Aging alters voltage-gated calcium channels in prefrontal cortex pyramidal neurons in the HIV brain

J Neurovirol. 2018 Feb;24(1):113-118. doi: 10.1007/s13365-017-0588-y. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

Abstract

We assessed firing and voltage-gated Ca2+ influx in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) pyramidal neurons from older (12 months old) HIV-1 transgenic (Tg) rats. We found that neurons from older Tg rats showed increased firing compared to non-Tg rats, but Ca2+ spikes were unchanged. However, stronger excitatory stimulation was needed to evoke Ca2+ spikes, which was associated with reduced mPFC Cav1.2 L-type Ca2+ channel (L-channel) protein. In contrast, L-channel protein was unaltered in younger (6-7 weeks old) Tg rats, which we previously found had enhanced neuronal Ca2+ influx. These studies demonstrate that aging alters HIV-induced Ca2+ channel dysfunction that affects mPFC activity.

Keywords: Calcium; HAND; HIV; HIV-1 Tg rat; L-channel; Medial prefrontal cortex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Dementia Complex / genetics
  • AIDS Dementia Complex / metabolism*
  • AIDS Dementia Complex / physiopathology
  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Aging / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / genetics
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression
  • HIV-1 / pathogenicity
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiopathology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / virology
  • Pyramidal Cells / metabolism*
  • Pyramidal Cells / pathology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Transgenic

Substances

  • Calcium Channels, L-Type
  • Calcium