RGD Reference Report - Neuronal sodium leak channel is responsible for the detection of sodium in the rat median preoptic nucleus. - Rat Genome Database

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Neuronal sodium leak channel is responsible for the detection of sodium in the rat median preoptic nucleus.

Authors: Tremblay, Christina  Berret, Emmanuelle  Henry, Mélaine  Nehmé, Benjamin  Nadeau, Louis  Mouginot, Didier 
Citation: Tremblay C, etal., J Neurophysiol. 2011 Feb;105(2):650-60. doi: 10.1152/jn.00417.2010. Epub 2010 Nov 17.
RGD ID: 401966867
Pubmed: PMID:21084682   (View Abstract at PubMed)
DOI: DOI:10.1152/jn.00417.2010   (Journal Full-text)

Sodium (Na(+)) ions are of primary importance for hydromineral and cardiovascular homeostasis, and the level of Na(+) in the body fluid compartments [plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)] is precisely monitored in the hypothalamus. Glial cells seem to play a critical role in the mechanism of Na(+) detection. However, the precise role of neurons in the detection of extracellular Na(+) concentration ([Na(+)](out)) remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that neurons of the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO), a structure in close contact with the CSF, are specific Na(+) sensors. Electrophysiological recordings were performed on dissociated rat MnPO neurons under isotonic [Na(+)] (100 mM NaCl) with local application of hypernatriuric (150, 180 mM NaCl) or hyponatriuric (50 mM NaCl) external solution. The hyper- and hyponatriuric conditions triggered an in- and an outward current, respectively. The reversal potential of the current matched the equilibrium potential of Na(+), indicating that a change in [Na(+)](out) modified the influx of Na(+) in the MnPO neurons. The conductance of the Na(+) current was not affected by either the membrane potential or the [Na(+)](out). Moreover, the channel was highly selective for lithium over guanidinium. Together, these data identified the channel as a Na(+) leak channel. A high correlation between the electrophysiological recordings and immunofluorescent labeling for the Na(X) channel in dissociated MnPO neurons strongly supports this channel as a candidate for the Na(+) leak channel responsible for the Na(+)-sensing ability of rat MnPO neurons. The absence of Na(X) labeling and of a specific current evoked by a change in [Na(+)](out) in mouse MnPO neurons suggests species specificity in the hypothalamus structures participating in central Na(+) detection.

Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
sodium ion homeostasis involved_inIDA 401966867PMID:21084682UniProt 

Molecular Function
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
osmolarity-sensing monoatomic cation channel activity enablesIDA 401966867PMID:21084682UniProt 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Scn7a  (sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 7)


Additional Information