A quantitative description of QX222 blockade of sodium channels in squid axons

C. F. Starmer*, J. Z. Yeh, J. Tanguy

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

The interaction of QX222, a quaternary ammonium derivative of lidocaine, with the Na channel was studied in internally perfused squid axons under voltage-clamped conditions. A use-dependent block was observed in response to repetitive depolarizing pulses. The time constant for block development and the steady state level of the block were increased with increasing frequency of stimulation from 0.1 to 10 Hz. Use-dependent block can be viewed as a net increase in the drug incorporation into Na channels with successive pulses. That is, net drug uptake by Na channels occurs during the depolarizing phase and net drug release occurs during the interpulse interval. The observed uptake rate of use-dependent block is shown to be a linear combination of the uptake rates associated with the depolarizing and resting potentials. Also, the steady state fraction of blocked channels is shown to be a linear combination of the state-dependent blockade equilibria. Drug-channel interactions are assumed to be dependent on gated control of the diffusion path between drug pool and the interior channel binding site. Drug ingress to the binding site can be inhibited by the channel gates (receptor guarding), while drug bound to the channel may become trapped by closure of the channel gates (trapping). On the basis of these assumptions, a simple procedure is proposed for estimating apparent rate constants governing the drug-channel binding reactions for two cases of channel blockade.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)913-920
Number of pages8
JournalBiophysical Journal
Volume49
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1986

Funding

This work was supported by grants HL32994, RR01693, and GM24866 from the National Institutes of Health.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics

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