A Functional Role for Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels in Sensory Pathways Including Nociceptive Processes
Open Access
- 6 April 2005
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Society for Neuroscience in Journal of Neuroscience
- Vol. 25 (14) , 3489-3498
- https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.0597-05.2005
Abstract
We investigated the role of small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) and intermediate-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels in modulating sensory transmission from peripheral afferents into the rat spinal cord. Subunit-specific antibodies reveal high levels of SK3 immunoreactivity in laminas I, II, and III of the spinal cord. Among dorsal root ganglion neurons, both peripherin-positive (C-type) and peripherin-negative (A-type) cells show intense SK3 immunoreactivity. Furthermore, dorsal root-stimulated sensory responses recordedin vitroare inhibited when SK channel activity is increased with 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone (1-EBIO).In vivoelectrophysiological recordings show that neuronal responses to naturally evoked nociceptive and nonnociceptive stimuli increase after application of the selective SK channel blocker 8,14-diaza-1,7(1,4)-diquinolinacyclotetradecaphanedium di-trifluoroacetate (UCL 1848), indicating that SK channels are normally active in moderating afferent input. Conversely, neuronal responses evoked by mechanical stimuli are inhibited when SK channel activity is increased with 1-EBIO. These effects are reversed by the subsequent application of UCL 1848. Our data demonstrate that SK channels have an important role in controlling sensory input into the spinal cord.Keywords
This publication has 45 references indexed in Scilit:
- Small Conductance Ca2+-Activated K+ Channel Knock-Out Mice Reveal the Identity of Calcium-Dependent Afterhyperpolarization CurrentsJournal of Neuroscience, 2004
- SKCaChannels Mediate the Medium But Not the Slow Calcium-Activated Afterhyperpolarization in Cortical NeuronsJournal of Neuroscience, 2004
- Small Conductance Ca2+‐Activated K+ Channels Formed by the Expression of Rat SK1 and SK2 Genes in HEK 293 CellsThe Journal of Physiology, 2003
- Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channel inactivation contributes to spike broadening during repetitive firing in the rat lateral amygdalaThe Journal of Physiology, 2003
- Expression of intermediate conductance potassium channel immunoreactivity in neurons and epithelial cells of the rat gastrointestinal tractCell and tissue research, 2003
- Calcium Activates SK Channels in the Intact Human LensInvestigative Opthalmology & Visual Science, 2003
- Small-conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ channel SK3 generates age-related memory and LTP deficitsNature Neuroscience, 2003
- Indanylidenes. 2. Design and Synthesis of (E)-2-(4-Chloro-6-fluoro-1-indanylidene)-N-methylacetamide, a Potent Antiinflammatory and Analgesic Agent without Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxant ActivityJournal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2002
- Components of after‐hyperpolarization in magnocellular neurones of the rat supraoptic nucleus in vitroThe Journal of Physiology, 1998
- Apamin blocks certain neurotransmitter-induced increases in potassium permeabilityNature, 1979