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Mechanosensitive currents in putative aortic baroreceptor neurons in vitro
J T Cunningham1, R E Wachtel, F M Abboud
1Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|May 1, 1995
Summary
Rat aortic baroreceptor neurons possess mechano-sensitive conductances. These channels, identified in nodose ganglia neurons, are blocked by gadolinium, suggesting a role in sensing blood pressure changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Cellular Electrophysiology
Background:
- Aortic baroreceptors are crucial for regulating blood pressure.
- The specific ion channels involved in their mechanosensitivity remain incompletely understood.
- Identifying these channels is key to understanding baroreceptor function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of mechano-sensitive conductances in rat aortic baroreceptor neurons.
- To characterize the properties of these putative mechanosensitive channels.
Main Methods:
- Whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology was performed on cultured rat nodose ganglia neurons.
- Neurons were identified as putative aortic baroreceptor neurons using DiI labeling.
- Hypoosmotic stretch was applied to induce membrane stretch, and responses were recorded.
Main Results:
- Hypoosmotic stretch significantly increased neuronal conductance in DiI-labeled neurons.
- Gadolinium, a known blocker of mechanosensitive channels, inhibited the stretch-induced conductance.
- Neither lanthanum nor omega-conotoxin GVIA significantly affected the inward current, ruling out voltage-gated calcium channels.
Conclusions:
- Rat aortic baroreceptor neurons possess distinct mechano-sensitive conductances.
- These findings suggest the involvement of gadolinium-sensitive channels in baroreceptor mechanotransduction.
- This study provides electrophysiological evidence for the molecular basis of baroreceptor activation.