NEUROPHARMACOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF VOLTAGE-SENSITIVE CALCIUM CHANNELS - POSSIBLE EXISTENCE OF NEOMYCIN-SENSITIVE, OMEGA-CONOTOXIN GVIA- AND DIHYDROPYRIDINES-RESISTANT CALCIUM CHANNELS IN THE RAT-BRAIN

We attemped to characterize the functional roles of subtypes of voltag e-sensitive calcium channels in the brain. The maximal number of [I-12 5]omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CTX) binding sites in rat brain associat ed with N-type calcium channels (N-channels) was approximately 10 time s more than that of [H-3]-PN200-110 associated with L-type calcium cha nnels (L-channels). [I-125]omega-CTX binding was inhibited by aminogly coside antibiotics, neomycin and dynorphin A(1-13), but not by various classes of L-channel antagonists. A 6-hydroxydopamine-induced lesion of the striatum resulted in a marked reduction of both [(125)1]-omega- CTX and [H-3]PN200-110 binding. Kainic acid-induced lesion of the stri atum reduced [H-3]PN200-110 binding by 57%, but did not reduce [I-125] omega-CTX binding. omega-CTX produced a small (18%) but significant re duction of potassium-stimulated Ca2+ influx into rat brain synaptosome s, although it produced a concentration-dependent inhibition in chick brain synaptosomes. Neomycin inhibited Ca2+ influx in both preparation s in a concentration-dependent manner. Both omega-CTX and neomycin inh ibited potassium-stimulated [H-3]dopamine (DA) release from rat striat al slices. The L-channel antagonists had no effect on either Ca2+ infl ux or [H-3]DA release. These results suggest that DA release in the st riatum is regulated by Ca2+ influx through N-channels located in presy naptic nerve terminals, and that the most of the Ca2+ influx in rat br ain appears to be governed by neomycin-sensitive, omega-CTX- and DHP-r esistant calcium channels.