Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
06:35
In Vivo Electrophysiological Measurement of Compound Muscle Action Potential from the Forelimbs in Mouse Models of Motor Neuron Degeneration
Published on: June 15, 2018
A selective PMCA inhibitor does not prolong the electroolfactogram in mouse
Edwin R Griff1, Nancy K Kleene, Steven J Kleene
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America.
Plos One
|May 23, 2012
Summary
Calcium removal is crucial for ending odor responses in olfactory neurons. This study found that while sodium-calcium exchange is important, plasma membrane calcium-ATPase (PMCA) does not significantly contribute to this calcium clearance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Sensory Physiology
Background:
- Calcium ions (Ca2+) accumulate in olfactory receptor neuron cilia during odor transduction.
- Efficient Ca2+ removal is essential for terminating olfactory responses.
- Both Na+/Ca2+ exchange and PMCA were previously suggested to mediate Ca2+ removal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific contribution of PMCA to Ca2+ removal during olfactory response termination.
- To differentiate the roles of Na+/Ca2+ exchange and PMCA in clearing intracellular Ca2+.
Main Methods:
- Measurements of odor-induced field potential termination time course in intact mouse olfactory epithelium.
- Experimental manipulation using Li+ to inhibit Na+/Ca2+ exchange.
- Application of a specific PMCA inhibitor, caloxin 1b1.
Main Results:
- Inhibition of Na+/Ca2+ exchange by replacing Na+ with Li+ significantly prolonged response termination, as anticipated.
- Treatment with the PMCA inhibitor caloxin 1b1 did not result in a significant alteration of the response termination time course.
- These findings indicate that PMCA activity is not a major factor in rapid Ca2+ clearance.
Conclusions:
- Under the tested experimental conditions, PMCA does not play a detectable role in the termination of olfactory responses.
- Na+/Ca2+ exchange appears to be the primary mechanism for Ca2+ extrusion in this context.
- Further research may be needed to fully elucidate the complex mechanisms of calcium homeostasis in olfactory neurons.
