Estrogens directly potentiate neuronal L-type Ca2+ channels

Saumyendra N. Sarkar, Ren Qi Huang, Shaun M. Logan, Don Yi Kun, Glenn H. Dillon, James W. Simpkins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

90 Scopus citations

Abstract

L-type voltage-gated Ca2+channels (VGCC) play an important role in dendritic development, neuronal survival, and synaptic plasticity. Recent studies have demonstrated that the gonadal steroid estrogen rapidly induces Ca2+ influx in hippocampal neurons, which is required for neuroprotection and potentiation of LTP. The mechanism by which estrogen rapidly induces this Ca2+ influx is not clearly understood. We show by electrophysiological studies that extremely low concentrations of estrogens acutely potentiate VGCC in hippocampal neurons, hippocampal slices, and HEK-293 cells transfected with neuronal L-type VGCC, in a manner that was estrogen receptor (ER)-independent. Equilibrium, competitive, and whole-cell binding assays indicate that estrogen directly interacts with the VGCC. Furthermore, a L-type VGCC antagonist to the dihydropyridine site displaced estrogen binding to neuronal membranes, and the effects of estrogen were markedly attenuated in a mutant, dihydropyridine-insensitive L-type VGCC, demonstrating a direct interaction of estrogens with L-type VGCC. Thus, estrogen-induced potentiation of calcium influx via L-type VGCC may link electrical events with rapid intracellular signaling seen with estrogen exposure leading to modulation of synaptic plasticity, neuroprotection, and memory formation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)15148-15153
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume105
Issue number39
DOIs
StatePublished - 30 Sep 2008

Keywords

  • Estradiol
  • Estrogen receptors
  • Memory
  • Signaling

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