Nociceptive neurons differentially express fast and slow T-type Ca²⁺ currents in different types of diabetic neuropathy

Neural Plast. 2014:2014:938235. doi: 10.1155/2014/938235. Epub 2014 Feb 18.

Abstract

T-type Ca²⁺ channels are known as important participants of nociception and their remodeling contributes to diabetes-induced alterations of pain sensation. In this work we have established that about 30% of rat nonpeptidergic thermal C-type nociceptive (NTCN) neurons of segments L4-L6 express a slow T-type Ca²⁺ current (T-current) while a fast T-current is expressed in the other 70% of these neurons. Streptozotocin-induced diabetes in young rats resulted in thermal hyperalgesia, hypoalgesia, or normalgesia 5-6 weeks after the induction. Our results show that NTCN neurons obtained from hyperalgesic animals do not express the slow T-current. Meanwhile, the fraction of neurons expressing the slow T-current did not significantly change in the hypo- and normalgesic diabetic groups. Moreover, the peak current density of fast T-current was significantly increased only in the neurons of hyperalgesic group. In contrast, the peak current density of slow T-current was significantly decreased in the hypo- and normalgesic groups. Experimental diabetes also resulted in a depolarizing shift of steady-state inactivation of fast T-current in the hyperalgesic group and slow T-current in the hypo- and normalgesic groups. We suggest that the observed changes may contribute to expression of different types of peripheral diabetic neuropathy occurring during the development of diabetes mellitus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Calcium Channels, T-Type / biosynthesis*
  • Calcium Channels, T-Type / metabolism
  • Calcium Channels, T-Type / physiology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology
  • Diabetic Neuropathies / physiopathology*
  • Ganglia, Spinal / physiopathology
  • Hot Temperature
  • Hyperalgesia / physiopathology
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Kinetics
  • Nociceptors / physiology*
  • Pain / physiopathology
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Plant Lectins
  • Rats
  • Sensory Receptor Cells / physiology*

Substances

  • Cacna1h protein, rat
  • Calcium Channels, T-Type
  • Griffonia simplicifolia lectins
  • Plant Lectins