A T-type calcium channel required for normal function of a mammalian mechanoreceptor

Nat Neurosci. 2003 Jul;6(7):724-30. doi: 10.1038/nn1076.

Abstract

The dorsal root ganglia (DRG) contain a variety of mechanoreceptors, but no molecular markers uniquely identify specific mechanoreceptor subtypes. We have used DNA microarrays and subtracted cDNA libraries to isolate genes that are specifically expressed by one type of mouse mechanoreceptor. The T-type calcium channel Ca(v)3.2 was exclusively expressed in the DRG by D-hair receptors, a very sensitive mechanoreceptor. Pharmacological blockade of T-type calcium channels indicated that this channel may be essential for normal D-hair receptor excitability including mechanosensitivity. This is the first evidence that a calcium channel is required for normal function of a vertebrate mechanoreceptor.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Aging
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn / genetics
  • Animals, Newborn / metabolism
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Calcium Channels, T-Type / genetics
  • Calcium Channels, T-Type / physiology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Ganglia, Spinal / physiology*
  • Gene Expression
  • In Situ Hybridization / methods
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Mechanoreceptors / physiology*
  • Mibefradil / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation
  • Nerve Growth Factors / genetics
  • Neurons, Afferent / drug effects
  • Neurons, Afferent / physiology
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / methods
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques / methods
  • Physical Stimulation
  • Protein Subunits / genetics
  • Protein Subunits / physiology
  • RNA / biosynthesis
  • Reaction Time
  • Receptor, trkB / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Skin / innervation
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Calcium Channels, T-Type
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Protein Subunits
  • Transcription Factors
  • Mibefradil
  • RNA
  • Receptor, trkB
  • neurotrophin 4