The NO donor DETA‐NONOate reversibly activates an inward current in neurones and is not mediated by the released nitric oxide

Background and purpose:  It has been previously shown that high levels of nitric oxide (NO), from NO donors, kill neurones, but the mechanisms are unclear. Experimental approach:  The effects of NO donors on the electrical properties of rat cultured cerebellar granule cells (CGC neurones) were investigated using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique. Key results:  The NO donor ( Z )‐1‐[2‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐ N ‐(2‐ammonioethyl)amino]diazen‐1‐ium‐1,2‐diolate (DETA‐NONOate or NOC‐18) caused a rapid, persistent, but fully reversible inward current that was associated with an increase in baseline noise and was concentration dependent (100 µM–10 mM). The response to 3 mM DETA‐NONOate was completely inhibited by 1 mM gadolinium, but not by NO scavengers (1 mM haemoglobin or 1 mM PTIO) or glutamate receptor antagonists (10 µM MK‐801 or 60 µM CNQX). Application of decomposed 3 mM DETA‐NONOate or 3 mM nitrite had no effect. In contrast, the NO donor S ‐nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) caused a rapid, persistent, but fully reversible outward current that was also concentration dependent (1–10 mM). The 3 mM GSNO response was unaltered by NO scavengers, glutamate antagonists or gadolinium, but was mimicked by decomposed 3 mM GSNO and 3 mM oxidized glutathione. Conclusions and implications:  These results suggest that DETA‐NONOate directly activates cation‐selective channels, causing an inward current in CGCs. In contrast, GSNO causes an outward current in these cells. Some of the effects of these NO donors are independent of NO, and thus caution is required in interpreting results when using high concentrations of these compounds.