The background sodium leak channel NALCN is a major controlling factor in pituitary cell excitability
Issued Date
2024-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
00223751
eISSN
14697793
DOI
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85211160506
Journal Title
Journal of Physiology
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Physiology (2024)
Suggested Citation
Belal M., Mucha M., Monteil A., Winyard P.G., Pawlak R., Walker J.J., Tabak J., Belle M.D.C. The background sodium leak channel NALCN is a major controlling factor in pituitary cell excitability. Journal of Physiology (2024). doi:10.1113/JP284036 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/102392
Title
The background sodium leak channel NALCN is a major controlling factor in pituitary cell excitability
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Abstract: The pituitary gland produces and secretes a variety of hormones that are essential to life, such as for the regulation of growth and development, metabolism, reproduction, and the stress response. This is achieved through an intricate signalling interplay between the brain and peripheral feedback signals that shape pituitary cell excitability by regulating the ion channel properties of these cells. In addition, endocrine anterior pituitary cells spontaneously fire action potentials to regulate the intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) level, an essential signalling conduit for hormonal secretion. To this end, pituitary cells must regulate their resting membrane potential (RMP) close to the firing threshold, but the molecular identity of the ionic mechanisms responsible for this remains largely unknown. Here, we revealed that the sodium leak channel NALCN, known to modulate neuronal excitability elsewhere in the brain, regulates excitability in the mouse anterior endocrine pituitary cells. Using viral transduction combined with powerful electrophysiology methods and calcium imaging, we show that NALCN forms the major Na+ leak conductance in these cells, appropriately tuning cellular RMP for sustaining spontaneous firing activity. Genetic depletion of NALCN channel activity drastically hyperpolarised these cells, suppressing their firing and [Ca2+]i oscillations. Remarkably, despite this profound function of NALCN conductance in controlling pituitary cell excitability, it represents a very small fraction of the total cell conductance. Because NALCN responds to hypothalamic hormones, our results also provide a plausible mechanism through which hormonal feedback signals from the brain and body could powerfully affect pituitary activity to influence hormonal function. (Figure presented.). Key points: Pituitary hormones are essential to life as they regulate important physiological processes, such as growth and development, metabolism, reproduction and the stress response. Pituitary hormonal secretion relies on the spontaneous electrical activity of pituitary cells and co-ordinated inputs from the brain and periphery. This appropriately regulates intracellular calcium signals in pituitary cells to trigger hormonal release. Using viral transduction in combination with electrophysiology and calcium imaging, we show that the activity of the background leak channel NALCN is a major controlling factor in eliciting spontaneous electrical activity and intracellular calcium signalling in pituitary cells. Remarkably, our results revealed that a minute change in NALCN activity could have a major influence on pituitary cell excitability. Our study provides a plausible mechanism through which the brain and body could intricately control pituitary activity to influence hormonal function.