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Ca²⁺ signaling evoked by activation of Na⁺ channels and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchangers is required for GABA-induced NG2 cell migration

Institute of Neuroscience and State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China

Correspondence to Shumin Duan: shumin{at}ion.ac.cn

NG2 cells originate from various brain regions and migrate to their destinations during early development. These cells express voltage-gated Na⁺ channels but fail to produce typical action potentials. The physiological role of Na⁺ channels in these cells is unclear. We found that GABA induces membrane depolarization and Ca²⁺ elevation in NG2 cells, a process requiring activation of GABA_A receptors, Na⁺ channels, and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchangers (NCXs), but not Ca²⁺ channels. We have identified a persistent Na⁺ current in these cells that may underlie the GABA-induced pathway of prolonged Na⁺ elevation, which in turn triggers Ca²⁺ influx via NCXs. This unique Ca²⁺ signaling pathway is further shown to be involved in the migration of NG2 cells. Thus, GABAergic signaling mediated by sequential activation of GABA_A receptors, noninactivating Na⁺ channels, and NCXs may play an important role in the development and function of NG2 glial cells in the brain.

© 2009 Tong et al.
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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Doengi, M., Hirnet, D., Coulon, P., Pape, H.-C., Deitmer, J. W., Lohr, C. (2009). GABA uptake-dependent Ca2+ signaling in developing olfactory bulb astrocytes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106: 17570-17575 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tong, X.-p., Li, X.-y., Zhou, B., Shen, W., Zhang, Z.-j., Xu, T.-l., Duan, S. (2009). Ca2+ signaling evoked by activation of Na+ channels and Na+/Ca2+ exchangers is required for GABA-induced NG2 cell migration. JGP 134: i2-i2 [Full Text]  
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