Effects of honokiol on TTX-S sodium current in mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons

To elucidate possible mechanisms and targets of honokiol(Hnk)for hte treatment of pain, the effects of Hnk on tetrodoxin-senstive(TTX-S)sodium current(I_Na)were studied in acutely dissociated mouse dorsal root ganglion(DRG)neurons with whole-cell patch clamp technique. Hnk inhibited TTX-S I_Na currents in a concentration-dependent manner. At 30 μmol/L, Hnk obviously shifted the steady state activation of TTX-S I_Na toward more positive potentials by 10. 2 mV and prolonged the time course of recovery of sodium current, yet with no significant difference on recovery from inactivation of TTX-S sodium channel.