No abstract available
Ion Channels*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Ion Channels ; Rats

Mechanosensitive channels (MSCs) are special membrane proteins that can convert mechanical stimulation into electrical or chemical signals. These channels have become potential targets for ultrasonic neuromodulation due to their properties. The good spatial resolution and focusing effect of ultrasound make it theoretically possible to achieve non-invasive whole-brain localization. Therefore, ultrasonic neuromodulation is a promising method for performing physical neuromodulation and treating neurological disorders. To date, only a few ion channels have been reported to be activated by ultrasound, while recent research has identified more channels with mechanosensitive properties. Moreover, the opening process and mechanism of MSCs under ultrasound excitation remain unknown. This review provides an overview on recent research advances and applications in MSCs, including large conductance mechanosensitive channels, transient receptor potential channels, degenerated protein/epithelial sodium channels, two-pore potassium channels, and piezo channels. These findings will facilitate future studies and applications of ultrasonic neuromodulation.
Ultrasonics ; Ion Channels/metabolism*

Epilepsy ; genetics ; Ion Channels ; genetics

Potassium-selective channels are the largest and most diverse group of ion channels in the human. Also, potassium-selective channels are important in many cells during anesthesia. Many researches have focused on potassium channel and intravenous anesthetics.
Anesthesia ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; Humans ; Ion Channels ; Potassium Channels

Humans ; Ion Channels ; Pain ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

Ion channels mediate ion transport across membranes, and play vital roles in processes of matter exchange, energy transfer and signal transduction in living organisms. Recently, structural studies of ion channels have greatly advanced our understanding of their ion selectivity and gating mechanisms. Structural studies of voltage-gated potassium channels elucidate the structural basis for potassium selectivity and voltage-gating mechanism; structural studies of voltage-gated sodium channels reveal their slow and fast inactivation mechanisms; and structural studies of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels provide complex and diverse structures of TRP channels, and their ligand gating mechanisms. In the article we summarize recent progress on ion channel structural biology, and outlook the prospect of ion channel structural biology in the future.
Ion Channel Gating ; physiology ; Ion Channels ; Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels ; chemistry ; metabolism

Humans ; Ion Channels ; Pain ; Pressure ; TRPM Cation Channels ; TRPV Cation Channels ; Temperature

Asthenospermia is one of the familiar causes of male infertility. Recently, more and more studies have discovered that some diseases result from gene defect and functional variation of ion channels, known as ion channelopathies. Meanwhile, it has been found that even though many diseases do not fall into the category of the ion channelopathies, some links or passages during the disease development are closely related with the malfunction of ion channels, and many drugs can prevent and cure these diseases by acting on ion channels. The relationship of sperm physiology and pathophysiology with ion channels is gradually becoming one of the hot topics in the current researches. Recent progress in the researches on the relationship between sperm motility and ion channels ( including cation channel s and anion channels) is briefly reviewed in this article.
Animals ; Asthenozoospermia ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Ion Channels ; Male ; Rats ; Sperm Motility

OBJECTIVES: Until recently, most patch-clamp recordings in inner hair cells (IHCs) have been performed at room temperature. The results acquired at room temperature should be corrected if they are to be related to in vivo findings. However, the temperature dependency to ion channels in IHCs is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature on the potassium currents in IHCs. METHODS: IHCs were isolated from a mature guinea-pig cochlea and potassium currents were recorded at room temperature (around 25degrees C) and physiological temperatures (35degrees C-37degrees C). RESULTS: IHCs showed outwardly rectifying currents in response to depolarizing voltage pulses, with only a slight inward current when hyperpolarized. The amplitude of both outward and inward currents demonstrated no temperature dependency, however, activation and inactivation rates were faster at 36degrees C than at room temperature. Half-time for activation was shorter at 36degrees C than at room temperature at membrane potentials of -10, +10, +20, +30, and +40 mV. Q10 for the activation rate was 1.83. The inactivation time constant in outward tetraethylammonium-sensitive potassium currents was much smaller at 36degrees C than at room temperature between the membrane potentials of -20 and +60 mV. Q10 for the inactivation time constant was 3.19. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the amplitude of potassium currents in IHCs showed no temperature dependence either in outward or inward-going currents, however, activation and inactivation accelerated at physiological temperatures.
Cochlea ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Hair ; Ion Channels ; Kinetics ; Membrane Potentials ; Potassium