ISSN:
1471-4159
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract: Previous studies have indicated that recombinant cellular prion protein (PrPC), as well as a synthetic peptide of PrPC, affects intracellular calcium homeostasis. To analyze whether calcium homeostasis in neurons is also affected by a loss of PrPC, we performed microfluorometric calcium measurements on cultured cerebellar granule cells derived from prion protein-deficient (Prnp0/0) mice. The resting concentration of intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) was found to be slightly, but significantly, reduced in Prnp0/0 mouse granule cell neurites. Moreover, we observed a highly significant reduction in the [Ca2+]i increase after high potassium depolarization. Pharmacological studies further revealed that the L-type specific blocker nifedipine, which reduces the depolarization-induced [Ca2+]i increase by 66% in wild-type granule cell somas, has no effect on [Ca2+]i in Prnp0/0 mouse granule cells. Patch-clamp measurements, however, did not reveal a reduced calcium influx through voltage-gated calcium channels in Prnp0/0 mice. These data clearly indicate that loss of PrPC alters the intracellular calcium homeostasis of cultured cerebellar granule cells. There is no evidence, though, that this change is due to a direct alteration of voltage-gated calcium channels.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-4159.2000.0751487.x
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