide, which have differing biological activities, were used. In cerebellar granule neurones, 24‐h pre‐incubation with 1 µ m unaggregated amyloid β protein resulted in a 60% increase in the ‘A’‐type component of K + current. Increased delayed rectifier activity was Cd 2+ ‐sensitive and was presumed to be secondary to an increase in voltage‐gated Ca 2+ channel current activity. Unaggregated amyloid β protein had no effect on any component of the K + channel current in cortical neurones. One micromolar of aggregated amyloid β protein had no effect on K + channel current in either cell type but reduced cell survival within 24 h as measured using the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assays. The unaggregated form of amyloid β protein had no neurotoxic effects when applied to either neurone type for up to 72 h. These data indicate that the unaggregated, non‐pathological form of amyloid β protein causes changes in the ion channel function of neurones, possibly reflecting a physiological role for the peptide.