Lutein (β,ε-carotene-3,3′-diol), a xanthophyll carotenoid, is found in high concentrations in the macula of the human retina. It has been recognized to exert potential effectiveness in antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. However, whether and how its modifications on varying types of plasmalemmal ionic currents occur in electrically excitable cells remain incompletely answered. The current hypothesis is that lutein produces any direct adjustments on ionic currents (e.g., hyperpolarization-activated cation current, Ih [or funny current, If]). In the present study, GH3-cell exposure to lutein resulted in a time-, state- and concentration-dependent reduction in Ih amplitude with an IC50 value of 4.1 μM. There was a hyperpolarizing shift along the voltage axis in the steady-state activation curve of Ih in the presence of this compound, despite being void of changes in the gating charge of the curve. Under continued exposure to lutein (3 μM), further addition of oxaliplatin (10 μM) or ivabradine (3 μM) could be effective at either reversing or further decreasing lutein-induced suppression of hyperpolarization-evoked Ih, respectively. The voltage-dependent anti-clockwise hysteresis of Ih responding to long-lasting inverted isosceles-triangular ramp concentration-dependently became diminished by adding this compound. However, the addition of 10 μM lutein caused a mild but significant suppression in the amplitude of erg-mediated or A-type K+ currents. Under current-clamp potential recordings, the sag potential evoked by long-lasting hyperpolarizing current stimulus was reduced under cell exposure to lutein. Altogether, findings from the current observations enabled us to reflect that during cell exposure to lutein used at pharmacologically achievable concentrations, lutein-perturbed inhibition of Ih would be an ionic mechanism underlying its changes in membrane excitability.

GV-58 ((2R)-2-[(6-{[(5-methylthiophen-2-yl)methyl]amino}-9-propyl-9H-purin-2-yl)amino]butan-1-ol) is recognized to be an activator of N- and P/Q-type Ca2+ currents. However, its modulatory actions on other types of ionic currents in electrically excitable cells remain largely unanswered. This study was undertaken to explore the possible modifications caused by GV-58 in ionic currents (e.g., voltage-gated Na+ current [INa], A-type K+ current [IK(A)], and erg-mediated K+ current [IK(erg)]) identified from pituitary GH3 lactotrophs. GH3 cell exposure to GV-58 enhanced the transient and late components of INa with varying potencies; consequently, the EC50 values of GV-58 required for its differential increase in peak and late INa in GH3 cells were estimated to be 8.9 and 2.6 μM, respectively. The INa in response to brief depolarizing pulse was respectively stimulated or suppressed by GV-58 or tetrodotoxin, but it failed to be altered by ω-conotoxin MVIID. Cell exposure to this compound increased the recovery of INa inactivation evoked by two-pulse protocol based on a geometrics progression; however, in its presence, there was a slowing in the inactivation rate of current decay evoked by a train of depolarizing pulses. The existence of GV-58 also resulted in an increase in the amplitude of ramp-induced resurgent and window INa. The presence of this compound inhibited IK(A) magnitude, accompanied by a shortening in inactivation time course of the current; however, it mildly decreased IK(erg). Under current-clamp conditions, GV-58 increased the frequency of spontaneous action potentials in GH3 cells. Moreover, in NSC-34 motor neuron-like cells, the presence of GV-58 not only raised INa amplitude but also reduced current inactivation. Taken together, the overall work provides a noticeable yet unidentified finding which implies that, in addition to its agonistic effect on Ca2+ currents, GV-58 may concertedly modify the amplitude and gating kinetics of INa in electrically excitable cells, hence modifiying functional activities in these cells.

Deltamethrin (DLT) is a type-II pyrethroid ester insecticide used in agricultural and domestic applications as well as in public health. However, transmembrane ionic channels perturbed by this compound remain largely unclear, although the agent is thought to alter the gating characteristics of voltage-gated Na+ (NaV) channel current. In this study, we reappraised whether and how it and other related compounds can make any further modifications on voltage-gated Na+ current (INa) in pituitary tumor (GH3) cells. Cell exposure to DLT produced a differential and dose-dependent stimulation of peak (transient, INa(T)) or sustained (late, INa(L)) INa; consequently, the EC50 value required for DLT-stimulated INa(T) or INa(L) was determined to be 11.2 or 2.5 μM, respectively. However, neither the fast nor slow component in the inactivation time constant of INa(T) activated by short depolarizing pulse was changed with the DLT presence; conversely, tefluthrin (Tef), a type-I pyrethroid insecticide, can accentuate INa with a slowing in inactivation time course of the current. The INa(L) augmented by DLT was attenuated by further application of either dapagliflozin (Dapa) or amiloride, but not by chlorotoxin. During pulse train (PT) stimulation, with the Tef or DLT presence, the cumulative inhibition of INa(T) became slowed; moreover, following PT stimuli, a large tail current with a slowly recovering process was observed. Alternatively, during rapid depolarizing pulse, the amplitude of INa(L) and tail INa (INa(Tail)) for each depolarizing pulse became progressively increased by adding DLT, not by Tef. The recovery time constant following PT stimulation with continued presence of Tef or DLT was shortened by further addition of Dapa. The voltage-dependent hysteresis (Hys(V)) of persistent INa was differentially augmented by Tef or DLT. Taken together, the magnitude, gating, frequency dependence, as well as Hys(V) behavior of INa exerted by the presence of DLT or Tef might exert a synergistic impact on varying functional activities of excitable cells in culture or in vivo.

Picaridin (icaridin), a member of the piperidine chemical family, is a broad-spectrum arthropod repellent. Its actions have been largely thought to be due to its interaction with odorant receptor proteins. However, to our knowledge, to what extent the presence of picaridin can modify the magnitude, gating, and/or the strength of voltage-dependent hysteresis (Hys(V)) of plasmalemmal ionic currents, such as, voltage-gated Na+ current [INa], has not been entirely explored. In GH3 pituitary tumor cells, we demonstrated that with exposure to picaridin the transient (INa(T)) and late (INa(L)) components of voltage-gated Na+ current (INa) were differentially stimulated with effective EC50’s of 32.7 and 2.8 μM, respectively. Upon cell exposure to it, the steady-state current versus voltage relationship INa(T) was shifted to more hyperpolarized potentials. Moreover, its presence caused a rightward shift in the midpoint for the steady-state inactivate curve of the current. The cumulative inhibition of INa(T) induced during repetitive stimuli became retarded during its exposure. The recovery time course from the INa block elicited, following the conditioning pulse stimulation, was satisfactorily fitted by two exponential processes. Moreover, the fast and slow time constants of recovery from the INa block by the same conditioning protocol were noticeably increased in the presence of picaridin. However, the fraction in fast or slow component of recovery time course was, respectively, increased or decreased with an increase in picaridin concentrations. The Hys(V)’s strength of persistent INa (INa(P)), responding to triangular ramp voltage, was also enhanced during cell exposure to picaridin. The magnitude of resurgent INa (INa(R)) was raised in its presence. Picaritin-induced increases of INa(P) or INa(R) intrinsically in GH3 cells could be attenuated by further addition of ranolazine. The predictions of molecular docking also disclosed that there are possible interactions of the picaridin molecule with the hNaV1.7 channel. Taken literally, the stimulation of INa exerted by the exposure to picaridin is expected to exert impacts on the functional activities residing in electrically excitable cells.

KB-R7943, an isothiourea derivative, has been recognized as an inhibitor in the reverse mode of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanging process. This compound was demonstrated to prevent intracellular Na+-dependent Ca2+ uptake in intact cells; however, it is much less effective at preventing extracellular Na+-dependent Ca2+ efflux. Therefore, whether or how this compound may produce any perturbations on other types of ionic currents, particularly on voltage-gated Na+ current (INa), needs to be further studied. In this study, the whole-cell current recordings demonstrated that upon abrupt depolarization in pituitary GH3 cells, the exposure to KB-R7943 concentration-dependently depressed the transient (INa(T)) or late component (INa(L)) of INa with an IC50 value of 11 or 0.9 μM, respectively. Likewise, the dissociation constant for the KB-R7943-mediated block of INa on the basis of a minimum reaction scheme was estimated to be 0.97 μM. The presence of benzamil or amiloride could suppress the INa(L) magnitude. The instantaneous window Na+ current (INa(W)) activated by abrupt ascending ramp voltage (Vramp) was suppressed by adding KB-R7943; however, subsequent addition of deltamethrin or tefluthrin (Tef) effectively reversed KB-R7943-inhibted INa(W). With prolonged duration of depolarizing pulses, the INa(L) amplitude became exponentially decreased; moreover, KB-R7943 diminished INa(L) magnitude. The resurgent Na+ current (INa(R)) evoked by a repolarizing Vramp was also suppressed by adding this compound; moreover, subsequent addition of ranolazine or Tef further diminished or reversed, respectively, its reduction in INa(R) magnitude. The persistent Na+ current (INa(P)) activated by sinusoidal voltage waveform became enhanced by Tef; however, subsequent application of KB-R7943 counteracted Tef-stimulated INa(P). The docking prediction reflected that there seem to be molecular interactions of this molecule with the hNaV1.2 or hNaV1.7 channels. Collectively, this study highlights evidence showing that KB-R7943 has the propensity to perturb the magnitude and gating kinetics of INa (e.g., INa(T), INa(L), INa(W), INa(R), and INa(P)) and that the NaV channels appear to be important targets for the in vivo actions of KB-R7943 or other relevant compounds.