Published 4 issues per year
ISSN Print: 2155-014X
ISSN Online: 2155-0158
Effect of Enzymatic Treatment Using Proteases on Properties of Persistent Sodium Current in CA1 Pyramidal Neurons of Rat Hippocampus
ABSTRACT
We investigated the effect of proteases, widely used for neuron isolation in electrophysiological studies, on the amplitude and kinetic characteristics of persistent sodium current (INaP) in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Properties of INaP were studied on neurons isolated by mechanical treatment (control group) and by mechanical and enzymatic treatment using pronase E (from Streptomyces griseus) or protease type XXIII (from Aspergillus oryzae). We have shown that kinetics of activation and density of INaP in neurons isolated with pronase E was unchanged. Enzymatic treatment with protease type XXIII did not alter INaP activation but resulted in a significant decrease in INaP density. Our data indicate that enzymatic treatment with pronase E for neuron isolation is preferable to investigate INaP.