Modulation of Ca(2+)-dependent currents in metabolically stressed cultured sensory neurones by intracellular photorelease of ATP.

1. The whole cell recording technique was used to study high voltage-activated Ca2+ currents and Ca(2+)-activated Cl- tail currents from cultured neonatal dorsal root ganglion neurones of the rat which were metabolically stressed. The neurones were metabolically stressed with 2-deoxy-D-glucose (5 mM) for 30 min to 3 h. The aim of the project was to examine the actions of intracellular photorelease of ATP on the properties of Ca(2+)-dependent currents and determine if the effects of metabolic stress could be reversed. 2. The mean duration of Ca(2+)-activated Cl- tail currents was significantly increased by metabolic stress and this effect was reversed by intracellular photorelease of approximately 300 microM ATP. Intracellular photolysis of 'caged' photolabile compounds was achieved with a xenon flash lamp. 3. Intracellular photorelease of ATP and adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) (about 40 microM) also accelerated the inactivation of high voltage-activated Ca2+ currents evoked by 500 ms depolarizing step commands from -90 mV to 0 mV. This effect was prevented by intracellular application of the calcineurin (protein phosphatase-2B) inhibitor cyclosporin A (14 nM) and cyclophilin A (50 nM) either applied together or individually. In contrast the protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitor, calyculin A, increased voltage-activated Ca2+ currents, but failed to prevent enhanced inactivation induced by intracellular photorelease of ATP. Intracellular photorelease of ATP had no effect on Ca2+ currents recorded from control neurones which were not metabolically stressed and supplied with glucose and ATP in the extracellular and patch pipette solutions respectively. 4. In conclusion, intracellular photorelease of ATP increases the decay of Ca2+-activated Cl- tail currents in metabolically stressed neurones suggesting that the efficiency of intracellular Ca2+ buffering was improved. Additionally, an ATP/cyclic AMP-dependent component of high voltage-activated Ca2+current inactivation which is mediated by calcineurin is revealed following photolysis of 'caged' ATP or cyclic AMP in metabolically stressed neurones.