Key result
TREK and TRAAK potassium channels accumulated rapidly and bidirectionally above and below a ligature in rat sciatic nerves, representing the first report of their axonal transport.
Why the study?
The presence and axonal transport of TREK and TRAAK potassium channels in peripheral nerves were previously unexamined.
This study provides the first evidence of rapid, bidirectional axonal transport of TREK and TRAAK potassium channels in peripheral nerves.
Should not yet change clinical practice; leaves open TREK/TRAAK axonal transport as a target in human neuropathy.
The recent cloning, functional expression and brain localization of two new potassium channels, TREK and TRAAK, led us to examine whether both channels are present in peripheral nerves and can move along axons by means of axonal transport mechanisms. Using specific antibodies directed against TREK and TRAAK peptides, we found that immunoreactivity for both potassium channels accumulates above and below a ligature in rat sciatic nerves. The process was rapid and bidirectional suggesting that the channels are associated with vesicles. This represents the first report on the axonal transport of potassium channels.
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Bearzatto et al. (2000) studied this question. Ligature of rat sciatic nerves was evaluated on Accumulation of immunoreactivity for TREK and TRAAK potassium channels. TREK and TRAAK potassium channels accumulated rapidly and bidirectionally above and below a ligature in rat sciatic nerves, representing the first report of their axonal transport.
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