Resiniferatoxin-induced loss of plasma membrane in vanilloid receptor expressing cells.

Resiniferatoxin (RTX), a potent analog of capsaicin, was evaluated electrophysiologically in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells and cell lines ectopically expressing the vanilloid receptor type 1 (VR1) to determine if cell phenotype influenced RTXs neurotoxic properties. Furthermore, capsaicin and heat activation of VR1 were evaluated in these cells to determine if cellular damage was unique to RTX activation of the receptors. RTX application to DRG cells identified as type 1, 2 or 5, cell types known to express VR1, induced large inward currents.

Angiotensin II increases vesicular trafficking in brain neurons.

Our previous studies have established that angiotensin (Ang) II stimulates the release, uptake, and synthesis of norepinephrine (NE) in brain neurons involving distinct signal transduction pathways. However, little is known if this NE neuromodulatory effect is a result of Ang II activation of vesicular trafficking in the catecholaminergic neurons. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine if Ang II influences movement of vesicles in live neurons.