Open AccessProperties of acid‐induced currents in mouse dorsal root ganglia neurons
Author(s) -
Ergonul Zuhal,
Yang Lei,
Palmer Lawrence G.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
physiological reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2051-817X
DOI - 10.14814/phy2.12795
Subject(s) - acid sensing ion channel , neuroscience , transient receptor potential channel , extracellular , cortical spreading depression , dorsal root ganglion , biophysics , ion channel , amiloride , chemistry , electrophysiology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , biochemistry , receptor , spinal cord , migraine , sodium , organic chemistry
Acid‐sensing ion channels ( ASIC s) are cation channels that are activated by protons (H + ). They are expressed in neurons throughout the nervous system and may play important roles in several neurologic disorders including inflammation, cerebral ischemia, seizures, neurodegeneration, anxiety, depression, and migraine. ASIC s generally produce transient currents that desensitize in response to a decrease in extracellular pH . Under certain conditions, the inactivation of ASIC s can be incomplete and allow them to produce sustained currents. Here, we characterize the properties of both transient and sustained acid‐induced currents in cultured mouse dorsal root ganglia ( DRG ) neurons. At pH levels between 7.3 and 7.1 they include “window currents” through ASIC s. With stronger acid signals sustained currents are maintained in the absence of extracellular Na + or the presence of the ASIC blockers amiloride and Psalmotoxin‐1(PcTx1). These sustained responses may have several different origins in these cells, including acid‐induced stimulation of inward Cl − currents, block of outward K + currents, and augmentation of inward H + currents, properties that distinguish these novel sustained currents from the well‐characterized transient currents.