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Contribution of the Na+/K+ Pump to Rhythmic Bursting, Explored with Modeling and Dynamic Clamp Analyses
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[The Na,K pump regulates a decrease in the cholinosensitivity of the neurons in the snail Helix lucorum taurica Kryn

A S Pivovarov1, D V Boguslavskiĭ

  • 1Department of Higher Nervous Activity, Lomonosov State University, Moscow.

Zhurnal Vysshei Nervnoi Deiatelnosti Imeni I P Pavlova
|November 21, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Ouabain, a Na,K-pump inhibitor, alters cholinosensitivity in snail neurons during habituation. The effect depends on intracellular free calcium levels, influencing learning and memory processes.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cellular Physiology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Neuronal cholinosensitivity is crucial for withdrawal behaviors.
  • Habituation, a simple form of learning, involves changes in neuronal responses.
  • The Na,K-pump and intracellular calcium play roles in neuronal excitability and plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of ouabain, a Na,K-pump inhibitor, on cholinosensitivity.
  • To determine the role of intracellular free Ca2+ in modulating this effect.
  • To explore the cellular mechanisms underlying habituation in Helix lucorum.

Main Methods:

  • Two-electrode voltage clamp technique on identified Helix lucorum neurons (LPa2, LPa3, RPa3, RPa2).
  • Recording transmembrane inward currents in response to iontophoretically applied acetylcholine (ACh).
  • Assessing cholinosensitivity by measuring the depression of ACh-induced currents during rhythmic stimulation.

Main Results:

  • Ouabain (0.1 mM) caused variable effects on cholinosensitivity depression, increasing it in some neurons and decreasing it in others.
  • Intracellular BAPTA (calcium chelator) led to ouabain consistently increasing depression.
  • Intracellular CaCl2 led to ouabain consistently reducing depression.
  • The modulatory effect of ouabain on cholinosensitivity depression is dependent on basal intracellular free Ca2+ concentration.

Conclusions:

  • Inhibition of the Na,K-pump by ouabain modulates neuronal cholinosensitivity depression during habituation.
  • The direction of ouabain's modulatory effect is determined by the baseline intracellular free calcium concentration.
  • This study highlights the interplay between ion transport, calcium homeostasis, and learning in the nervous system.

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