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Differential expression of Na+/K+‐ATPase α‐subunits in mouse hippocampal interneurones and pyramidal cells
Author(s) -
Richards Kathryn S.,
Bommert Kurt,
Szabo Gabor,
Miles Richard
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2007.144733
Subject(s) - ouabain , hippocampal formation , depolarization , chemistry , membrane potential , pyramidal cell , biophysics , gene isoform , subiculum , sodium , neuroscience , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , dentate gyrus , organic chemistry , gene
The sodium pump (Na+/K+‐ATPase), maintains intracellular and extracellular concentrations of sodium and potassium by catalysing ATP. Three sodium pump α subunits, ATP1A1, ATP1A2 and ATP1A3, are expressed in brain. We compared their role in pyramidal cells and a subset of interneurones in the subiculum. Interneurones were identified by their expression of GFP under the GAD‐65 promoter. We used the sensitivity to the cardiac glycoside, ouabain, to discriminate between different α subunit isoforms. GFP‐positive interneurones were depolarized by nanomolar doses of ouabain, but higher concentrations were needed to depolarize pyramidal cells. Comparison of pump currents in these cells revealed a current sensitive to low doses of ouabain in interneurones, while micromolar doses of ouabain were needed to suppress the pump current in subicular pyramidal cells. As predicted, nanomolar doses of ouabain increased the frequency but not the amplitudes of IPSPs in pyramidal cells. Immunostaining confirmed a differential distribution of α‐subunits of the Na+/K+‐ATPase in subicular interneurones and pyramidal cells. In conclusion, these data suggest that while ATP1A3‐isoforms regulate sodium and potassium homeostasis in subicular interneurones, ATP1A1‐isoforms assume this function in pyramidal cells. This differential expression of sodium pump isoforms may contribute to differences in resting membrane potential of subicular interneurones and pyramidal cells.