Functional and Molecular Properties of DYT-SGCE Myoclonus-Dystonia Patient-Derived Striatal Medium Spiny Neurons

Myoclonus-dystonia (DYT-SGCE, formerly DYT11) is characterized by alcohol-sensitive, myoclonic-like appearance of fast dystonic movements. It is caused by mutations in the SGCE gene encoding ε-sarcoglycan leading to a dysfunction of this transmembrane protein, alterations in the cerebello-thalamic pathway and impaired striatal plasticity. To elucidate underlying pathogenic mechanisms, we investigated induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) from two myoclonus-dystonia patients carrying a heterozygous mutation in the SGCE gene (c.298T>G and c.304C>T with protein changes W100G and R102X) in comparison to two matched healthy control lines. Calcium imaging showed significantly elevated basal intracellular Ca²⁺ content and lower frequency of spontaneous Ca²⁺ signals in SGCE MSNs. Blocking of voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels by verapamil was less efficient in suppressing KCl-induced Ca²⁺ peaks of SGCE MSNs. Ca²⁺ amplitudes upon glycine and acetylcholine applications were increased in SGCE MSNs, but not after GABA or glutamate applications. Expression of voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels and most ionotropic receptor subunits was not altered. SGCE MSNs showed significantly reduced GABAergic synaptic density. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings displayed elevated amplitudes of miniature postsynaptic currents and action potentials in SGCE MSNs. Our data contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology and the development of novel therapeutic strategies for myoclonus-dystonia.     

Design and fabrication of a planar patch-clamp substrate using a silicon-on-insulator wafer

noise.     

Selective Chemical Activation of Piezo1 in Leukemia Cell Membrane: Single Channel Analysis

Piezo1/2 are mechanosensitive calcium-permeable channels that can be activated by various modes of membrane deformation. The identification of the small molecule Yoda1, a synthetic Piezo1 agonist, revealed the possibility of chemical activation of the channel. Stimulating effects of Yoda1 on Piezo1 have been mainly documented using over-expressing cellular systems or channel proteins incorporated in artificial lipid bilayers. However, the activating effect of Yoda1 on native Piezo1 channels in the plasma membrane of living cells remains generally undefined, despite the increasing number of studies in which the agonist is utilized as a functional tool to reveal the contribution of Piezo1 to cellular reactions. In the current study, we used the human myeloid leukemia K562 cell line as a suitable model to examine chemically induced Piezo1 activity with the use of the patch-clamp technique in various specific modes. The functional expression of Piezo1 in leukemia cells was evidenced using a combinative approach, including single channel patch-clamp measurements. Utilizing our established single-current whole-cell assay on K562 cells, we have shown, for the first time, the selective real-time chemical activation of endogenously expressed Piezo1. Extracellular application of 0.5–1 µM Yoda1 effectively stimulated single Piezo1 currents in the cell membrane.     

In Vivo Electrophysiology of Peptidergic Neurons in Deep Layers of the Lumbar Spinal Cord after Optogenetic Stimulation of Hypothalamic Paraventricular Oxytocin Neurons in Rats

The spinal ejaculation generator (SEG) is located in the central gray (lamina X) of the rat lumbar spinal cord and plays a pivotal role in the ejaculatory reflex. We recently reported that SEG neurons express the oxytocin receptor and are activated by oxytocin projections from the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVH). However, it is unknown whether the SEG responds to oxytocin in vivo. In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of the brain–spinal cord neural circuit that controls male sexual function using a newly developed in vivo electrophysiological technique. Optogenetic stimulation of the PVH of rats expressing channel rhodopsin under the oxytocin receptor promoter increased the spontaneous firing of most lamina X SEG neurons. This is the first demonstration of the in vivo electrical response from the deeper (lamina X) neurons in the spinal cord. Furthermore, we succeeded in the in vivo whole-cell recordings of lamina X neurons. In vivo whole-cell recordings may reveal the features of lamina X SEG neurons, including differences in neurotransmitters and response to stimulation. Taken together, these results suggest that in vivo electrophysiological stimulation can elucidate the neurophysiological response of a variety of spinal neurons during male sexual behavior.     

A Comparison of the Effect of Lead (Pb) on the Slow Vacuolar (SV) and Fast Vacuolar (FV) Channels in Red Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Taproot Vacuoles

Little is known about the effect of lead on the activity of the vacuolar K⁺ channels. Here, the patch-clamp technique was used to compare the impact of lead (PbCl₂) on the slow-activating (SV) and fast-activating (FV) vacuolar channels. It was revealed that, under symmetrical 100-mM K⁺, the macroscopic currents of the SV channels exhibited a typical slow activation and a strong outward rectification of the steady-state currents, while the macroscopic currents of the FV channels displayed instantaneous currents, which, at the positive potentials, were about three-fold greater compared to the one at the negative potentials. When PbCl₂ was added to the bath solution at a final concentration of 100 µM, it decreased the macroscopic outward currents of both channels but did not change the inward currents. The single-channel recordings demonstrated that cytosolic lead causes this macroscopic effect by a decrease of the single-channel conductance and decreases the channel open probability. We propose that cytosolic lead reduces the current flowing through the SV and FV channels, which causes a decrease of the K⁺ fluxes from the cytosol to the vacuole. This finding may, at least in part, explain the mechanism by which cytosolic Pb²⁺ reduces the growth of plant cells.     

Lithium Enhances the GABAergic Synaptic Activities on the Hypothalamic Preoptic Area (hPOA) Neurons

Lithium (Li⁺) salt is widely used as a therapeutic agent for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders. Despite its therapeutic effects on neurological and psychiatric disorders, it can also disturb the neuroendocrine axis in patients under lithium therapy. The hypothalamic area contains GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons and their receptors, which regulate various hypothalamic functions such as the release of neurohormones, control circadian activities. At the neuronal level, several neurotransmitter systems are modulated by lithium exposure. However, the effect of Li⁺ on hypothalamic neuron excitability and the precise action mechanism involved in such an effect have not been fully understood yet. Therefore, Li⁺ action on hypothalamic neurons was investigated using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique. In hypothalamic neurons, Li⁺ increased the GABAergic synaptic activities via action potential independent presynaptic mechanisms. Next, concentration-dependent replacement of Na⁺ by Li⁺ in artificial cerebrospinal fluid increased frequencies of GABAergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents without altering their amplitudes. Li⁺ perfusion induced inward currents in the majority of hypothalamic neurons independent of amino-acids receptor activation. These results suggests that Li⁺ treatment can directly affect the hypothalamic region of the brain and regulate the release of various neurohormones involved in synchronizing the neuroendocrine axis.     

基于CPLD的膜片钳数据采集系统——UDA-I数据采集器

针对膜片钳实验系统自动化发展的需要,采用基于CPLD芯片的数字逻辑控制单元和USB1.1数据传输总线,研究并实现了一种新的数据采集系统——UDA-I(USBDataAcquisition,I型)数据采集器。实验证明,本数据采集器的数据传输速率达到100KBytes/s,信号噪声在±10mV范围内,能灵敏、准确地实现数据传输,符合膜片钳实验高速数据传输的要求。     

以绝缘体上硅为基底的平面膜片钳电极的设计和制作

The planar patch-clamp technique has been applied to high throughput screening in drug discovery. The key feature of this technique is the fabrication of a planar patch-clamp substrate using appropriate materials. In this study, a planar patch-clamp substrate was designed and fabricated using a silicon-on-insulator （SOI） wafer. The access resistance and capacitance of SOl-based planar patch-clamp substrates are smaller than those of bulk silicon-based planar substrates, which will reduce the distributed RC noise.     

地西泮抑制交感神经节细胞钠通道电流的机制

目的 研究地西泮对交感神经节细胞钠通道电流的抑制作用机制。方法 酶消化法急性分离SD 大鼠(7 ~ 10 d) 颈上交感神经节细胞, 全细胞膜片钳技术记录地西泮对钠通道电流的影响。结果 在钳制电压(V_h) -80 mV, 刺激电压(Vt) 0 mV 条件下,0.3 μmol·L^-1 地西泮使钠电流峰值降低14.76 %(P <0.01), 其抑制作用与浓度呈正相关(r =0.99,P <0.01), IC₅₀为6.06 μmol·L^-1;钳制电位不同, 抑制作用也不同(P <0.05), V_h -60 mV时的IC₅₀ 为4.60 μmol·L^-1。3.0 μmol·L^-1的地西泮使电流-电压曲线峰值平均降低48.94 %, 峰值向去极化方向移动约10 mV; 对激活曲线无明显的影响(P >0.05), 用药前、后50 %的通道激活时的去极化电压(V_1/2)分别为:-24.64 mV、-23.75 mV; 3.0 μmol·L^-1的地西泮使稳态失活曲线产生明显的超极化方向移动(20.12 mV, P <0.01), 用药前、后50 %的通道灭活时的条件脉冲电压(V_1/2) 分别为:-64.13 mV、-84.25 mV。结论 地西泮对交感神经节细胞钠通道电流有明显的抑制作用, 且呈浓度及电压依赖性;其抑制作用主要与优先结合钠通道的失活状态而影响钠通道的失活有关。提示交感神经节参与介导地西泮的循环抑制作用。