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J Neurophysiol 94: 3771-3787, 2005. First published August 24, 2005; doi:10.1152/jn.00455.2005
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A Reconfiguration of CaV2 Ca2+ Channel Current and Its Dopaminergic D2 Modulation in Developing Neostriatal Neurons

Humberto Salgado, Fatuel Tecuapetla, Tamara Perez-Rosello, Azucena Perez-Burgos, Enrique Perez-Garci, Elvira Galarraga and Jose Bargas

Departamento de Biofísica, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico

Submitted 3 May 2005; accepted in final form 17 August 2005


    ABSTRACT
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 GRANTS
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 REFERENCES
 
The modulatory effect of D2 dopamine receptor activation on calcium currents was studied in neostriatal projection neurons at two stages of rat development: postnatal day (PD)14 and PD40. D2-class receptor agonists reduced whole cell calcium currents by about 35% at both stages, and this effect was blocked by the D2 receptor antagonist sulpiride. Nitrendipine partially occluded this modulation at both stages, indicating that modulation of CaV1 channels was present throughout this developmental interval. Nevertheless, modulation of CaV1 channels was significantly larger in PD40 neurons. {omega}-Conotoxin GVIA occluded most of the Ca2+ current modulation in PD14 neurons. However, this occlusion was greatly decreased in PD40 neurons. {omega}-Agatoxin TK occluded a great part of the modulation in PD40 neurons but had a negligible effect in PD14 neurons. The data indicate that dopaminergic D2-mediated modulation undergoes a change in target during development: from CaV2.2 to CaV2.1 Ca2+ channels. This change occurred while CaV2.2 channels were being down-regulated and CaV2.1 channels were being up-regulated. Presynaptic modulation mediated by D2 receptors reflected these changes; CaV2.2 type channels were used for release in young animals but very little in mature animals, suggesting that changes took place simultaneously at the somatodendritic and the synaptic membranes.


    INTRODUCTION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 GRANTS
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 REFERENCES
 
Neostriatal projection neurons express a diverse array of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (Bargas et al. 1994Go). The different types of Ca2+ channels exhibit striking dissimilar roles during repetitive firing and transmitter release (Perez-Garci et al. 2003Go; Tecuapetla et al. 2005Go; Vilchis et al. 2000Go). For example, L-type Ca2+ (CaV1) channels activate near spike threshold and contribute to set the range of frequencies for evoked discharge—the dynamic range (Hernandez-Lopez et al. 1997Go, 2000Go; Perez-Garci et al. 2003Go). By this token, dopaminergic D1 receptor activation facilitates neuronal excitability by enhancing Ca2+ current through L-type Ca2+ channels (Hernandez-Lopez et al. 1997Go; Surmeier et al. 1995Go). Activation of dopaminergic D2 receptors reduces L-type Ca2+ currents, leading to a decrease in firing (Hernandez-Lopez et al. 2000Go; Olson et al. 2005Go). These actions partially explain the so-called facilitatory and repressing actions of dopamine on striatal output at the molecular level (Prescott et al. 2003Go).

However, not only CaV1 Ca2+ channels but also CaV2 Ca2+ channels may be controlled by dopamine. Consequently, this study asked if D2 receptor activation also regulates CaV2 Ca2+ channels in striatal neurons. The dopaminergic modulation of CaV2 Ca2+ channels may be important given the roles of these channels in spiny cells (Perez-Garci et al. 2003Go; Tecuapetla et al. 2005Go; Vilchis et al. 2000Go). Moreover, because the contribution of diverse CaV2 Ca2+ channels may change during development (Chameau et al. 1999Go), and because medium spiny neurons have a protracted development (Tepper et al. 1998Go) with respect to other neurons, it is important to see what happens with dopaminergic modulation during possible channel reconfigurations.

The relevance of this question becomes evident when recalling that CaV2 channels supply the Ca2+ necessary to activate Ca2+-dependent K+ channels (Vilchis et al. 2000Go) in mature neurons. In turn, these K+ channels generate the postspike afterhyperpolarization (AHP) that makes up the interspike interval. The AHP controls the firing of spiny cells by setting the gain for a given stimulus (Bargas et al. 1999Go; Perez-Garci et al. 2003Go; Pineda et al. 1992Go; Vilchis et al. 2000Go). In addition, CaV2 channels are in charge of GABA release at the synaptic terminals of spiny neurons (Tecuapetla et al. 2005Go). In this place too, there is evidence that dopamine exerts a presynaptic modulation of GABA release (Guzman et al. 2003Go). Thus theoretically, dopamine could control neostriatal output at two different levels through the regulation of CaV2 Ca2+ channels: first, at the somatodendritic membrane through the regulation of the firing mechanism, and second, at the synaptic terminals (Cooper and Stanford 2001Go; Guzman et al. 2003Go) through the regulation of transmitter release. Accordingly, the main objective of this study was to find evidence of this dual regulation. In relation to this, it was recently shown that activation of muscarinic M1 receptors controls both the interspike interval and the transmitter release at the synaptic terminals of spiny neurons (Perez-Rosello et al. 2005Go). Because muscarinic M1 receptors and dopaminergic D2 receptors seem to be linked to the same signaling cascade (Hernandez-Lopez et al. 2000Go; Rakhilin et al. 2004Go), it seems interesting to ask if these receptors share some physiological actions in neostriatal cells, and if not, why. This work has been published in abstract form (Salgado et al. 2004Go).


    METHODS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 GRANTS
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 REFERENCES
 
Preparation of slices

The protocols followed the National University of Mexico and National Institutes of Health guidelines for the use of animals in biomedical experiments. Briefly, and as described elsewhere (Bargas et al. 1999Go), male Wistar rats of postnatal days 14 (PD14) and 40 (PD40), from our animal house, were deeply anesthetized, and their brains were quickly removed into ice-cold saline (4°C) containing (in mM) 126 NaCl, 3 KCl, 1 MgCl2, 2 CaCl2, 25 NaHCO3, and 11 glucose (pH 7.4 with NaOH, 298 mOsm/l with glucose; aerated with 95% O2-5% CO2). Parasagittal neostriatal slices (300 µm thick) were cut in 4°C saline using a vibratome (Ted Pella, Reading, CA). Slices were transferred to room temperature saline (23–25°C) and left to recover for 1 h.

Voltage-clamp recordings of calcium currents

Neostriatal neurons from PD14 or PD40 rats were acutely dissociated using procedures similar to those previously described (Bargas et al. 1999Go). Briefly, after a 1- to 6-h incubation, slices were removed into HEPES-buffered saline, and the dorsal striatum was dissected. Neostriatal slices were placed in the same HEPES solution, now containing 1 mg/ml of pronase E type XIV (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) at 32°C. After about 20 min, the slices were removed into a low-Ca2+ HEPES-buffered saline. Slices were rinsed and dissociated mechanically with a graded series of fire-polished Pasteur pipettes. The cell suspension (2 ml) was plated into a 35-mm Lux petri dish mounted on the stage of an inverted microscope containing 1 ml of the following recording saline (in mM): 0.001 TTX, 140 NaCl, 3 KCl, 5 BaCl2, 2 MgCl2, 10 HEPES, and 10 glucose (pH 7.4 with NaOH; 298 mOsm/l with glucose). After allowing the cells to settle, superfusion began at about 1 ml/min with saline of the same composition. Recordings were made only from medium-sized neurons (10–12 µm soma diam). Whole cell currents recordings used standard techniques. Electrodes were pulled from borosilicate glass (WPI, Sarasota, FL) in a Flaming-Brown puller (Sutter Instrument Corp., Novato, CA) and fire polished before use. The internal saline contained (in mM) 180 N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG), 40 HEPES, 4 MgCl2, 10 EGTA, 2 Na2ATP, 0.2 Na3GTP, and 0.1 leupeptin (pH = 7.2 with H2SO4, 265–270 mOsm/l). Electrode DC resistances were 4–8 M{Omega} in the bath. Recordings were obtained with an Axopatch-1D patch-clamp amplifier (Axon Instruments, Foster City, CA), and controlled and monitored with a PC clone running pClamp (version 5) with a 125-kHz DMA interface (Axon Instruments). After seal rupture, the series resistance (<15 M{Omega}) was compensated (70–80%) and monitored before and after drug application. Current-voltage relationships (I-V plots) before and during drug applications were built from currents evoked with both 20-ms step voltage commands, from –80 to 50 mV in 10-mV steps, and with responses to voltage ramp commands (0.7 mV/ms) from –80 to 50 mV. Because the results from both methods coincided (see Fig. 1), most figures only show representative I-V plots built from the responses to voltage ramps.



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FIG. 1. Ca2+ current density does not change between PD14 and PD40 developmental stages. A: representative family of currents evoked by 20-ms step voltage commands from –80 to 50 mV, in 10-mV steps, in a PD14 cell. B: family of currents obtained with the same protocol in a PD40 cell. C: current evoked with a depolarizing ramp command from –80 to 50 mV and 180-ms duration (0.7-mV/ms depolarizing rate) in a PD14 cell (same cell as in A). D: similar current response evoked with the same ramp protocol in a PD40 cell (same cell as in B). E: current-voltage relationship of the PD14 cell (I-V plot) built with measurements from both steps (filled circles) and ramp (continuous line) evoked responses. There is close agreement between both measurements. For clarity, next figures only show I-V plots built after ramp commands. F: I-V plot of a PD40 cell built as in E. G: histogram comparing averaged current amplitudes (means ± SE) of PD14 and PD40 neurons. H: current was divided by cell capacitance to report a quantity proportional to current density. Histogram shows that current density does not change between these stages (PD14 and PD40). Currents were carried by 5 mM Ba2+. All records were from medium-sized neostriatal neurons.

 
In addition, a double pulse protocol was performed to explore the voltage dependency of the action of D2-class receptor activation (Fig. 8E). Voltage commands to 0 mV were given in pairs to compare evoked Ca2+ current before and after a depolarizing command to 80 mV. This command preceded the second pulse of a pair to 0 mV. Drugs were applied with a gravity-fed system that positioned a glass capillary tube 100 µm from the recorded cell in the direction of flow superfusion. This method allowed reversible drug applications (see Fig. 5). Solution changes were performed with a DC-controlled microvalve system (Lee Co., Essex, CT).



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FIG. 8. Action of dopaminergic D2-class receptors on Ca2+ currents are mediated by a voltage-independent, Ca2+-dependent, diffusible pathway. A: D2-class receptor agonists reduce Ca2+ current in the presence of 1 mM EGTA. B: D2-class receptor agonists reduce Ca2+ current in the presence of 10 mM EGTA. Amount of modulated current did not change when A and B were compared. C: action of D2-class receptor agonists on Ca2+ current were virtually abolished in the presence of 15 mM BAPTA; suggesting that these actions are mediated by a Ca2+-dependent diffusible pathway. D: histogram summarizing these results. Differences were significant only when comparing EGTA and BAPTA samples (P < 0.001; ANOVA with post hoc Tukey tests). E: double pulse protocol to 0 mV. Note that the 2nd pulse is preceded by a depolarizing command to 80 mV. F: current evoked after the depolarizing commands to 0 mV before and after the depolarizing prepulse to 80 mV. Note that both control (black traces) and modulated current (gray trace; quinelorane) were enhanced in the same proportion, indicating that there is a constitutive voltage-dependent modulation but that quinelorane does not change it significantly in PD14 neurons. G: similar results were obtained in PD40 neurons. H and I: histograms summarizing samples of experiments (n = 6) as in F and G, respectively.

 


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FIG. 5. Activation of dopaminergic D2 receptors reversibly modulates Ca2+ currents in both young and adult neurons. A: time-course showing that 2 successive applications of the dopaminergic D2 receptor agonist quinelorane (10 µM) reduced whole cell Ca2+ current (gray symbols). It is also shown that these current reductions were reversible. Bars indicate time of drug application and wash off. Stability of current amplitude when no drug was applied is also shown (empty symbols; measurements taken from another neuron). B: representative records of experiment in A. Note that both steady-state amplitude and tail current amplitude were decreased by the D2 agonist. Numbers correspond to labels in A. C: box plot showing distribution of percentage of run down found in Ca2+ current when no drug was applied (n = 15). PD40 neuron. Similar results were obtained in PD14 neurons.

 
Voltage-clamp recordings of synaptic currents

Neostriatal slices from juvenile (PD14) or mature young rats (PD40) were transferred to a custom plexiglass recording chamber and superfused with oxygenated saline (3–6 ml/min) as above. Individual neurons were visualized (x40 water immersion objective) under differential interference contrast (DIC) enhanced visual guidance using infrared videomicroscopy in an upright microscope (Diaphot, Nikon, Melville, NY) adapted with a CCD camera (CCD-100, Dage-MTI, Michigan City, IN). Synaptic events were evoked with a bipolar concentric tungsten electrode (12 µm at the "pencil shaped" tip; FHC, Bowdoinham, ME) located at the globus pallidus to stimulate antidromically the axons of spiny cells (Guzman et al. 2003Go; Tecuapetla et al. 2005Go). Paired shock stimulation (45–50 ms of interstimulus interval; 0.2- to 0.4-ms duration; 1- to 4-V strength; frequency of 0.1 Hz) was delivered with a computer interface. Isolation units (Digitimer, Hertfordshire, UK) between the computer and the stimulating electrodes were used to adjust stimulus parameters during the experiment. Distance between recording and stimulating electrode was about 1 mm. Synaptic responses in these conditions were of moderate amplitude, but some experiments were performed with either strong or weak stimulation strength to check if D2-class receptor actions were present. Thus evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) had amplitude variation but without exhibiting failures except at the weaker stimulation strengths. Traces shown are the average of {approx}4-min recordings (24 traces) taken once the amplitude had been stabilized in a given condition. A hyperpolarizing voltage command (10 mV) continuously monitored input conductance. Internal solution was (in mM) 72 KH2PO4, 36 KCl, 2 Mg Cl2, 10 HEPES, 1.1 EGTA, 2 Na2ATP, 0.2 Na3GTP, 5 QX 314 (to prevent neuronal firing and enhance input resistance), and 0.5% biocytin (pH = 7.2, 275 mOsM/l). Bath solution contained 10 µM 6-cyano-2,3-dihydroxy-7-nitro-quinoxaline disodium salt (CNQX) and 50 µM D-(–)-2-amino-5 phosphonovaleric acid (AP5) to block glutamatergic currents so that synaptic responses were eIPSC sensitive to bicuculline. Cells with resting potential more negative than –70 mV (at 0 current), input resistance about 100–200 M{Omega}, and holding current (in voltage clamp mode) ≤0.02 nA to maintain a holding potential near the resting potential of the cell were chosen. Whole cell recordings were made using an Axoclamp 2B amplifier (Axon Instruments). Whole cell access resistances were in the range of 5–20 M{Omega}. Access resistance was continuously monitored, and experiments were abandoned if changes >20% were encountered. No cell capacitance, series resistance, or liquid junction potential (2 mV) compensations were made. All recordings were filtered at 1–3 KHz and digitized with an AT-MIO-6040E interface and a DAQ (NI-DAQ) board (National Instruments, Austin, TX) in a PC clone. On-line data acquisition used custom programs made by L. Carrillo in the LabVIEW environment (National Instruments). The NI-DAQ board was used to save the data on binary files in the computer hard disk for further off-line analysis.

eIPSCs obtained with different simulation strengths (weak to strong; see intensity-amplitude plots in Tecuapetla et al. 2005Go) and different ages were chosen to have an array of different amplitudes for eIPSCs. These were used to perform a mean-variance analysis as described in Clements and Silver (2000)Go.

Intracellular recordings

Slices obtained as above (see Preparation of slices), from PD40 rats, were also recorded in a submerged chamber and superfused with the same saline at 1 ml/min (34–36°C). Intracellular recordings were performed with sharp microelectrodes filled with 3 M K-acetate (DC resistances: 80–120 M{Omega}) and the help of an active bridge electrometer (Neuro Data, Cygnus Tech, DWG) (Pineda et al. 1992Go). Records were digitized and saved on VHS tapes (40 KHz) and analyzed off-line in a PC clone. Stimulation consisted of intracellular injections of constant current steps to evoke the AHP after a single action potential (Pineda et al. 1992Go). Stimulus were of suprathreshold intensity and given at a holding potential of –55 to –60 mV by adjusting constant current. Bridge balance as well as recovery periods (without DC current) were monitored between sample records. After recording, some neurons were injected with biocytin as previously described (Galarraga et al. 1999Go). All neurons identified in this study were medium-sized spiny projection neurons.

Drugs used

Drugs were dissolved in the bath saline from daily made stock solutions using a gravity-driven superfusion system. Equilibrated concentrations of the drugs were achieved in 4–5 min. L-{alpha}-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazolepropionate and 2-carboxy-3-carboxymethyl-4-isopropenylpyrrolidine/kainate (AMPA/KA) antagonist, CNQX (10 µM), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, AP5 (50 µM), nitrendipine, bicuculline, QX-314, TTX, sulpiride, quinelorane, and quinpirole were all purchased from Sigma-RBI (St. Louis, MO). Calcium channels antagonists {omega}-conotoxin GVIA ({omega}-CgTx) and {omega}-agatoxin TK ({omega}-AgaTK) were obtained from both Peptides international (Louisville, KY) and Alomone Labs (Jerusalem, Israel). Almost all drugs were dissolved in water to get stock solutions and added to the superfusate to reach the final concentration. Nitrendipine was disolved in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO; 0.01%).

Data analysis

Digitized data were imported for analysis and graphing into commercial software (origin v.6. Microcal, Northampton, MA). Mean ± SE of all ICa2+ and IPSCs are reported. Free-distribution statistical tests were used to assess statistical significance; Mann-Whitney U test or Wilcoxon's t-test (depending on nonpaired or paired samples) and one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test were used to assess significance between multiple samples in which quinelorane modulation was tested in the presence or the absence of Ca2+ channel blockers (for details see Vilchis et al. 2000Go).

To approximate the contribution for each type of Ca2+ channel, we took the amount of Ca2+ current blocked by a given antagonist (nitrendipine for L-type; {omega}-AgaTK for P/Q-type; and {omega}-CgTx for N-type) as the contribution of a given channel type to the whole cell calcium current. Current through R-type Ca2+ channels was calculated as the amount of current left after all three blockers were added together. The sum was normalized to 100% so that L + N + P/Q + R = 100%. To determine the amount of quinelorane modulation for each type of Ca2+ channel, we compared quinelorane modulation on Ca2+ currents in the absence and presence of the different Ca2+ channels blockers and introduced the data into a system of linear equations (for details, see Vilchis et al. 2002Go).


    RESULTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 GRANTS
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 REFERENCES
 
Ca2+ currents expressed in dissociated neostriatal neurons at two different developmental stages

Figure 1A shows a family of Ca2+currents obtained in response to depolarizing step voltage commands (see METHODS) from a PD14 neuron. Ba2+ was the charge carrier. Figure 1B shows a similar experiment done in a PD40 neuron. Figure 1C shows the Ca2+ current evoked in the same PD14 neuron (Fig. 1A) after a depolarizing ramp command from –80 to 50 mV. A similar experiment is shown in Fig. 1D for the PD40 neuron. Figure 1, E and F, shows the current-voltage relationships (I-V plots) obtained from the experiments depicted in Fig. 1, A–D. Filled circles are measurements from the currents depicted in Fig. 1, A and B, measured at the end of the voltage step. Continuous traces are taken from currents depicted in Fig. 1, C and D, plotted as a function of ramp voltage. Note that ramp-evoked I-V plots look as the "fits" of the I-V plots obtained with step commands; indicating a virtual agreement between both recording methods. For the sake of clarity, most figures will show I-V plots obtained with ramp commands only. However, most experiments were done with both protocols. Histogram in Fig. 1G compares mean current amplitudes at both developmental stages. In PD14 neurons, peak current amplitude was 234 ± 14 (SE) pA (n = 49), whereas it was 254 ± 12 pA in PD40 neurons [n = 54; not significant (NS); Mann-Whitney U test]. Because current density could change during development, this parameter was compared in Fig. 1H by dividing ionic current over whole cell capacitance (CN). CN in PD14 cells was 7.3 ± 0.2 pF, whereas it was 7.5 ± 0.3 pF in PD40 cells (NS; Mann-Whitney U test), indicating that somatic surface does not change between these developmental stages. Accordingly, normalized currents were 32 ± 2.2 pA/pF in PD14 and 34 ± 1.4 pA/pF in PD40 cells (Fig. 1H; NS; Mann-Whitney U test). These measurements made us confident that the total number of Ca2+ channels does not increase between these two developmental stages. Experiments to document possible changes in kinetics or voltage dependence were not done in this work (cf., Fig. 1, A and B). Instead we focused on the channel types that contribute to the whole cell current, because, even if channel numbers do not increase, the channel types that compose the current may change. To test this expectation, a pharmacological dissection of Ca2+ currents at both stages, PD14 and PD40, was done with the help of known Ca2+ channel antagonists.

Figure 2A shows that, in PD14 neurons, 10 µM nitrendipine blocked 29 ± 3% (n = 15) of the Ca2+ current, whereas in PD40 neurons, the percentage of Ca2+ current blocked by dihydropyridine was 23 ± 2% (n = 24; this difference was not statistically significant; Mann Whitney U test; Fig. 2C). Therefore it was concluded that L-type Ca2+ channels do not change their numbers between these developmental stages. However, further study is needed to see if the subtypes of L-type channels ({alpha}1D and {alpha}1C) do change (Olson et al. 2005Go).



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FIG. 2. CaV2.1 (P/Q-type) Ca2+ channels increase, whereas CaV2.2 (N-type) Ca2+ channels decrease in neostriatal neurons between the PD14 and the PD40 developmental stages. A and B: sensitivity of Ca2+ current to dihydropyridine (10 µM nitrendipine) was not significantly different when comparing PD14 and PD40 cells. C: histogram summarizing results in 2 neuronal samples. D and E: sensitivity of Ca2+ current to {omega}-agatoxin TK ({omega}-AgaTK; 400 nM) is significantly different when comparing PD14 and PD40 cells. More current is blocked by {omega}-AgaTK in PD40 neurons. F: histogram summarizing results in 2 neuronal samples (P < 0.0001). G and H: sensitivity of Ca2+ current to {omega}-conotoxin GVIA ({omega}-CgTx; 1 µM) is significantly different when comparing PD14 and PD40 cells. More current is blocked by {omega}-CgTx in PD14 neurons. I: histogram summarizing results in 2 neuronal samples (P < 0.002). J and K: amount of Ca2+ current left: CaV2.3 or R-type current, after all 3 blockers (nitrendipine, {omega}-AgaTK, and {omega}-CgTx) were administered together to PD14 (J) and PD40 (K) neurons, was not significantly different. L: histogram summarizing results in 2 neuronal samples.

 
Similar experiments were done using the CaV2.1 (P/Q-type) channel blocker, {omega}-AgaTK (400 nM). This peptide reduced Ca2+ current in PD14 cells by 24 ± 3% (n = 7; Fig. 2D), whereas it reduced Ca2+ current in PD40 cells by 40 ± 1% (n = 15; Fig. 2E). This difference was statistically significant (Fig. 2F; P < 0.0001; Mann-Whitney U test); indicating that P/Q-type Ca2+ channels increase their numbers and their relative contribution to the whole cell Ca2+ current between these developmental stages.

Equivalent experiments were done using the CaV2.2 (N-type) channel blocker, {omega}-CgTx (1 µM). This peptide reduced Ca2+ current in PD14 cells by 43 ± 2% (n = 11; Fig. 2G), whereas it reduced Ca2+ current in PD40 cells by 28 ± 2% (n = 8; Fig. 2H). This difference was statistically significant (Fig. 2I; P < 0.002; Mann-Whitney U test), indicating that N-type channels decrease their numbers and their relative contribution to the whole cell Ca2+ current during the PD14 to PD40 developmental window. Comparable findings have been reported in cultured pyramidal neurons (Chameau et al. 1999Go).

Finally, to isolate the CaV2.3 (R-type) current, we added the three blockers together (nitrendipine, {omega}-AgaTK, and {omega}-CgTx) at the above concentrations and measured the current that was left. Less than 15% of the initial current was left in both PD14 and PD40 cells (Fig. 2, JL), indicating that, as L-type channels, R-type channels do not change their numbers during this developmental period (Bargas et al. 1994Go; Foehring et al. 2000Go).

In PD14 cells, the percentage that each current type contributes to the whole cell current was (see METHODS and Vilchis et al. 2002Go) as follows: L-type, 27%; P/Q-type, 22%; N-type, 39%; R-type, 12% (Fig. 3A). In PD40 cells, the percentages were as follows: L-type, 22%; P/Q-type, 38%; N-type, 26%; R-type, 14% (Fig. 3B). Therefore the results show that expression of CaV2.2 (N-type) channels diminishes, whereas that of CaV2.1 (P/Q-type) channels augments during this developmental interval. Because one of the main functional roles of N- and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels in spiny neurons is the triggering of transmitter release (Tecuapetla et al. 2005Go), we chose to start searching into the functional significance of these changes by hypothesizing that GABA released from the terminals of mature spiny neurons should be mainly triggered by P/Q-type Ca2+ channels.



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FIG. 3. Contribution of different Ca2+ channel types to the whole cell Ca2+ current. CaV2.2 channels decline during development, whereas CaV2.1 channels increase with age. Other channel types remain constant during development.

 
Reassignment of the Ca2+ channels that trigger transmitter release at the synaptic terminals of medium spiny neurons

To test the above hypothesis, we observed eIPSCs elicited by the activation of axon collaterals that interconnect spiny neurons. These were obtained by electrically stimulating the globus pallidus to antidromically activate striofugal axons and, therefore axon collaterals that stay inside the neostriatum and interconnect spiny neurons (Guzman et al. 2003Go). At the PD14 stage, both N- and P/Q-types Ca2+ channels trigger GABA release from these terminals (Tecuapetla et al. 2005Go) (Fig. 4, A and D): {omega}-CgTx and {omega}-AgaTK reduced the amplitude of antidromically eIPSCs by 65 ± 7 (n = 10) and 90 ± 5% (n = 8), respectively (Tecuapetla et al. 2005Go)—both peptides were used at saturating concentrations (1 µM and 400 nM, respectively).



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FIG. 4. {omega}-CgTx sensitivity of synaptic terminals declines with development. A: 1 µM {omega}-CgTx greatly reduced ({approx}65%) inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSCs) in PD14 neurons. Note transition from paired pulse depression to paired pulse facilitation during {omega}-CgTx action (inset). B: IPSC sensitivity to {omega}-CgTx was greatly reduced in PD40 neurons ({approx}18%). In the case shown, {omega}-CgTx had no effect. Note paired pulse depression in the control (inset). C: histogram summarizes effect of {omega}-CgTx in 2 neuronal samples (P < 0.009). D and E: sensitivity of IPSCs to {omega}-AgaTK (400 nM) was strong at both developmental stages. Blockage of P/Q-type channels enhanced paired pulse ratio at both stages. Also note that the same concentration of {omega}-AgaTK had a faster action in PD40 neurons. F: histogram summarizes effect of {omega}-AgaTK in 2 neuronal samples (NS). IPSCs were evoked by electrically stimulating the globus pallidus to antidromically activate striofugal axons and therefore axon collaterals that interconnect spiny neurons (Guzman et al. 2003Go); 10 µM cyano-2,3-dihydroxy-7-nitro-quinoxaline disodium salt (CNQX) and 50 µM D-(–)-2-amino-5 phosphonovaleric acid (AP5) were present in the bath saline during the experiment. Antidromically evoked IPSCs were completely blocked by 10 µM bicuculline (data not shown, but see Tecuapetla et al. 2005Go).

 
In contrast, the blocking effect of {omega}-CgTx on antidromically eIPSCs was significantly less important in PD40 neurons compared with PD14 neurons: in PD40 neurons, {omega}-CgTx blocked 18 ± 7% of the current (n = 5; Fig. 4B; P < 0.009; Mann Whitney U test; Fig. 4C). On the other hand, the P/Q-type Ca2+ channel blocker, {omega}-AgaTK, virtually blocked all eIPSCs in PD40 cells: 98 ± 1% (n = 5; Fig. 4E). Thus the effect of {omega}-AgaTK was not significantly different when comparing both developmental stages (Fig. 4F; Mann Whitney U test); it is only the participation of N-type Ca2+ channels in synaptic transmission that is decreased during maturation. The participation of P/Q-type Ca2+ channels becomes the most important. These experiments show that the reconfiguration of Ca2+ current types at the terminals parallels that occurring at the soma. A similar developmental change has been reported in other synaptic terminals, some of them, inhibitory (Iwasaki and Takahashi 1998Go; Iwasaki et al. 2000Go; Verderio et al. 1995Go). Antidromically evoked IPSCs from spiny cells axon collaterals were completely blocked by 10 µM bicuculline (data not shown, but see Tecuapetla et al. 2005Go).

Dopaminergic D2 receptor modulation of Ca2+ currents in young and mature neurons

An important characteristic of medium spiny neurons is their having D2 dopaminergic receptors whose activation modulates Ca2+ currents. However, only the modulation of CaV1 Ca2+ channels has been extensively studied (Hernandez-Lopez et al. 2000Go; Olson et al. 2005Go; Rakhilin et al. 2004Go). Here we report that modulation of CaV2 Ca2+ channels is also very important. Figure 5 confirms the D2 modulation of Ca2+ current in neostriatal cells, showing that this modulation is reversible during the time course of a typical experiment. This modulation reduces the slower tail currents recorded after a step command (Fig. 5B, inset), finding that has been taken as evidence of L-type current modulation (Olson et al. 2005Go; Rakhilin et al. 2004Go). D2 modulation of Ca2+ current was observed in 80% of the recorded dissociated neurons at each developmental stage.

Figure 6, A–C, shows that the D2 modulation of Ca2+ current (10 µM quinelorane) is present in both juvenile (PD14) and mature (PD40) neurons. This modulation comprises about the same amount of current reduction at both developmental stages (Fig. 6C; NS). Quinelorane acted in a concentration-dependent fashion (data not shown) at both stages. Thus 10 µM quinelorane reduced the current in PD14 by 35 ± 2% (n = 12) of neurons and by 36 ± 3% (n = 12) in PD40 neurons (NS; Mann-Whitney U and ANOVA tests). All the modulation produced by quinelorane and other D2 receptor agonists (e.g., quinpirole) was virtually blocked by 1 µM of the unselective D2 receptor class antagonist, sulpiride (1 µM), at both stages (n = 12; data not shown).



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FIG. 6. Amount of D2 receptor modulation of Ca2+ current was the same in young and mature neurons. A and B: amount of Ca2+ current reduction by D2 receptor agonists (10 µM quinelorane in this case) is about the same in juvenile (PD14: A) and mature (PD40: B) neurons. C: histogram summarizes results from juvenile and mature neuronal samples (NS). D and E: amount of IPSC reduction by D2 receptor agonists (1 µM quinelorane in this case) is not significantly different in juvenile (PD14) and mature (PD40) synaptic terminals. Note that the paired pulse ratio (Guzman et al. 2003Go) was enhanced by quinelorane in both cases. F: histogram summarizes results from juvenile and mature samples (NS). IPSCs were evoked as in Fig. 4.

 
The D2 receptor modulation extends to the synaptic terminals and not only resides at the somatodendritic membrane. A presynaptic modulation of GABA release form the synaptic terminals of medium spiny neurons has been described in young animals (≤PD14) (Cooper and Stanford 2001Go; Guzman et al. 2003Go; see also: Floran et al. 1997Go). Figure 6, D–F, shows that about the same amount of D2 modulation of synaptic transmission is present in both young (PD14) and mature (PD40) neurons. Quinelorane (1 µM) reduced eIPSCs amplitude in both cases: 50 ± 8% (n = 12) in PD14 cells and 42 ± 5% (n = 6) in PD40 cells (Fig. 6F; NS; Mann Whitney U test). Therefore dopaminergic modulation of the axon collaterals that interconnect spiny neurons is preserved throughout this developmental interval. This presynaptic response was observed in all cells recorded from mature slices (n = 6) and was not observed in 2 of 12 cells from young animals (17%), suggesting that not all terminals posses D2-class receptors.

In juvenile animals (PD14), the mean paired pulse ratio (PPR) of eIPSCs after a pair of stimulus (Fig. 6D, inset) in the control condition was 1.3 ± 0.16 and in the presence of D2 receptor agonists was 1.9 ± 0.26 (n = 12; P < 0.002; Wilcoxon's t-test). In mature animals (PD40; Fig. 6E, inset), control PPR was 0.82 ± 0.1 and in the presence of D2 receptor agonists it was 0.97 ± 0.08 (n = 6; P < 0.05; Wilcoxon's t-test). Because the PPR value is linearly proportional to the probability of release, the paired pulse stimulation has been an accepted protocol to search for presynaptic actions (e.g., Baldelli et al. 2005Go). Thus the modulation is suggested to be presynaptic in both juvenile and mature animals (Guzman et al. 2003Go). However, to further support this inference, a mean-variance analysis was performed (Clements and Silver 2000Go) and accompanied with an independent analysis of amplitude histograms.

Figure 7A shows an amplitude histogram of spontaneous IPSCs (sIPSCs) recorded in a neostriatal neuron (Fig. 7B). These events may come from interneurons or spiny cell terminals and fitted to Gaussian functions with a first modal amplitude of 8 pA (range, 5–12 pA), similar to that reported for other GABAergic synapses (e.g., Ling and Benardo 1999Go). The second mode was 16 pA (range, 12–20 pA) (cf., Paulsen and Heggelund 1994Go). Thereafter, some eIPSCs were recorded after applying quasi-minimal stimulation strength. The amplitudes histogram of these eIPSCs was multimodal (Fig. 7, C and D), obtaining values of 9 and 17 pA for the first modes; the interval between peaks was 8–9 pA (Ling and Benardo 1999Go). Similarity between sIPSCs and eIPSCs histograms supports the notion that terminals that interconnect spiny neurons are fairly homogeneous (Tecuapetla et al. 2005Go), and their modal values can now be used to independently ascertain the results of the mean-variance analysis (Clements and Silver 2000Go). eIPSCs were obtained from a range of eIPSCs amplitudes from different experiments (see intensity-amplitude plots in Tecuapetla et al. 2005Go). Mean eIPSCs amplitudes were graphed against their peak variance (Fig. 7E, black circles) and the resultant plot could be fitted wit a parabola (see Clements and Silver 2000Go) that yielded a weighted quantal amplitude, Qw = 8 ± 2 pA, notably similar to the first modal amplitude in the histograms. In the presence of the D2-class receptor agonist, quinelorane (1 µM), the cases appeared intermingled, with control cases of lower mean amplitudes at the initial portion of the parabola (Fig. 7E, gray circles), and linear fits of the two samples were not significantly different. Qw was 9 ± 2 pA for the D2 cases (NS; Mann-Whitney U test; also see amplitude histograms). Therefore mean-variance analysis supported the view that D2 receptor actions are presynaptic (i.e., initial parabola slopes do not diverge; Clements and Silver 2000Go).



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FIG. 7. Mean-variance analysis indicates that action of dopaminergic D2-class receptor agonists on synaptic transmission is presynaptic. A: amplitude histogram of spontaneous IPSCs (sIPSCs) recorded in a neostriatal neuron. Two modes are evident: 8 and 16 pA. B: sample records from which the histogram for sIPSCs was built. C: amplitude histogram of an evoked IPSC (eIPSC) recorded in the same neostriatal neuron. Histogram is multimodal, 1st 2 modes are 9 and 17 pA. Interval between modes is 8–9 pA. eIPSCs were evoked by electrically stimulating the globus pallidus to antidromically activate striofugal axons and therefore axon collaterals that interconnect spiny neurons. D: sample records of eIPSCs for each mode, including failures. E: mean peak amplitudes of eIPSCs taken from different experiments in which different stimulation strengths were used were graphed against their corresponding peak variances (black circles). A parabola (continuous line) of the form (Clements and Silver 2000Go) was fitted to these data. From this fit, an approximation of quantal amplitude (Qw) could be obtained: 8 pA. Note the similarity of values with values obtained with amplitude histograms (A–D). Mean peak amplitudes of eIPSCs recorded in the presence of quinelorane (1 µM) were also graphed against their peak variances (gray circles), Qw = 9 pA (NS). Because data from both control and test samples share initial slope of parabola, analysis supports that the action of D2-class receptors is presynaptic (Clements and Silver 2000Go). F: family of eIPSCs obtained with quasi-minimal stimulation. Observe few failures in the control condition (1st event), and many more failures during quinelorane. Experiments as this one allow a direct assessment of P. Bottom: average recording of individual trials: note that PPR increases when P decreases.

 
Because maximal eIPSCs amplitudes in the presence of D2 agonists did not give a reliable fit of a parabola, it was not possible to distinguish if D2 actions were caused by a reduction in mean release probability (Pw) or a reduction in the number of active sites (Clements and Silver 2000Go). Nonetheless, Fig. 7F directly suggests that D2 action may in part result from a decrease in Pw, although a simultaneous decrease in N could not be discarded. Thus P can be ascertained directly as the number of recorded eIPSCs over the number of trials (1st response). P was reduced from 0.6 to <0.1 after quinelorane in this experiment. The average of individual trials (Fig. 7, bottom) showed an augmented PPR after quineloreane (see Baldelli et al. 2005Go). In conclusion, both PPR changes and mean-variance analysis suggested that the actions of the D2-class receptor agonists were presynaptic.

D2-class receptor–mediated actions on other ion channels have been linked to intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and calcineurin (CaN) (Hernandez-Lopez et al. 2000Go; Hu et al. 2005Go; Rakhilin et al. 2004Go). However, it was shown (Fig. 8, A–D) that the percentage of D2-mediated modulation on Ca2+ currents was not significantly different when the neurons were internally perfused with either 1 or 10 mM EGTA: 34 ± 2 and 36 ± 3%, respectively (NS; n = 6; Mann-Whitney U test). Nevertheless, D2-class receptor–mediated actions were virtually abolished when 15 mM BAPTA were perfused instead (Fig. 8, C and D), suggesting that D2 receptor actions were mediated by a Ca2+-dependent diffusible pathway (Dargan and Parker 2003Go; Stefani et al. 2002Go). Figure 8F shows Ca2+ current evoked with the double pulse protocol (depicted in Fig. 8E; see METHODS) in a PD14 neuron. It can be seen that the amount of current modulated by the D2 receptor agonists did not change significantly (Fig. 8H; Wilcoxon's t-test). The same result was found on PD40 neurons (Fig. 8, G and I) (Hernandez-Lopez et al. 2000Go). The results suggest that the signaling pathway used by D2-class receptors to modulate CaV2 Ca2+ channels is a diffusible Ca2+-sensitive cascade, as is the case of CaV1 Ca2+ channels (Hernandez-Lopez et al. 2000Go; Hu et al. 2005Go; Olson et al. 2005Go; Rakhilin et al. 2004Go). In view of these results, the next question was whether this modulation was being mediated by the same Ca2+ channels at both developmental stages.

Ca2+ channels mediating dopaminergic D2 receptor modulation change during development

Because the amount of D2 modulation on the Ca2+ current was the same in juvenile (PD14) and mature (PD40) neurons, it was decided to use different Ca2+ channel blockers in conjunction to the D2-class receptor agonist, quinelorane (10 µM), to see if the channels being modulated were the same in juvenile and mature neurons. The calcium channel blockers, nitrendipine (10 µM), {omega}-AgaTK (400 nM), and {omega}-CgTx (1 µM) were used, the rationale being that, if one channel type mediates the D2-induced modulation, its blockage would occlude a part of this modulation (Perez-Rosello et al. 2005Go; Vilchis et al. 2002Go). However, if a channel type does not mediate most of the D2-induced modulation, its blockage would not occlude the modulation significantly because percentage of modulation is calculated from the current left after the action of a given blocker. Nonetheless, the percentages of current components vary somewhat from cell to cell, and multiple samples were compared with the same control samples (quinelorane's effect without channel blockers). Therefore both parametric and nonparametric (Kruskal-Wallis) ANOVA tests were used to compare all samples altogether taken into account intrasampling variance. Both tests yielded significant differences when the D2-class agonist was administered (F = 15.2; K-W: 53.8; P < 0.0001 in both cases). Therefore post hoc (Tukey's test) pair to pair comparisons were used to contrast different groups. At the PD14 stage, pretreatment with nitrendipine did not completely block quinelorane action but reduced it from 35 ± 2 to 26 ± 2%; (n = 11; Fig. 9A; {approx}9% occlusion; P < 0.05; ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test), as expected after a block of a modulated channel. This shows that D2 receptor activation modulates CaV1 Ca2+ channels at this stage, but also shows that there is a remaining modulation on CaV2 Ca2+ channels. Still, a more important occlusion of the D2 agonist effect by the L-type channel blocker was observed in PD40 neurons: quinelorane action was reduced from 36 ± 3 to 17 ± 1% (n = 11; Fig. 9B; {approx}19% occlusion; P < 0.0001; ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test). When the degree of occlusion by the L-type channel blocker was compared between both developmental stages, the difference was statistical significant (P < 0.04; ANOVA and post hoc Tukey's test). These experiments show that the dopaminergic D2 modulation of L-type Ca2+ channels is not only preserved but enhanced significantly with age. This suggests that the modulation of the dynamic firing range (Perez-Garci et al. 2003Go) enhances its importance with network development.



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FIG. 9. Ca2+ currents modulated by D2 receptor activation change during development. A: previous blockage of CaV1 Ca2+ channels (L-type) by nitrendipine (10 µM) in PD14 neurons does not impede the action of the D2-receptor agonist, quinelorane (10 µM), on Ca2+ current, indicating an important D2-modulation on CaV2 Ca2+ channels. However, a partial occlusion of D2 modulation was present and statistically significant. B: similarly, blockage of L-type channels partially occludes quinelorane action on the Ca2+ current of PD40 neurons. However, partial occlusion was significantly larger in PD40 neurons (P < 0.04). C: quinelorane can act on Ca2+ current of a PD14 neuron after block of CaV2.1 Ca2+ channels (P/Q-type) by {omega}-AgaTK (400 nM). In fact, the action of the D2 receptor agonist was not significantly different with and without {omega}-AgaTK. D: {omega}-AgaTK significantly occluded the action of quinelorane on the Ca2+ current of a PD40 neuron. Occlusion of the D2 receptor agonist action by {omega}-AgaTK was significantly different when comparing both developmental stages (P < 0.05). E: quinelorane had a much reduced action on the Ca2+ current of a PD14 neuron after blocking CaV2.2 Ca2+ channels (N-type) with {omega}-CgTx (1 µM). F: {omega}-CgTx does not occlude quinelorane action on the Ca2+ current of PD40 neurons. Occlusion of the D2 receptor agonist action by {omega}-CgTx was significantly different when comparing both developmental stages (P < 0.001).

 
In contrast, modulation of P/Q-type channels with {omega}-AgaTK in PD14 neurons was not enough to significantly occlude the D2 agonist modulation in PD14 neurons: {omega}-AgaTK reduced quinelorane effect from 35 ± 2 to 27 ± 2%; (n = 6; Fig. 9C; P < 0.3; ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test). However, in PD40 neurons, the P/Q-type channel blocker produced a significant occlusion of the D2 agonist effect: quinelorane action was reduced from 36 ± 3 to 20 ± 1% (n = 6; Fig. 9D; {approx}44%; P < 0.0001; ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test). When the degree of occlusion by P/Q-type channel blockers was compared between both developmental stages, the difference was statistical significant (P < 0.05; ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test). This means that modulation of P/Q-type channels by D2 receptor activation is small in juvenile (PD14) neurons but becomes important in mature (PD40) neurons.

A completely different outcome was obtained with the N-type channel blocker {omega}-CgTx. In the presence of this blocker, the D2 agonist action on Ca2+ current of PD14 neurons was reduced from 35 ± 2 to 12 ± 2% (n = 8; Fig. 9E; {approx}66% occlusion; P < 0.0001; ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test). Therefore {omega}-CgTx resulted in the most potent agent capable to occlude the dopaminergic modulation in juvenile neurons, suggesting that modulation of CaV2 Ca2+ channels by dopamine is more important than modulation of CaV1 Ca2+ channels at this stage. In contrast, {omega}-CgTx was unable to significantly decrease the action of D2 agonists on the Ca2+ current of PD40 neurons. Ca2+ current reduction by quinelorane in the presence of {omega}-CgTx in PD40 neurons was from 36 ± 3 to 31 ± 3% (n = 8; Fig. 9F; P < 0.9; ANOVA and post hoc Tukey's test). When the degree of occlusion by the N-type channel blocker was compared between both developmental stages, the difference was statistical significant (P < 0.0001; ANOVA and post hoc Tukey's test). This means that modulation of N-type channels by D2 receptor activation is large or very important in juvenile (PD14) neurons, but it is much smaller in mature (PD40) neurons.

A summary of all samples compared can be seen in Fig. 10. It was observed that the most potent blocker of the D2 agonist action in young (PD14) neurons was {omega}-CgTx, followed by nitrendipine. However, in mature neurons (PD40), both nitrendipine and {omega}-AgaTK were potent blockers of the D2-agonist action on Ca2+ currents, but {omega}-CgTx did not longer occlude dopaminergic actions. In summary, a considerable switch in target for D2 receptor signaling occurs in medium spiny neurons during development.



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FIG. 10. Action of D2 receptor activation on different components of the Ca2+ current. A: most potent blocker of D2 receptor agonist action on the Ca2+ current of PD14 neurons was {omega}-CgTx (***P < 0.0001), indicating that dopaminergic modulation of N-type channels is very important at juvenile stages of development. Regulation of L-type channels is also present at juvenile stages (*P < 0.05). B: modulation of both L- and P/Q-types Ca2+ channels becomes very important with neuronal maturation (***P < 0.0001). However, modulation of N-type channels, important at juvenile stages, becomes virtually nonexisting at a mature age (PD40).

 
In PD14 neurons, the solution of a system of equations (see Vilchis et al. 2002Go) showed what percentage of each channel type was modulated to explain the 35% total modulation: 35 {approx} L (0.25) + P/Q (0.17) + N (0.63) + R (0), where the L, P/Q, N, and R coefficients denote the percentage that each channel type contributes to the whole cell Ca2+ current in PD14 neurons (see Fig. 3A), and numbers in parentheses are the solved unknowns. The same system of equations applied for PD40 neurons explained the 36% modulation at this stage: 36 {approx} L (0.81) + P/Q (0.45) + N (0.04) + R (0) (see Fig. 3B). This analysis helped to approximate a quantitative assessment of the results described above: 1) L-type channel D2 modulation increased during development from 25 to 81% becoming the most important Ca2+ channel modulation with age, 2) P/Q-type channel modulation increased during development to 45%, becoming the second most important channel being modulated by D2-class receptors, and 3) N-type channels are the most modulated in juvenile neurons (63%); however, their modulation tends to disappear in mature neurons.

If the above data are correct, the following predictions can be made to further corroborate these findings: first, the conjoined administration of nitrendipine (10 µM) and {omega}-AgaTK (400 nM) will virtually abolish quinelorane action on the Ca2+ current of PD40 neurons, but not in PD14 neurons (cf., Fig. 11, A and B). Conversely, the conjoined administration of nitrendipine (10 µM) and {omega}-CgTx (1 µM) will almost totally block the action of the D2 receptor agonist on the Ca2+ current of PD14 neurons, but not in the case of PD40 neurons (cf., Fig. 11, D and E). Thus after L-type and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels were blocked, quinelorane was still capable to reduce the remaining current by 19 ± 1% (n = 6) in PD14 neurons (Fig. 11C). In contrast, when L-type and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels were blocked in PD40 neurons, quinelorane action was virtually abolished to 3 ± 1% (n = 6: Fig. 11C; P < 0.0001; ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test). Conversely, when L-type and N-type channels were blocked in PD14 neurons, almost no quinelorane action was left: 6 ± 0.7% (n = 6; Fig. 11, D and F). The opposite findings were observed at the PD40 stage: quinelorane was still capable to modulate the remaining Ca2+ current by 18 ± 2% in the same conditions (n = 6; Fig. 11F; P < 0.0001; ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test). Globally, both parametric and nonparametric (Kruskal-Wallis) ANOVA tests were significant (F = 50.7; K-W: 18.5; P < 0.0001 for both tests). In summary, besides modulating CaV1 Ca2+ channels, D2 receptor activation also modulates CaV2 Ca2+ channels. However, the modulation is mainly on CaV2.2 Ca2+ channels (N-type) in juvenile striatal neurons (PD14), whereas it is mainly on CaV2.1 Ca2+ channels (P/Q-type) in mature striatal neurons (PD40).



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FIG. 11. Different pairs of Ca2+ channels explain most dopaminergic D2 modulation of Ca2+ current in young and mature neurons. A: D2 receptor agonist, quinelorane (10 µM), still had a substantial action on the Ca2+ currents of young (PD14) neurons after L-type and P/Q-type Ca2+channel types were blocked (with 10 µM nitrendipine plus 400 nM {omega}-AgaTK). B: action of the D2 receptor agonist on the Ca2+ currents of mature (PD40) neurons was virtually abolished after L-type and P/Q-type Ca2+channel types were blocked (with 10 µM nitrendipine plus 400 nM {omega}-AgaTK). C: histogram summarizes quinelorane action on the Ca2+ current of young and mature neurons in the presence of L- and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels blockage (*P < 0.0001). D: action of the D2 receptor agonist on the Ca2+ currents of young (PD14) neurons was almost abolished after L-type and N-type Ca2+channel types were blocked (with 10 µM nitrendipine plus 1 µM {omega}-CgTx). E: D2 receptor agonist still had a substantial action on the Ca2+ currents of mature (PD40) neurons after L-type and N-type Ca2+channel types were blocked. F: histogram summarizes quinelorane action on the Ca2+ current of young and mature neurons in the presence of L- and N-type Ca2+ channels blockage (*P < 0.0001).

 
Developmental changes are reflected at the synaptic terminals of medium spiny neurons

To study whether the change of target affects presynaptic inhibition (Guzman et al. 2003Go), the effect of the D2 receptor agonist, quinelorane (1 µM), in the presence of {omega}-CgTx (1 µM) was examined on the eIPSCs generated by antidromic activation of the axon collaterals. Figure 12A shows that {omega}-CgTx (1 µM) almost abolished the D2 agonist mediated reduction of IPSCs in PD14 terminals: from a 50 ± 8% reduction in the control (Guzman et al. 2003Go) to only 10 ± 2% reduction in the presence of {omega}-CgTx (n = 3; Fig. 12A; P < 0.02; Mann-Whitney U test). A posterior application of {omega}-AgaTK (400 nM) blocked the remaining eIPSC (Fig. 12A), confirming that P/Q-type channels were also present at the terminals and that quinelorane only had its full action if the main target, N-type channels, were present in juvenile terminals.



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FIG. 12. The D2-mediated modulation of IPSCs is occluded by CaV2.2 channel blockage in young but not in mature neurons. A: time-course of IPSC amplitude recorded in the presence of 1 µM {omega}-CgTx. {omega}-CgTx virtually abolished the action of quinelorane (1 µM) on the IPSCs recorded from PD14 neurons (cf., Fig. 6D). Insets 1 and 2 show representative records in the presence of {omega}-CgTx. A subsequent addition of {omega}-AgaTK shows that P/Q-type channels are present in terminals because the peptide blocked all the IPSCs; thus the dopaminergic agonist does not act on P/Q-type channels at this developmental stage. B: time-course of IPSC amplitude recorded in the presence of 1 µM {omega}-CgTx. {omega}-CgTx did not affect the action of quinelorane (1 µM) on the IPSCs recorded from PD40 neurons (cf., Fig. 6E). Insets 1 and 2 show representative records in the presence of {omega}-CgTx. Addition of quinelorane reduced the paired pulse depression. It is concluded that the dopaminergic agonist does not act on N-type channels at this developmental stage. C: histogram shows different degree that {omega}-CgTx has on dopaminergic D2 effects at these 2 different developmental stages (P < 0.009).

 
In contrast, the presence of 1 µM {omega}-CgTx did not impede D2 agonist actions in PD40 terminals. Reduction of IPSCs was 42 ± 5% in the controls and 40 ± 8% in the presence of {omega}-CgTx (n = 5; Fig. 12B; NS; Mann-Whitney U test). This shows that presynaptic N-type channels were no longer the target for D2 receptors at this stage. These results are summarized in the histogram of Fig. 12C (P < 0.009; Mann-Whitney U test), which shows the effect of quinelorane in the presence of {omega}-CgTx at this stage. Thus the dopaminergic modulation that distinguishes these terminals is present at both developmental stages but mediated by a different Ca2+ channel type.

AHP in medium spiny neurons is negligibly affected by D2 receptor agonists

Because P/Q-type Ca2+ channels are a main source of Ca2+ to activate the Ca2+ dependent K+ channels that generate the AHP in medium spiny neurons (Vilchis et al. 2000Go), D2 receptor agonists were tested on the AHP of mature spiny neurons after a single action potential. Two D2 receptor selective agonists were used: 5 µM quinelorane and 5 µM quinpirole. Figure 13 shows that, in mature spiny neurons, no change in AHP was observed in n = 6/18 neurons (33%; Fig. 13, A–C), and a mild change was observed in n = 12/18 neurons (66%; Fig. 13, D–F) for a mean overall reduction of 1.3 ± 0.26 mV (20%). Note that even when D2-mediated modulation of Ca2+ currents was seen in 80% of dissociated cells, only about 60% of intracellularly recorded (PD40) neurons exhibited AHP modulation. This is a number more in agreement with the expected number of cells presenting D2-type responses, probably suggesting that not all members of the D2 receptor family (D2, D3, D4) participate in the same specific cellular functions.



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FIG. 13. Activation of D2 receptors negligibly affect the afterhyperpolarization (AHP) in medium spiny neurons. A: action potential was evoked by a brief depolarization (top) from a holding potential of –55 mV (bottom). B: addition of a D2-selective agonist, in this case quinpirole (5 µM), does not reduce or modify AHP. C: superimposition of records in A and B. D: similar experiment in another spiny neuron held at –60 mV. E: In this case, addition of D2 receptor agonist produced a small reduction of the AHP. F: superimposition of C and D. Inset: behavior of a sample of mature spiny neurons: one-half of the neurons had no AHP modification after D2 agonists and one-half had a minor change.

 

    DISCUSSION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 GRANTS
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 REFERENCES
 
This study shows that total current density through voltage-activated Ca2+ channels does not change between stages PD14 to PD40 of rat development. However, the Ca2+ channel types that carry this current do change. In particular, CaV2.2 (N) channels are down-regulated, whereas CaV2.1 (P/Q) channels are up-regulated during this period. On the other hand, CaV1 (L) and CaV2.3 (R) currents remain constant. That is, the change is arranged as though an increasing channel "replaces" a decreasing one. This study also shows that channel reconfiguration occurs in parallel at both the somatodendritic membrane and the synaptic terminals. Thus the contribution of N-type channels to trigger GABA release appears to decrease during this period, whereas the contribution of P/Q-type channels becomes the most important. This "replacement" of N-type channels by P/Q-type channels has been observed in other CNS synapses, some of them inhibitory (Iwasaki and Takahashi 1998Go; Iwasaki et al. 2000Go; Verderio et al. 1995Go). However, this change seems to occur at later times in the synapses arising from spiny neurons (cf., Iwasaki et al. 2000Go; see Tepper et al. 1998Go), suggesting that these synapses undergo a somewhat late maturation (Colwell et al. 1998Go; Tepper et al. 1998Go) compared with other neurons. Because channel reconfiguration was observed at both the somatodendritic membrane and the synaptic terminals, the view that field stimulation in the globus pallidus preferentially activates striofugal axons from spiny neurons (Tecuapetla et al. 2005Go) is therefore supported.

Dopaminergic modulation of Ca2+ currents undergoes a shift in target during development

Previous studies have shown that medium spiny neurons express functional D2-class receptors (e.g., Aizman et al. 2000Go; Surmeier et al. 1993Go, 1996Go). These receptors increase their number between the third and fourth postnatal weeks (Broaddus and Bennett 1990Go), when an important escalation in the numbers of dopaminergic synaptic terminals occurs (Antonopoulos et al. 2002Go).

This work reports that N and P/Q-type channels are modulated in neostriatal projection neurons by D2-class receptor activation. If only the whole cell Ca2+ current is observed, no difference could be seen in the amount of current modulated when comparing young and mature neurons. Moreover, inhibitory transmission between spiny neurons was similarly modulated in young (Guzman et al. 2003Go) and mature neurons. Nonetheless, a more careful look showed that the type of channels being modulated change with age.

In young neurons, a great part of the D2-mediated modulation is on N-type channels, whereas the modulation of P/Q-type channels is small at this stage (PD14). At a mature age (PD40), however, the modulation of N-type channels virtually disappears, and the modulation of P/Q-type channels becomes very important. This change in target for D2 receptor signaling occurs at a time when channel expression is being reconfigured, as though D2 dopamine signaling were favoring the channel type that increases its expression (P/Q) and discarding the channel type that decreases its expression (N). The modulation of L-type channels also increases with age. In brief, the order of potency for D2-class receptor mediated modulation in PD14 neurons is N > L >> P/Q, and in PD40 neurons it is L > P/Q >> N. Both a change in target for modulation and channel reconfiguration occur, but at the end, the same current density and the same amount of D2 modulation were observed.

As expected, presynaptic modulation mediated by D2-class receptors was occluded by the N-type Ca2+ channel blocker, {omega}-CgTx, in young neurons (PD14), but it was not occluded by this peptide in mature neurons (PD40). This is evidence that D2 receptor–mediated modulation of synaptic transmission also endures a shift of target at the synaptic terminals. Because in mature synaptic terminals {omega}-AgaTK virtually blocks all synaptic transmission, occlusion experiments of D2 agonist actions with saturating concentrations of {omega}-AgaTK could not be done. However, this property of mature terminals makes it logical to think that P/Q-type channels mediate D2 agonist actions in mature synaptic terminals, because 1) L-type channels are not likely to participate in transmitter release (Tecuapetla et al. 2005Go; Wu and Saggau 1997Go), 2) P/Q-type channels are the main channels mediating synaptic release at these terminals, and 3) P/Q-type channels are the Ca2+ channels modulated by D2 receptor activation at the somatodendritic membrane of mature neurons. Presynaptic modulation by D2 receptors distinguishes neostriatal inhibition (Centonze et al. 2003Go; Cooper and Stanford 2001Go; Guzman et al. 2003Go; Momiyama 2003Go) from the inhibitory inputs arising from pallidal efferents; which are insensitive, and not presynaptically modulated, by selective D2 receptor ligands (Cooper and Stanford 2001Go; Shin et al. 2003Go). To summarize, N-type Ca2+ channels cease to be a target for D2 receptor signaling at both the soma and the terminals of mature neostriatal projection neurons during network development. It would be interesting to know if the neurons in organotypic cultures undergo these developmental changes (Plenz and Kitai 1998Go) and if this is a function of dopaminergic transmission.

What would be the functional impact of this channel switch at the synaptic terminals? N- and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels are known to underlie different forms of short-term plasticity: N-type channels favor short-term facilitation, whereas P/Q-type channels favor short-term depression (Scheuber et al. 2004Go). Interestingly, moderate stimulation preferentially shows paired pulse facilitation for PD14 terminals, whereas it exhibits paired pulse depression in PD40 terminals (see RESULTS and cf., insets in Fig. 6, D and E), the expected outcome if P/Q-type channels are the main controllers of GABA release in mature terminals. Therefore these changes suggest a change in the functional properties of lateral (or feedback) inhibition (Plenz 2003Go; Scheuber et al. 2004Go) during development. Furthermore, the dopaminergic modulation of P/Q-type channels may indicate that these functional properties could be finely tuned (Baimoukhametova et al. 2004Go; Tecuapetla et al. 2004Go) and thus are ideal for being regulated by dopamine.

Functional significance of dopaminergic modulation of Ca2+ currents in the firing pattern

To modulate the AHP that follows the action potential of medium spiny neurons, both CaV2 Ca2+ channel types, N and P/Q, have to be blocked simultaneously (Perez-Garci et al. 2003Go). Muscarinic M1 receptor agonists reduce Ca2+ current through both channels (N and P/Q) and thus greatly reduce the AHP (70–90%), shorten the interspike interval, and enhance evoked discharge in mature and young neurons (Perez-Rosello et al. 2005Go). This adds to the action of muscarinic receptor activation on inward and delayed rectifications (Figueroa et al. 2002Go; Shen et al. 2005Go). In contrast, D2 receptor activation is capable of reducing current only through one of the CaV2 Ca2+ channels, P/Q, which is not enough to greatly affect the AHP as muscarine does (Perez-Garci et al. 2003Go; Perez-Rosello et al. 2005Go). Reduction is about 20% in mature spiny cells and occurs in about 60% of the neurons. Interestingly, although D2 and M1 receptors are linked to the same phospholipase-C signaling cascade (Hernandez-Lopez et al. 2000Go; Rakhilin et al. 2004Go), they have opposing actions on evoked discharge; D2 receptor agonists decrease firing, whereas M1 receptor agonists increase firing. These data partially explain this opposition: in the somatodendritic membrane, a main action of M1 receptors is the reduction of the AHP to increase firing, whereas the main effect of D2 receptors is the reduction of L-type current to decrease firing (Hernandez-Lopez et al. 2000Go); the lack of action on N-type channels at this level impedes the action of D2 class receptors on the AHP. Thus even if linked to the same PLC signaling cascade, M1 and D2 receptors have opposite effects in the integration of neuronal firing. Nonetheless, they have cooperative actions in controlling transmitter release, which depends only on P/Q-type channels in mature neurons (Calabresi et al. 2000Go; Guzman et al. 2003Go; Perez-Rosello et al. 2005Go). Therefore opposition and cooperativity depend on the neuronal region and function being modulated.

Because the D2 class receptor agonists used in this study, quinelorane and quinpirole, hardly distinguish among different members of the D2 receptor class (D2, D3, D4), we do not think that the pharmacological responses at high saturating concentrations were caused exclusively by responses from the D2 receptor type (Gerfen et al. 1995Go; Le Moine and Bloch 1995Go; but see Aizman et al. 2000Go). Thus the D2 modulation of Ca2+ current observed in this work was found in 80% of the recorded dissociated neurons (n = 24/29; young and mature) (Surmeier et al. 1996Go). Nonetheless, when looking at specific functions, as the AHP, percentage of cells modulated decreased to about 60%, suggesting that, although the actions on currents is the same, different members of the D2 class receptors may couple these currents to different functions.

Finally, because field stimulation used to antidromically activate striofugal axons was not intended to isolate single axons or terminals (i.e., minimal stimulation), it did not segregate dopaminergic D2 type receptor responses. Thus the presynaptic D2 response was observed in almost all cells recorded from either young or mature slices and not observed in only in 2 of 18 cases. Terminals with any of the receptor classes, D1 or D2, may make synaptic contacts (feedback inhibition) with either substance P or enkephalinergic containing neostriatal neurons (Guzman et al. 2003Go).


    GRANTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 GRANTS
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 REFERENCES
 
This work was supported by the following grants: Stem Cell Research Group UNAM/Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 02, Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Grants IN201603 to J. Bargas and IN200803 to E. Galarraga, and Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología Grant 42636 to E. Galarraga.


    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 GRANTS
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 REFERENCES
 
We thank D. Tapia and A. Laville for technical assistance, L. Carrillo-Reid for software development, and J. N. Guzman for recordings shown in Fig. 7F.


    FOOTNOTES
 
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: J. Bargas, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, UNAM, Mexico City DF 04510, Mexico (E-mail: jbargas{at}ifc.unam.mx)


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