Section Days abstract book 2010.indd - RUB Research School ...

LS_7
Modulation of transient receptor potential V1 by different
odorants
Matthias Luebbert 1,2 , Klaus Peter Hoffmann 3 , Hanns Hatt 1
1 Department of Cell Physiology, Ruhr University Bochum, 22780 Bochum, Germany,
2 Ruhr University Research School, 3 Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology,
Ruhr University Bochum, 22780 Bochum, Germany
Email: Matthias.luebbert@rub.de
Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a member of the transient receptor
potential superfamily of cation channels. TRPV1 proteins are unselective cation channels
which can be activated by various noxious stimuli (e.g. vanilloids, heat, protons). High levels
of TRPV1 can be found in sensory neurons of the trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia and also
e.g. in merkel cells within the skin.
Here we show that several odorous substances (vanillin, helional, heliotropylacetone, and
geraniol) elicit currents during voltage-clamp recordings using dissociated trigeminal neurons
and CHO cells heterologously expressing rTRPV1. Interestingly, prolonged application of
helional (>1 min) reduced the response to a successive capsaicin application. When applied
simultaneously with low concentrations of capsaicin, activation caused by helional and
capsaicin behaved in an additive way. In contrast, we observed a slight inhibition of currents
induced by higher capsaicin concentrations in the presence of helional. Elevating the
temperature of the bath solution from room temperature to 37°C significantly increased the
amplitude of helional-induced currents.
In the past, it has been shown that TRPV1 has great impact on the development and the
perception of itch. Therefore, a better understanding of a TRPV1-modulation by different
odorants might provide new ideas for its treatment.