Inhibition of high-voltage-activated calcium currents by acute hypoxia in cultured retinal ganglion cells

Hypoxia is a common factor of numerous ocular diseases that lead to dysfunctions and loss retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) with subsequent vision loss. High-voltage-activated calcium channels are the main source entry into neurons. Their activity plays central role in different signaling processes health diseases, such as enzyme activation, gene transcription, synaptic transmission, or onset cell death. This study aims establish evaluate initial effect early stage acute hypoxia on somatic HVA currents cultured RGCs. were recorded RGCs using whole-cell patch-clamp technique voltage-clamp mode. The fast local superfusion was used for brief (up 270 s) application hypoxic solution (pO 2 < 5 mmHg). switch from normoxic solutions vice versa less than 1 s. channel inhibited by 79% (30 38 RGCs) strong voltage-dependent manner. level inhibition independent duration repeated applications. hypoxia-induced had correlation showed transition reversible irreversible at 75 s longer. results obtained first demonstration phenomena current provide conceptual framework further research.