TY - JOUR T1 - A Functional Role for Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels in Sensory Pathways Including Nociceptive Processes JF - The Journal of Neuroscience JO - J. Neurosci. SP - 3489 LP - 3498 DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0597-05.2005 VL - 25 IS - 14 AU - Parmvir K. Bahia AU - Rie Suzuki AU - David C. H. Benton AU - Amanda J. Jowett AU - Mao Xiang Chen AU - Derek. J. Trezise AU - Anthony H. Dickenson AU - Guy W. J. Moss Y1 - 2005/04/06 UR - http://www.jneurosci.org/content/25/14/3489.abstract N2 - We investigated the role of small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) and intermediate-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels in modulating sensory transmission from peripheral afferents into the rat spinal cord. Subunit-specific antibodies reveal high levels of SK3 immunoreactivity in laminas I, II, and III of the spinal cord. Among dorsal root ganglion neurons, both peripherin-positive (C-type) and peripherin-negative (A-type) cells show intense SK3 immunoreactivity. Furthermore, dorsal root-stimulated sensory responses recorded in vitro are inhibited when SK channel activity is increased with 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone (1-EBIO). In vivo electrophysiological recordings show that neuronal responses to naturally evoked nociceptive and nonnociceptive stimuli increase after application of the selective SK channel blocker 8,14-diaza-1,7(1,4)-diquinolinacyclotetradecaphanedium di-trifluoroacetate (UCL 1848), indicating that SK channels are normally active in moderating afferent input. Conversely, neuronal responses evoked by mechanical stimuli are inhibited when SK channel activity is increased with 1-EBIO. These effects are reversed by the subsequent application of UCL 1848. Our data demonstrate that SK channels have an important role in controlling sensory input into the spinal cord. ER -