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Postdecentralization plasticity of voltage-gated Na+ currents in rat glandular sympathetic neurons
Bartłomiej Szulczyk1, Paweł Szulczyk
1Department of Experimental and Clinical Physiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Faculty of Medicine, Krakowskie Przedmiescie 26/28, Warsaw 00-927, Poland.
Abstract:
The kinetic properties of voltage-gated Na(+) currents in two groups of glandular postganglionic sympathetic neurons were assessed. The first group of neurons remained innervated by preganglionic axons until the day of current recordings, while the second--decentralized 4 weeks prior to recordings. An increase of maximum current amplitude and density was noted in decentralized neurons. Na(+) currents activated and time-dependently inactivated more slowly in decentralized than in control neurons. Furthermore, after decentralization the currents steady-state inactivated at less hyperpolarized potentials as well as reactivated faster from inactivation. We conclude that the Na(+) currents in decentralized postganglionic glandular sympathetic neurons undergo up-regulation.
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