Articles |
the Department of Physiology, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville.
Correspondence to Craig H. Gelband, PhD, Department of Physiology, University of Florida, College of Medicine, PO Box 100274, Gainesville, FL 32610. E-mail gelband@phys.med.ufl.edu.
| Abstract |
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1=0.9±0.1 milliseconds,
2=2.3±0.3 milliseconds; Ang II,
1=3.1±0.4 milliseconds,
2=12.1±2.4 milliseconds), and PD 123319 blocked this effect (n=3). The closed-time histogram was not affected by Ang II, PD 123319, or losartan. These results suggest that activation of AT2 receptors modulates rat hypothalamus and brain stem neuronal whole-cell K+ current by increasing the open probability of a 56-pS K+ channel.
Key Words: angiotensin II K+ channel neuron open probability
| Introduction |
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In previous studies, we investigated the receptor-mediated effects of Ang II on membrane ionic currents in cultured neurons. We determined that Ang II, via AT2 receptors, stimulates IK in cultured neurons.6 Furthermore, we have shown that this Ang II effect involves activation of a pertussis toxinsensitive GTP binding protein (Gi) and a serine/threonine protein phosphatase type 2A (PP2A).15 The effects of Ang II can be mimicked by intracellular application of a peptide that corresponds to the third transmembrane loop of the cloned AT2 receptor.16 In spite of pharmacological, molecular, and electrophysiological similarities, we had no direct evidence of the type of single K+ channel that is coupled to activation of the AT2 receptor. Experiments were performed in cell-attached patches to examine the effect of Ang II on K+ channel activity. Both Ang II and the selective AT2 receptor agonist CGP 42112 increased NPo of a 56-pS K+channel. These effects were blocked by PD 123319 (an AT2 receptor antagonist) but not by losartan (an AT1 receptor antagonist). These results suggest that Ang II, through activation of AT2 receptors, can modulate single K+ channel activity and that this channel may underlie the increase in IK whole-cell current observed with Ang II.6
| Materials and Methods |
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Preparation of Neuronal Cultures
Neuronal cocultures were prepared from the brain stem and a hypothalamic block of 1-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats exactly as described previously.14 Trypsin and DNase Idissociated cells were resuspended in DMEM containing 10% PDHS and were plated in poly-L-lysineprecoated 35-mm Costar plastic tissue culture dishes. Cells were grown for 3 days at 37°C in a humidified incubator with 90% air/10% CO2. They were then exposed to 1 µmol/L ARC for 2 days in fresh DMEM/10% PDHS. After this time, the ARC was removed, and the cells were incubated with fresh DMEM/10% PDHS for a further 9 to 12 days before use. At the time of use, cultures consisted of 90% neurons and 10% astrocyte glia, as determined by immunofluorescent staining with antibodies against neurofilament proteins and glial fibrillary acidic proteins.14
Electrophysiological Recordings
Single-channel recordings were performed at room temperature using the cell-attached and inside-out patch configurations of the patch-clamp recording technique in cultured neurons.17 Cells were bathed in Krebs' solution containing (mmol/L) NaCl 140, KCl 3.9, CaCl2 1.8, KH2PO4 1.5, glucose 5.5, MgCl2 1.2, and HEPES 10. Neuronal cultures were superfused within the culture dish (2.5-mL volume) at a rate of 2.0 mL/min. Unitary currents were detected using an Axopatch-1D patch-clamp amplifier (Axon Instruments) and recorded onto VHS tape (Vetter 420, A.R. Vetter Co Inc) for subsequent off-line analysis. Recording electrodes had resistances of 3 to 5 M
. The pipette solution contained (mmol/L) KCl 140, CaCl2 1.5, MgCl2 1.0, glucose 5.5, and HEPES 1.0. Seals of <5-G
resistance were discarded. Single-channel currents were filtered at 2 kHz and digitized at 10 kHz. By convention, outward and inward currents are depicted by upward and downward deflections of the current trace, respectively. Values for NPo and mean open times were obtained from 3-minute steady state recordings of data. Data analysis was performed with pCLAMP 6.0.2 software (Axon Instruments). Single-channel openings were identified by an algorithm that uses both amplitude and slope information, measured with an interactive threshold detection program in the pCLAMP software. The threshold for detecting events was set at 50% of the expected single-channel amplitude. Mean open times, NPo, and amplitude histograms were calculated from values obtained from this program. Specifically, NPo was determined by using the following equation:
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Statistics
Results are expressed as mean±SEM. Statistical significance was evaluated by using Student's t test for unpaired observations. Differences were considered significant at P<.05; n corresponds to the number of cells examined.
| Results |
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We next investigated the actions of bath application of Ang II (100 nmol/L) on the activity of the two voltage-dependent K+ channels. Fig 3
shows the effect of Ang II on both single-channel recordings and single-channel current amplitude histograms. In this experiment (transmembrane potential, -40 mV), the 56-pS K+ channel had a NPo of 0.02. Application of Ang II increased the NPo of the 56-pS K+ channel to 0.13. The mean effect of Ang II was to increase NPo of the 56-pS K+ channel from 0.03±0.01 to 0.21±0.05 (P<.05, n=6). Ang II had no significant effect on the NPo of the 34-pS K+ channel (control, 0.11±0.03; Ang II, 0.08±0.02). No effect of Ang II on the single-channel current amplitude was observed for either K+ channel.
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We next examined the pharmacological sensitivity of the Ang II response by using a selective AT2 receptor antagonist, PD 123319, and a selective AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan. Losartan (1 µmol/L) had no effect on control K+ channel activity; therefore, it was used in the bath during all future recordings to minimize the contribution of Ang II on activation of AT1 receptors that might be present. Fig 4
shows single-channel records and single-channel current amplitude histograms in control and in the presence of Ang II and Ang II+PD 123319 (1 µmol/L). In control recordings (transmembrane potential, -40 mV), both large- and small-conductance channels were recorded. The NPo of the 56-pS channel was 0.03 in this experiment. Ang II increased NPo to 0.18, and an application of PD 123319 reversed the actions of Ang II close to control values (0.02). In a number of experiments, Ang II significantly increased NPo of the 56-pS K+ channel from 0.03±0.01 to 0.19±0.03 (Fig 5A
, P<.05, n=3). PD 123319 in the presence of Ang II significantly decreased NPo to 0.07±0.02 (Fig 5A
, P<.05, n=3). No significant effect of Ang II or PD 123319 was associated with the 34-pS K+ channel (control, 0.11±0.03; Ang II, 0.08±0.02; and PD 123319, 0.12±0.03). Similarly, no effect of PD 123319 was observed in control recordings.
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In order to discount a nonspecific effect of Ang II and PD 123319 on K+ channel activity, experiments using the selective AT2 receptor agonist CGP 42112 were performed. Fig 6
illustrates single-channel records in control and in the presence of CGP 42112 (100 nmol/L) and CGP 42112+PD 123319 (1 µmol/L). In control recordings (transmembrane potential, -20 mV), both large- and small-conductance channels were recorded. The NPo of the 56-pS K+ channel was 0.21 in this experiment. CGP 42112 increased NPo to 0.39, and an application of PD 123319 reversed the actions of Ang II close to control values (0.19). Overall, CGP 42112 significantly increased NPo of the 56-pS K+ channel from 0.22±0.19 to 0.39±0.23 (Fig 5B
, P<.05, n=4). PD 123319 in the presence of CGP 42112 significantly decreased NPo to 0.17±0.12 (Fig 5B
, P<.05, n=4). No significant effect of CGP 42112 was associated with the 34-pS K+ channel (control, 0.22±0.03; Ang II, 0.19±0.04; PD 123319, 0.24±0.03).
Kinetic analysis of the Ang II effect on the 56-pS K+ channel showed that open-time histograms were best fit by the sum of two exponential functions (Fig 7
). In this experiment, Ang II significantly increased both open-time constants when compared with control (control,
1=0.9 milliseconds,
2=2.7 milliseconds; Ang II,
1=3.1 milliseconds,
2=14 milliseconds), and PD 123319 (
1=1.5 milliseconds,
2=6.6 milliseconds) reversed this effect. The closed-time constants of the time histogram were not affected by Ang II or PD 123319. The mean data are presented in the Table
. Ang II significantly increased the open-time constants when compared with control (P<.05, n=3). No effect was observed on the closed-time constant. However, the number of events occupying each closed-time constant was affected by Ang II and PD 123319+Ang II. In control conditions, the distribution of closed events was 42±3% and 58±4% for the fast and slow time constants, respectively. In the presence of Ang II, the distribution of closed events was shifted to 61±4% and 39±5%. This was reversed to near control levels by PD 123319. The increase in NPo may be due to an increase in mean open time and an increase in the number of fast closed events. The increase in the number of fast closed events would therefore increase the number of openings. This suggests that more rapid closures existed in the presence of Ang II. These results suggest that activation of AT2 receptors modulates rat hypothalamus/brain stem neuronal whole-cell K+ current by increasing the NPo of a 56-pS K+ channel.
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| Discussion |
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These results expand upon our previous work6 16 by characterizing a single K+ channel that may underlie the AT2 receptormodulated Ang II increase in whole-cell K+ current observed in our cultured neurons. Previously, a 30% increase in whole-cell K+ current (holding potential, -80 mV; test potential, +10 mV) was demonstrated with Ang II.6 16 It can be assumed that whole-cell current (I) is proportional to the product of the single-channel current amplitude (i), the number of functional channels in the patch (N), and the Ang IIstimulated NPo. Using the following equation and assuming that i and NPo in control conditions have values of 4.0 pA and 0.41 at +10 mV, respectively (Fig 2B and 2C![]()
), then I is at least 2.1 pA in control.
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This value would reflect the whole-cell current in a patch of membrane. Our data show that in the presence of Ang II, NPo of the 56-pS K+ channel approximately triples at membrane potentials of -40 and -20 mV (Figs 3, 4, and 6![]()
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). Therefore, we can hypothesize that Ang II increases NPo to
0.4 to 0.6 at +10 mV. Assuming that the patch of membrane was
1 µm2 and that the surface area of our cells was 30 µm2, a whole-cell current of 270 pA would be generated. Therefore, the results obtained from these experiments suggest that modulation of the 56-pS K+ channel may account for the
300- to 400-pA increase in whole-cell K+ current previously demonstrated.6 This value can vary based on the number of channels per cell. However, this value may be underestimated or overestimated, since the NPo values observed in our experiments were performed with K+ gradients opposite from those of Kang et al.6 It is known that NPo values of some K+ channels (ie, inward rectifier and A current) can be altered in different K+ gradients.18 The change in NPo may be due to rectification properties of the channel, a change in mean open time, or cation block of the channel. Since there is very little evidence that voltage-gated delayed rectifier K+ channels have an altered NPo when the K+ gradient is changed, we believe that the Ang IIstimulated increase in NPo of the 56-pS K+ underlies our previous whole-cell data.6
The effect of Ang II on the NPo of a voltage-dependent K+ channel could have relevant effects on neuronal activity. In the brain, an increase in K+ channel activity could potentially reduce the refractory period of the neuronal action potential and hence increase neuronal activity. This is consistent with the observation of Ambuhl et al,19 who showed AT2 receptormediated stimulation of neuronal activity in inferior olivary neurons. Palovcik and Phillips,20 using hippocampal slices, demonstrated that opening K+ channels may also lead to a membrane hyperpolarization, therefore causing an inhibition of neuronal activity. This hypothesis is consistent with novel reports demonstrating an AT2-mediated depressor effect in the periphery.6 7 In mice lacking the gene encoding the AT2 receptor, the blood pressure response to low doses of Ang II was enhanced. This suggests that AT2 receptor activation may antagonize the well-established AT1-mediated pressor action of Ang II (eg, increased blood pressure, increased water intake, and altered baroreceptor function).14 This antihypertensive action may be consistent with a hyperpolarization of neurons resulting from the AT2 receptormediated increase in K+ channel NPo.
The finding that the increase in NPo with Ang II was due to an increase in the open-time distribution with no significant change in the closed-time distribution indicates that Ang II influences the open state of this 56-pS channel. This is consistent with a role for second messengers or other signal transduction processes in the regulation of the 56-pS K+ channel. We observed a similar phenomenon in our previous studies. A latency period before AT2 receptor-mediated changes in IK was observed,6 16 and the involvement of an inhibitory GTP-binding protein in the AT2 receptor stimulation of neuronal K+ currents was demonstrated.20
In conclusion, we have shown that Ang II, via the AT2 receptor, increases single K+ channel activity. Our single-channel data are consistent with previous whole-cell current data showing an Ang II increase in IK.6 The novel results suggesting that AT2 receptor activation is important in blood pressure regulation7 8 indicate that more investigation is required to understand the intracellular pathways involved in the Ang II regulation of K+ channel activity.
| Selected Abbreviations and Acronyms |
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| Acknowledgments |
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Received March 20, 1996; accepted May 9, 1996.
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