Feed-forward metabotropic signaling by Cav1 Ca2+ channels supports pacemaking in pedunculopontine cholinergic neurons

C. Tubert, E. Zampese, Tristano Pancani, T. Tkatch, D. J. Surmeier*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Like a handful of other neuronal types in the brain, cholinergic neurons (CNs) in the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) are lost during Parkinson's disease (PD). Why this is the case is unknown. One neuronal trait implicated in PD selective neuronal vulnerability is the engagement of feed-forward stimulation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to meet high bioenergetic demand, leading to sustained oxidant stress and ultimately degeneration. The extent to which this trait is shared by PPN CNs is unresolved. To address this question, a combination of molecular and physiological approaches were used. These studies revealed that PPN CNs are autonomous pacemakers with modest spike-associated cytosolic Ca2+ transients. These Ca2+ transients were partly attributable to the opening of high-threshold Cav1.2 Ca2+ channels, but not Cav1.3 channels. Cav1.2 channel signaling through endoplasmic reticulum ryanodine receptors stimulated mitochondrial OXPHOS to help maintain cytosolic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels necessary for pacemaking. Inhibition of Cav1.2 channels led to the recruitment of ATP-sensitive K+ channels and the slowing of pacemaking. A ‘side-effect’ of Cav1.2 channel-mediated stimulation of mitochondria was increased oxidant stress. Thus, PPN CNs have a distinctive physiological phenotype that shares some, but not all, of the features of other neurons that are selectively vulnerable in PD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number106328
JournalNeurobiology of Disease
Volume188
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2023

Funding

We wish to thank Sasha Ulrich for expert technical assistance. This study was supported by the JPB Foundation , NIH ( NS 121174 ) and Aligning Science Across Parkinson's [ ASAP-020551 ] through the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF).

Keywords

  • ATP-sensitive K channels
  • Calcium voltage-dependent channels
  • Mitocondrial oxidative phosphorilation
  • PPN cholinergic neurons
  • Parkinson's disease

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology

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