Activation of Na+ channels

The lipid-soluble toxins (veratridine, batrachotoxin, aconitine, grayanotoxins). These toxins cause persistent activation of Na channels, i.e., their permanent opening and hence membrane depolarization 56-58). 

The polypeptide toxins from the scorpions Centruroides suffusus and Tityus ser-rulatus. These toxins act by shifting the voltage dependence of the activation of Na channels, thereby inducing a Na channel activity at negative potentials at which Na channels are normally closed 63,64). Site 4 toxins, because of their high affinity for the Na channel, have been efficient tools to elucidate the molecular structure of the Na channel 30,65,66). 

Internal solution composition will vary according to the desired experiment (see Note 2). Osmolarity should be approx 270-290 mOsm/L and pH should be adjusted to 12-1 A. Addition of QX-314, a lidocaine derivative, to the internal solution (1-2 mg/mL) will prevent direct activation of Na+ channels in the postsynaptic cell during electrical stimulation of the slice. 

Aconitine, ajmaline, sanguinarine (Figure 6.3), and sparteine have clinical uses in signaling. Aconitine causes an influx of Na ions across membranes. Therefore, aconitine can first activate and in later stages also block the nerve of the receptor. This alkaloid regulates the activity of Na channels and... 

Transduction mechanism Inhibition of adenylyl cyclase stimulation of tyrosine phosphatase activity stimulation of MAP kinase activity activation of ERK inhibition of Ca2+ channel activation stimulation of Na+/H+ exchanger stimulation of AM PA/kainate glutamate channels Inhibition of forskol in-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activation of phos-phoinositide metabolism stimulation of tyrosine phosphatase activity inhibition of Ca2+ channel activation activation of K+ channel inhibition of AM PA/ kainate glutamate channels inhibition of MAP kinase activity inhibition of ERK stimulation of SHP-1 and SHP-2 Inhibition of adenylyl cyclase stimulation of phosphoinositide metabolism stimulation of tyrosine phosphatase activation of K+ channel inhibi-tion/stimulation of MAP kinase activity induction of p53 and Bax Inhibition of adenylyl cyclase stimulation of MAP kinase stimulation of p38 activation of tyrosine phosphatase stimulation of K+ channels and phospholipase A2 Inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activation/ inhibition of phosphoinositide metabolism inhibition of Ca2+ influx activation of K+ channels inhibition of MAP kinase stimulation of tyrosine phosphatase... 

The membranes of nerve cells contain well-studied ion channels that are responsible for the action potentials generated across the membrane. The activity of some of these channels is controlled by neurotransmitters hence, channel activity can be regulated. One ion can regulate the activity of the channel of another ion. For example, a decrease of Ca + concentration in the extracellular fluid increases membrane permeability and increases the diffusion of Na+. This depolarizes the membrane and triggers nerve discharge, which may explain the numbness, tinghng, and muscle cramps symptomatic of a low level of plasma Ca. ... 

Figure 6.2 Diagrammatic representation of a cholinergic synapse. Some 80% of neuronal acetylcholine (ACh) is found in the nerve terminal or synaptosome and the remainder in the cell body or axon. Within the synaptosome it is almost equally divided between two pools, as shown. ACh is synthesised from choline, which has been taken up into the nerve terminal, and to which it is broken down again, after release, by acetylcholinesterase. Postsynaptically the nicotinic receptor is directly linked to the opening of Na+ channels and can be blocked by compounds like dihydro-jS-erythroidine (DH/IE). Muscarinic receptors appear to inhibit K+ efflux to increase cell activity. For full details see text...

The epilepsies constitute a common, serious neurological disorder in humans, affecting approximately 60 million people worldwide. Well in excess of 40 distinct epileptic syndromes have been identified to date. Current treatment is only symptomatic except in uncommon instances when surgical treatment is possible. While available antiseizure medications target ion channels such as the y-amino-butyric acid (GABA)a receptor and voltage activated sodium (Na+) channels, current research seeks to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which a normal brain becomes epileptic. Hopefully, this research will lead to the identification of new targets for which small molecules can be identified and used for prevention or cure of epilepsy. 

A schematic representation of Na+ channels cycling through different conformational states during the cardiac action potential. Transitions between resting, activated, and inactivated states are dependent on membrane potential and time. The activation gate is shown as m and the inactivation gate as h. Potentials typical for each state are shown under each channel schematic as a function of time. The dashed line indicates that part of the action potential during which most Na+ channels are completely or partially inactivated and unavailable for reactivation. 

At the calyx of Held in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body, activation of presynaptic glycine receptors was also shown to facilitate spontaneous glutamate release and to enhance amplitudes of evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (Turecek and Trussell 2001). The action on spontaneous postsynaptic currents were insensitive towards a blockade of Na+ channels by tetrodotoxin, but abolished by the Ca2+ channel blocker Cd2+. This indicated that glycine acted by causing a depolarization, which was also corroborated by direct voltage measurements. 

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