β-amyloid increases dendritic Ca²⁺ influx by inhibiting the A-type K⁺ current in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons

Accumulation of the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) is a primary event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanisms by which Aβ mediates neurotoxicity and initiates the degenerative processes of AD are still not clear. Recent evidence shows that voltage-gated K⁺ channels may be involved in Aβ-induced neurodegenerative processes. In particular, a transient A-type K⁺ current, with a linear increase in its density with distance from soma to distal dendrites in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, has been shown to contribute to dendritic membrane excitability. Here, I report that Aβ (1-42) inhibits the dendritic A-type K⁺ current in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, and this inhibition causes increases in back-propagating dendritic action potential amplitude and associated Ca²⁺ influx. These results suggest that the persistent inhibition of the A-type K⁺ current resulting from deposition of Aβ in dendritic arborization will induce a sustained increase in dendritic Ca²⁺ influx and lead to loss of Ca²⁺ homeostasis. This may be a component of the events that cause synaptic failure and initiate neuronal degenerative processes in the hippocampus.