Actions of veratridine on tetrodotoxin-sensitive voltage-gated Na currents, Na1.6, in murine vas deferens myocytes.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

The effects of veratridine, an alkaloid found in Liliaceae plants, on tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive voltage-gated Na(+) channels were investigated in mouse vas deferens.

Experimental approach

Effects of veratridine on TTX-sensitive Na(+) currents (I(Na)) in vas deferens myocytes dispersed from BALB/c mice, homozygous mice with a null allele of Na(V)1.6 (Na(V)1.6(-/-)) and wild-type mice (Na(V)1.6(+/+)) were studied using patch-clamp techniques. Tension measurements were also performed to compare the effects of veratridine on phasic contractions in intact tissues.

Key results

In whole-cell configuration, veratridine had a concentration-dependent dual action on the peak amplitude of I(Na): I(Na) was enhanced by veratridine (1-10 microM), while high

SUBMITTER: Zhu HL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2765308 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature