Morphologically Identified Cutaneous Afferent DRG Neurons Express Three Different Potassium Currents in Varying Proportions

Abstract

Everill, Brian, Marco A. Rizzo, and Jeffery D. Kocsis. Morphologically identified cutaneous afferent DRG neurons express three different potassium currents in varying proportions. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 1814–1824, 1998. Outward K+ currents were recorded using a whole cell patch-clamp configuration, from acutely dissociated adult rat cutaneous afferent dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons (L4 and L5) identified by retrograde labeling with Fluoro-gold. Recordings were obtained 16–24 h after dissociation from cells between 39 and 49 mm in diameter with minimal processes. These cells represent medium-sized DRG neurons relative to the entire population, but are large cutaneous afferent neurons giving rise to myelinated axons. Voltage-activated K+ currents were recorded routinely during 300-ms depolarizing test pulses increasing in 10-mV steps from −40 to +50 mV; the currents were preceded by a 500-ms conditioning prepulse of either −120 or −40 mV. Coexpression of at least three components of K+ current was revealed. Separation of these components was achieved on the basis of sensitivities to the K+ channel blockers, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and dendrotoxin (DTx), and by the current responses to variation in conditioning voltage. Changing extracellular K+ concentration from 3 to 40 mM resulted in a shift to the right of the I-V curve commensurate with K+ being the principal charge carrier. Presentation of 100 mM 4-AP revealed a rapidly activating K+ current sensitive to low concentrations of 4-AP. High concentrations of 4-AP (6 mM) extinguished all inactivating current, leaving almost pure sustained current ( I K). On the basis of the relative distribution of K+ currents neurons could be separated into three distinct categories: fast inactivating current ( I A), slow inactivating current ( I D), and sustained current ( I K); only I A and I K; and slow inactivating current and I K. However, I K was always the dominant outward current component. These results indicate that considerable variation in K+ currents is present not only in the entire population of DRG neurons, as previously reported, but even within a restricted size and functional group (large cutaneous afferent neurons).