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Acute Modulation of Voltage‐Gated Ca 2+ Channels in Retinal Ganglion Cells by Gabapentin
Author(s) -
Farrell Spring R,
Sevilla Mueller Luis Perez,
Sargoy Allison,
Brecha Nicholas,
Barnes Steven
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.1048.10
Subject(s) - gabapentin , chemistry , patch clamp , retina , retinal , pharmacology , neuroprotection , biophysics , neuroscience , biology , medicine , biochemistry , receptor , pathology , alternative medicine
The α 2 δ 1 auxiliary subunits of voltage‐gated Ca 2+ channels (VGCCs) are important modulators of VGCC function. Gabapentin interacts with α 2 δ 1 subunits. Thus, it is possible that gabapentin may prevent the deleterious effects of elevated Ca 2+ levels in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in trauma and disease. The aim of this study was to establish the expression of α 2 δ 1 VGCC auxiliary subunits in the retina and to determine the effects of gabapentin on VGCCs in RGCs. Immunohistochemistry was performed on rat retinal sections to determine the localization of α 2 δ 1 . Patch clamp was used to record Ca 2+ currents (I Ca ) in isolated RGCs. I Ca was measured in the absence and presence of gabapentin. Retinal sections exhibited α 2 δ 1 ‐like immunoreactivity in RGC cell bodies and their primary dendrites. In isolated RGCs, acute administration of gabapentin reduced I Ca compared to control. Pretreatment of RGCs with gabapentin reduced I Ca compared to non‐pretreated cells. Also, acute administration of gabapentin to RGCs that had been pretreated further reduced I Ca . Thus, modulation of α 2 δ 1 VGCC subunits may prove to be an important target in the neuroprotection of damaged RGCs. Ongoing work is aimed to determine the mechanism of acute modulation of VGCCs by gabapentin.