Dihydropyridine- and omega-conotoxin-sensitive Ca2+ currents in cerebellar neurons: persistent block of L-type channels by a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein.

The inhibition of high-threshold Ca2+ channel currents by activated G-proteins was studied in mouse cerebellar granule cells making use of the hydrolysis-resistant GTP analog GTP-gamma-S. When individual granule cells were internally dialyzed with GTP-gamma-S, the high-threshold Ca2+ current decreased to approximately 20% of its initial value within approximately 2 min. The GTP-gamma-S-resistant current was reduced further by the subsequent addition of either omega-conotoxin or dihydropyridine antagonist, indicating that both N- and L-type Ca2+ channels carried the remaining current. Continuous exposure to the dihydropyridine agonist +(S)-202-791 caused a rapid increase in the GTP-gamma-S-resistant current. The L-type current evoked by the agonist subsequently decreased to the level observed prior to adding the drug following a time course similar to the initial inhibition of the total high-threshold current. A second application of the drug at a later time failed to increase the current a second time, indicating a persistent blockade of the agonist-evoked L-current. Pretreating cells with pertussis toxin prevented the initial inhibition of the total whole-cell Ca2+ channel current as well as the subsequent inhibition of the agonist-evoked L-current. The results show that a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein produces a persistent inhibition of L-type Ca2+ channels in these central neurons.