BLOCK OF NATIVE CA2+-PERMEABLE AMPA RECEPTORS IN RAT-BRAIN BY INTRACELLULAR POLYAMINES GENERATES DOUBLE RECTIFICATION

1. The influence of intracellular factors on current rectification of different subtypes of native alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate receptors (AMPARs) was studied in rat brain slices by combining fast application of glutamate with patch pipette perfusion. 2. The peak current-voltage (I-V) relation of the AMPARs expressed in Bergmann glial cells of cerebellum and dentate gyrus (DG) basket cells of hippocampus was weakly rectifying in outside-out patches and nystatin-perforated vesicles, but showed a doubly rectifying shape with a region of reduced slope between 0 and +40 mV in nucleated patches. The I-V relation of AMPARs expressed in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurones was linear in all recording configurations. 3. Intracellular application of 25 mu M spermine, a naturally occurring polyamine, blocked outward currents in outside-out patches from Bergmann glial cells and DG basket cells in a voltage-dependent manner, generating I-V relations with a doubly rectifying shape which were similar to those recorded in nucleated patches. AMPARs in CA3 pyramidal cell patches were unaffected by 25 mu M spermine. 4. The half-maximal blocking concentration of spermine at +40 mV was 0.3 mu M in Bergmann glial cell patches and 1.5 mu M in DG; basket cell patches, whereas it was much higher (much greater than 100 mu M) for CA3 pyramidal cell patches. Spermidine also affected current rectification, but with lower affinity. The block of outward current by polyamines following voltage jumps developed within < 0.5 ms. 5. We conclude that current rectification, rather than being an intrinsic property of the Ca2+-permeable AMPAR channel, is generated by polyamine block.