Characteristics of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels in dorsal root ganglion neurons at different ages and sizes. Issue 16 (11th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hou, Baohua; Chen, Hengling; Qu, Xiangwei; Lin, Xianguang; Luo, Fang; Li, Chenhong
• Is Part Of: NeuroReport. Volume 26:Issue 16(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-11-11
• Subjects: age -- dorsal root ganglion -- HCN channels; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Nervous System Physiological Phenomena -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; 616.805
• DOI: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000000455
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-4965

Abstract

Abstract : In rat's sensory neurons, hyperpolarization-activated inward currents ( I h ) play an essential role in mediating action potentials and contributing to neuronal excitability. Classified by the size of neurons and ages, we studied the I h and transcription levels of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels using electrophysiology and the single-cell RT-PCR. In voltage-clamp studies, I h and half-maximal activation voltage ( V 1/2 ) changed with age and size. An analysis of all HCN subtypes in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons by single-cell RT-PCR was carried out. HCN1 and HCN3 in medium–small elderly neurons had a weak expression. HCN2 in newborns and HCN4 in elderly rats also had a weak expression. The aim of this study is to examine the age-related I h and HCN channels subunits in different ages and sizes of DRG neurons. The results would be significant in understanding the physiological and pathophysiological function of different sizes of DRG neurons in different age periods.