Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 7, 1639-1647, Copyright © 1987 by Society for Neuroscience
Phorbol esters: voltage-dependent effects on calcium-dependent action potentials of mouse central and peripheral neurons in cell culture
MA Werz and RL Macdonald
The beta-phorbol esters 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and
phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), which activate protein kinase C, were
applied to mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and cerebral hemisphere neurons
grown in primary dissociated cell culture. Phorbol esters did not modify
the membrane potential or input resistance of either type of neuron. To
assess the effects of beta-phorbol esters on voltage- dependent
conductances, the effects of PDBu and TPA on action potentials evoked from
these neurons were determined. The neurons were bathed in a solution
containing 5 mM tetraethylammonium and action potentials that contained
sodium and calcium components were evoked. When applied at resting membrane
potential and at more negative potentials, PDBu and TPA reversibly
increased action potential duration. The alpha-phorbol ester
4-alpha-phorbol, which does not activate protein kinase C, did not modify
action potential duration. The effects of the beta-phorbol esters, however,
were voltage- dependent. When the neurons were depolarized to membrane
potentials less negative than -50 mV, PDBu and TPA reduced action potential
duration. The effects of both PDBu (10 nM-1 microM) and TPA (100 pM-100 nM)
on action potential duration were dose-dependent. The prolongation of
action potentials produced at large negative potentials may be due to a
reduction in voltage-and/or calcium-dependent potassium conductance, since
the prolongation was associated with a reduction in the potassium-dependent
afterhyperpolarization; following membrane depolarization in control
solution, action potential duration was increased for several minutes,
while the afterhyperpolarization was reduced and, following this
prolongation, phorbol esters no longer prolonged the action
potentials.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)