Interaction between bradykinin and voltage-sensitive sodium channels in myelinated nerve fibers |
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Authors: | M R Carratù D Mitolo-Chieppa |
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Affiliation: | Institute of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, University of Bari, Italy. |
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Abstract: | The effects of externally and internally applied bradykinin on the excitability of single myelinated nerve fibers were studied. External bradykinin (10 microM) slightly prolongs the action potential of a single myelinated nerve fiber; hence, when the fibers are stimulated by long-lasting pulses, this raises the frequency of repetitive firing in sensory fibers and evokes repetitive activity in motor fibers. Under voltage-clamp conditions, sodium channel inactivation is slowed, while sodium channel activation remains unaffected. Prolonged depolarization of the membrane leads to a maintained sodium current. The voltage dependence of the steady-state sodium current inactivation (h infinity) is shifted in the depolarized direction by approximately 10 mV. Internally applied bradykinin produces a frequency-dependent block of the sodium current. The phenomena described here imply that more than one site on the sodium channel is modified by bradykinin. |
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