Effects of NaOCl on Neuronal Excitability and Intracellular Calcium Concentration in Rat Spinal Substantia Gelatinosa Neurons.
- Author:
Hae In LEE
1
;
A Reum PARK
;
Sang Woo CHUN
Author Information
1. Department of Oral Physiology, College of Dentistry, Institute of Wonkwang Biomaterial and Implant, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, Korea. physio1@wonkwang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
NaOCl;
membrane excitability;
confocal scanning;
calcium imaging
- MeSH:
Animals;
Calcium;
Calcium-Transporting ATPases;
Central Nervous System Sensitization;
Dithiothreitol;
Fluoresceins;
Fluorescence;
Fura-2;
Humans;
Membranes;
Microscopy, Confocal;
Neurons;
Nociception;
Perfusion;
Rats;
Reactive Oxygen Species;
Substantia Gelatinosa;
Thapsigargin;
Tissue Donors
- From:International Journal of Oral Biology
2013;38(1):5-12
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Recent studies indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can act as modulators of neuronal activity, and are critically involved in persistent pain primarily through spinal mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the effects of NaOCl, a ROS donor, on neuronal excitability and the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in spinal substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons. In current clamp conditions, the application of NaOCl caused a membrane depolarization, which was inhibited by pretreatment with phenyl-N-tert-buthylnitrone (PBN), a ROS scavenger. The NaOCl-induced depolarization was not blocked however by pretreatment with dithiothreitol, a sulfhydryl-reducing agent. Confocal scanning laser microscopy was used to confirm whether NaOCl increases the intracellular ROS level. ROS-induced fluorescence intensity was found to be increased during perfusion of NaOCl after the loading of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (H2DCF-DA). NaOCl-induced depolarization was not blocked by pretreatment with external Ca2+ free solution or by the addition of nifedifine. However, when slices were pretreated with the Ca2+ ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin, NaOCl failed to induce membrane depolarization. In a calcium imaging technique using the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescence dye fura-2, the [Ca2+]i was found to be increased by NaOCl. These results indicate that NaOCl activates the excitability of SG neurons via the modulation of the intracellular calcium concentration, and suggest that ROS induces nociception through a central sensitization.
