Summary
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1.
The role of membrane lipid composition in determining the electrical properties of neuronal cells was investigated by altering the available fatty acids in the growth medium of cultured neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid cells, clone NG108-15.
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2.
Growth of the cells for several days in the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic) caused a pronounced decrease in the Na+ action-potential rate of rise (dV/dt) and smaller decreases in the amplitude, measured by intracellular recording. Oleic acid had no effect on the action potentials generated by the cells. In contrast, a saturated fatty acid (palmitate) and atrans monounsaturated fatty acid (elaidate) caused increases in both the rate of rise and the amplitude.
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3.
No changes in the resting membrane potentials or Ca2+ action potentials of fatty acid-treated cells were observed. The membrane capacitance and time constant were not altered by exposure to arachidonate, oleate, or elaidate, whereas arachidonate caused a small increase in membrane resistance.
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4.
Examination of the membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition of cells grown with various fatty acids revealed no consistent alterations which could explain these results.
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5.
To examine the mechanism for arachidonate-induced decreases indV/dt, the binding of3H-saxitoxin (known to interact with voltage-sensitive Na+) channels was measured. Membranes from cells grown with arachidonate contained fewer saxitoxin binding sites, suggesting fewer Na+ channels in these cells.
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6.
We conclude that conditions which lead to major changes in the membrane fatty acid composition have no effect on the resting membrane potential, membrane capacitance, time constant, or Ca2+ action potentials in NG108-15 cells. Membrane resistance also does not appear to be very sensitive to membrane fatty acid composition. However, changes in the availability of fatty acids and/or changes in the subsequent membrane fatty acid composition lead to altered Na+ action potentials. The primary mechanism for this alteration appears to be through changes in the number of Na+ channels in the cells.
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Love, J.A., Saum, W.R. & McGee, R. The effects of exposure to exogenous fatty acids and membrane fatty acid modification on the electrical properties of NG108-15 cells. Cell Mol Neurobiol 5, 333–352 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00755400
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00755400
Key words
- membrane fatty acid composition, relation to electrical properties
- membrane lipids, relation to electrical properties
- voltage-sensitive Na+ channels, changes with membrane lipid
- voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels, changes with membrane lipid
- unsaturated fatty acids, effects on electrical properties
- neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid cells, electrical properties
- neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid cells, membrane lipids