Tetrodotoxin sensitivity and Ca component of action potentials of mouse dorsal root ganglion cells cultured in vitro.

In the mouse dorsal root ganglia cultured in vitro, neurons were classified into 3 groups according to the responses of their action potentials to tetrodotoxin (TTX) and removal of Na ions from bathing medium: (1) the neurons whose action potentials were not affected by TTX by TTX (10(-6) - 10 (-5)g/ml) and which generated Ca-dependent regenerative responses under Na-free condition, (2) the neurons whose spike potentials were resistant to TTX but failed to survive in Na-free saline and (3) the neurons whose action potentials were suppressed by TTX(10(-8)g/ml) as well as Na removal. The mean duration of spike and after-hyperpolarization was longest in the first group of the neurons and shortest in the third, probably reflecting the difference in the contribution of Ca currents to action potentials. The unresponsiveness of the neurons to TTX was shown to be due to the insensitivity of Na as well as Ca components of action potentials to the toxin. It was discussed that the occurrence of TTX-resistant action potentials to the toxin. It was discussed that the occurrence of TTX-resistant action might be related to the neuronal development.