Specific monosaccharide inhibition of active sodium channels in neuroblastoma cells

L-Fucose and D-galactose in low concentrations (0.27 or 2.7 mM) inhibited the induction of active Na+ channels in mouse and human neuroblastoma cells when the monosaccharides were added to the culture medium for 4 days with the inducing agent dimethyl sulfoxide. Active Na+ ionophores were determined by measurement of the toxin-stimulated efflux of 86Rb from the cells. At the same time, the amount of a radioactive glycoprotein (Mr 200,000), which was shown previously to be associated with neurite and membrane preparations from cells with active Na+ channels, was decreased. Cell growth and viability were not affected. The nonphysiological isomer D-fucose or the addition of D-glucose in the same concentration did not inhibit differentiation. Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase, added to the cells prior to the stimulation of 86Rb efflux by veratridine and scorpion venom, was inhibitory. The implications of these findings, which suggest a key role for glycoproteins in at least a portion of the excitability process, are discussed.