Association of potassium channel Kv3.4 subunits with pre- and post-synaptic structures in brainstem and spinal cord

R. E. Brooke, L. Atkinson, T. F C Batten, S. A. Deuchars, J. Deuchars

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Voltage-gated K+ channels (Kv) are divided into eight subfamilies (Kv1-8) and play a major role in determining the excitability of neurones. Members of the Kv3 subfamily are highly abundant in the CNS, with each Kv3 gene (Kv3.1-Kv3.4) exhibiting a unique pattern of expression, although single neurones can express more than one subtype. Of the Kv3 subunits relatively little is known of the Kv3.4 subunit distribution in the nervous system, particularly in the brainstem and spinal cord of the rat. We performed immunohistochemistry to determine both the cellular and sub-cellular distribution of the Kv3.4 subunit in these areas. Kv3.4 subunit immunoreactivity (Kv3.4-IR) was widespread, with dense, punctate staining in many regions including the intermediolateral cell column (IML) and the dorsal vagal nucleus (DVN), nucleus ambiguus (NA) and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). In the ventral horn a presynaptic location was confirmed by co-localization of Kv3.4-IR with the synaptic vesicle protein, SV2 and also with the glutamate vesicle markers vesicular glutamate transporter (VGluT) 1, VGluT2 or the glycine transporter GlyT2, suggesting a role for the channel in both excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. Electron microscopy confirmed a presynaptic terminal location of Kv3.4-IR in the VH, IML, DVN, NA and NTS. Interestingly however, patches of Kv3.4-IR were also revealed postsynaptically in dendritic and somatic structures throughout these areas. This staining was striking due to its localization at synaptic junctions at terminals with morphological features consistent with excitatory functions, suggesting an association with the postsynaptic density. Therefore the pre and postsynaptic localization of Kv3.4-IR suggests a role both in the control of transmitter release and in regulating neuronal excitability.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1001-1010
Number of pages10
JournalNeuroscience
Volume126
Issue number4
Early online date2 Jun 2004
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • autonomic
  • CC
  • central canal
  • DAB
  • DH
  • diaminobenzidine
  • dorsal horn
  • dorsal vagal motor nucleus
  • DVN
  • glycine transporter
  • GlyT2
  • Gr
  • gracile nucleus
  • IML
  • immunohistochemistry
  • intermediolateral cell column
  • Kv3.4
  • postsynaptic density
  • potassium channel
  • presynaptic

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Association of potassium channel Kv3.4 subunits with pre- and post-synaptic structures in brainstem and spinal cord'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this