Angiotensin II-induced ionic currents and signalling pathways in submandibular ganglion neurons

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is one of the most important vasoconstrictive hormones but is also known to act as a neuromodulator and a neurotransmitter in the central and peripheral nervous system. The submandibular ganglion (SMG) neuron is a parasympathetic ganglion which receives inputs from preganglionic cholinergic neurons, and innervates the submandibular salivary gland to control saliva secretion. In this study, the effects of Ang II on SMG neurons were investigated using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Membrane currents evoked by a ramp pulse from +50 to −100 mV (−150 mV/500 ms) were compared in both the absence and presence of Ang II. In eight neurons tested, 1 μM Ang II increased inward currents by 42.0±8.2%. The reversal potentials of the Ang II-induced current were 0.2±0.6 mV. These increase of inward currents by Ang II were antagonized by losartan, a selective antagonist of AT1 receptors. Intracellular dialysis with 0.1 mM guanosin 5′-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP-β-S), a G-proteins blocker, and anti-Gq/11 antibody attenuated Ang II-induced ionic current. In addition, pretreatment of neurons with 10 μM staurosporine (stauro), a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, 0.5 μM PMA, a PKC activator, and 10 μM KN-93, a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM K II) inhibitor, attenuated Ang II-induced ionic current in SMG neurons. The data presented here demonstrated that Ang II-induced ionic current via Gq/11-proteins involving both PKC and CaM K II pathways in SMG neurons.