Effects of pilocarpine and platyphylline on nuclear membrane large-conductance cation channels in rat cerebellar Purkinje neurons
O. Kotyk, S. Nadtoka, A. Kotliarova
- Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology of NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/fz72.01.083

Abstract
Large conductance cation channels (LCC-channels) are abundantly expressed in the outer and inner nuclear
membranes, but a specific antagonist of these channels remains to be identified. Given that many previously
discovered modulators of these channels include N-cholinergic receptor agonists and antagonists, this study
aimed to assess the blocking effects of M-cholinergic modulators, such as pilocarpine and platyphylline, on
LCC-channels. The experiments were performed on the nuclei of cerebellar Purkinje neurons of Wistar rats.
The electrophysiological activity of LCC-channels was evaluated based on the currents passing through
the channels, which were recorded with the patch-clamp technique in nucleus-attached configuration and
voltage-clamp mode. We found that pilocarpine (1 mmol/l) applied to the bath does not affect the openstate probability (Po) of LCC-channels, or the amplitude of the currents through them. In contrast, when
applied via the patch pipette, pilocarpine, in addition to reducing Po by 68.3% at -40 mV, decreases the
amplitude of the ion currents at +40 mV by 13.9%. Platyphylline (1 mmol/l), applied to the bath solution,
decreases both the amplitude of the currents (by 16.9% at -60 mV) and the Po values (by 52.6% at -40 mV)
of LCC-channels. However, when added to the patch pipette solution, this substance causes an increase
in the amplitude of LCC-channels-mediated currents at negative applied potentials (by up to 20.9% at
-40 mV), contrary to the impact observed for in-bath application. Moreover, platyphylline decreases Po of
LCC-channels at negative applied potentials (by up to 54.8% at -60 mV), and the amplitude of the currents
at positive ones (by up to 22.2% at +40 mV). For both substances, variability in the effects depending on
the application configuration may indicate distinct differences in the LCC-channels domains involved in
interactions
Keywords:
large conductance cation channels, LCC-channels, electrophysiological activity, patch-clamp, modulation
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