Calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II mediates NO-elicited PKG activation to participate in spinal reflex potentiation in anesthetized rats

Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2008 Feb;294(2):R487-93. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00600.2007. Epub 2007 Nov 28.

Abstract

Calcium/calmodulin protein kinase (CaMK)-dependent nitric oxide (NO) and the downstream intracellular messenger cGMP, which is activated by soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), are believed to induce long-term changes in efficacy of synapses through the activation of protein kinase G (PKG). The aim of this study was to examine the involvement of the CaMKII-dependent NO/sGC/PKG pathway in a novel form of repetitive stimulation-induced spinal reflex potentiation (SRP). A single-pulse test stimulation (TS; 1/30 Hz) on the afferent nerve evoked a single action potential, while repetitive stimulation (RS; 1 Hz) induced a long-lasting SRP that was abolished by a selective Ca(2+)/CaMKII inhibitor, autocamtide 2-related inhibitory peptide (AIP). Such an inhibitory effect was reversed by a relative excess of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) substrate, L-arginine. In addition, the RS-induced SRP was abolished by pretreatment with the NOS inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME). The sGC activator, protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), reversed the blocking effect caused by L-NAME. On the other hand, a sGC blocker, 1H-[1, 2, 4]oxadiazolo[4, 3-alpha]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), abolished the RS-induced SRP. Intrathecal applications of the membrane-permeable cGMP analog, 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate sodium salt monohydrate (8-Br-cGMP), reversed the blocking effect on the RS-induced SRP elicited by the ODQ. Our findings suggest that a CaMKII-dependent NO/sGC/PKG pathway is involved in the RS-induced SRP, which has pathological relevance to hyperalgesia and allodynia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Anesthesia
  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Electromyography
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Hyperalgesia / metabolism*
  • NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / pharmacology
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
  • Oxadiazoles / pharmacology
  • Quinoxalines / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reflex / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Spinal Cord / enzymology*

Substances

  • 1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Oxadiazoles
  • Quinoxalines
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium
  • NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester