Modulation Of Scorpion Venom Heat Resistant Protein On Voltage-gated Sodium Channels In Acutely Isolated Hippocampal Neurons

Background and Objective: Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) play a key role in neural signaling by initiating and propagating the action potential. Even small changes in sodium channels availability can alter action potential firing patterns, and point mutations in sodium channelsαorβsubunits underlie inherited forms of several human diseases, including epilepsy. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders that are characterized by the recurrent appearance of spontaneous seizures due to abnormal, paroxysmal electrical discharge of neurons. VGSCs generate the principal current constituting the depolarizing phase of action potential. It is thus considered to be indispensable for the generation of epileptiform activity. Indeed, sodium channels play a significant role on coordinating signal transmission in neuronal networks, and synchronization among neurons. This, being the characteristic process of epileptogenesis indicates the potential of sodium channels targeting epilepsy. Sodium channels thus are targeted as a platform for the establishment of antiepileptic drugs. In our study, we recorded sodium currents of hippocampal neurons using whole cell patch clamp technique to investigate the effect of SVHRP on sodium channels. The possible mechanism underlying the antiepileptic effect of SVHRP will be further discussed and explored.Subject and Methods: Hippocampal neurons from healthy Sprague–...