Voltage-gated sodium channel expression and action potential generation in differentiated NG108-15 cells

BACKGROUND: The generation of action potential is required for stimulus-evoked neurotransmitter release in most neurons. Although various voltage-gated ion channels are involved in action potential production, the initiation of the action potential is mainly mediated by voltage-gated Na(+) channels. In the present study, differentiation-induced changes of mRNA and protein expression of Na(+) channels, Na(+) currents, and cell membrane excitability were investigated in NG108-15 cells. RESULTS: Whole-cell patch-clamp results showed that differentiation (9 days) didn’t change cell membrane excitability, compared to undifferentiated state. But differentiation (21 days) induced the action potential generation in 45.5% of NG108-15 cells (25/55 cells). In 9-day-differentiated cells, Na(+) currents were mildly increased, which was also found in 21-day differentiated cells without action potential. In 21-day differentiated cells with action potential, Na(+) currents were significantly enhanced. Western blot data showed that the expression of Na(+) channels was increased with differentiated-time dependent manner. Single-cell real-time PCR data demonstrated that the expression of Na(+) channel mRNA was increased by 21 days of differentiation in NG108-15 cells. More importantly, the mRNA level of Na(+) channels in cells with action potential was higher than that in cells without action potential. CONCLUSION: Differentiation induces expression of voltage-gated Na(+) channels and action potential generation in NG108-15 cells. A high level of the Na(+) channel density is required for differentiation-triggered action potential generation.