Effects of (+/-)-kavain on voltage-activated inward currents of dorsal root ganglion cells from neonatal rats. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Kava pyrones extracted from pepper Piper methysticum are pharmacologically active compounds. Since kava pyrones exhibit anticonvulsive, analgesic and centrally muscle relaxing properties, the influence of a synthetic kava pyrone, (+/-)-kavain, on voltage-dependent ion channel currents was studied. Effects of (+/-)-kavain on voltage-activated inward currents were analysed in cultured dorsal root ganglion cells derived from neonatal rats. Voltage-activated Ca2+ and Na+ currents were elicited in the whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp technique. Extracellularly applied (+/-)-kavain dissolved in hydrous salt solutions reduced voltage-activated Ca2+ and Na+ channel currents within 3-5 min. As the solubility of (+/-)-kavain in hydrous solutions is low, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was added to the saline as a solvent for the drug in most experiments. When (+/-)-kavain was dissolved in DMSO, the drug induced a fast and pronounced reduction of both Ca2+ and Na+ currents, which partly recovered within 2-5 min even in the presence of the drug. The present study indicates that (+/-)-kavain reduces currents through voltage-activated Na+ and Ca2+ channels.

publication date

  • January 1, 1999

Research

keywords

  • Animals, Newborn
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Ganglia, Spinal
  • Ion Channel Gating
  • Ion Channels
  • Neurons
  • Pyrones

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0032587047

PubMed ID

  • 10082244

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 9

issue

  • 1-2