Physiology and pharmacology of flatworm muscle

<p>Pharmacological characterization of voltage-operated Ca2+ channels (VOCCs), in both free-living and parasitic flatworms, has been difficult since the currents carried by these channels are small in amplitude and run down quickly. While the presence of VOCCs in the parasite Schistosoma mansoni has been evident from molecular data, they have escaped pharmacological characterization. In this study, we have been able to consistently record inward currents carried by VOCCs in isolated S. mansoni muscle fibers, using whole cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique in voltage-clamp mode. Inward voltage-activated current was recorded, under conditions that suppressed outward K+ conductance, by the replacement of internal K+ with Cs+ and enhanced with 15.0 mM Ba 2+ as a charge carrier in addition to 2.0 mM Ca2+ (I Ca/Ba). Whole cell ICa/Ba was obtained from frayed muscle fibers by depolarizing them for 200 ms from a holding potential of -70 mV to +20 mV. A relatively small proportion of cells tested (less than 30%) had currents with amplitudes amenable to pharmacological characterization using common VOCCs blockers and neuropeptides. Currents showed little evidence of inactivation within the period of the 200 ms depolarizing pulse. Currents were sensitive to the phenylalkylamine VOCC blocker verapamil, which reduced their amplitude in concentration-dependent manner. The platyhelminth-derived FMRFamide-like peptide (FLP) YIRFamide significantly increased current amplitude at 1muM. YIRFamide's ability to amplify the inward currents was reduced when verapamil was simultaneously present in the perfusion solution, indicating possible VOCCs involvement in carrying Ca2+ influx triggered by the flatworm FLP.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Neuroscience

Department dc:contributor.department

Theses & dissertations (Interdisciplinary)

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Novozhilova, Ekaterina

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Timothy A. Day
• Walter H. Hsu
• Douglas E. Jones

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-16940

Identifier

archive/lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/15732/

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dr.lib.iastate.edu:20.500.12876/69394