Protein Information

ID 319
Name KCa1.1
Synonyms BK channel; BKCA alpha; BKCAa; BKCAalpha; BKTM; Calcium activated potassium channel alpha subunit 1; Calcium activated potassium channel subunit alpha 1; Drosophila slowpoke like…

Compound Information

ID 332
Name 4-aminopyridine
CAS 4-pyridinamine

Reference

PubMed Abstract RScore(About this table)
14561831 Faber ES, Sah P: Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channel inactivation contributes to spike broadening during repetitive firing in the rat lateral amygdala. J Physiol. 2003 Oct 15;552(Pt 2):483-97.
In many neurons, trains of action potentials show frequency-dependent broadening. This broadening results from the voltage-dependent inactivation of K+ currents that contribute to action potential repolarisation. In different neuronal cell types these K+ currents have been shown to be either slowly inactivating delayed rectifier type currents or rapidly inactivating A-type voltage-gated K+ currents. Recent findings show that inactivation of a Ca2+-dependent K+ current, mediated by large conductance BK-type channels, also contributes to spike broadening. Here, using whole-cell recordings in acute slices, we examine spike broadening in lateral amygdala projection neurons. Spike broadening is frequency dependent and is reversed by brief hyperpolarisations. This broadening is reduced by blockade of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and BK channels. In contrast, broadening is not blocked by high concentrations of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) or alpha-dendrotoxin. We conclude that while inactivation of BK-type Ca2+-activated K+ channels contributes to spike broadening in lateral amygdala neurons, inactivation of another as yet unidentified outward current also plays a role.
1(0,0,0,1)