Effect of arvanil (N-arachidonoyl-vanillyl-amine), a nonpungent anandamide-capsaicin hybrid, on ion currents in NG108-15 neuronal cells

Abstract The effects of arvanil ( N -arachidonoyl-vanillyl-amine), a structural hybrid between capsaicin and anandamide, on ion currents in a mouse neuroblastoma and rat glioma hybrid cell line, NG108-15, were examined with the aid of the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique. Arvanil (0.2–50 μM) caused an inhibition of voltage-dependent L-type Ca 2+ current ( I Ca,L ) in a concentration-dependent manner. Arvanil produced no change in the overall shape of the current–voltage relationship of I Ca,L . The ic 50 value of arvanil-induced inhibition of I Ca,L was 2 μM. Arvanil (5 μM) could shift the steady-state inactivation curve of I Ca,L to a more negative potential by approximately −15 mV. No effect of arvanil (20 μM) on delayed rectifier K + current ( I K(DR) ) was observed; however, capsaicin (20 μM), glyceryl nonivamide (20 μM) and capsinolol (20 μM) suppressed it significantly. Arvanil (20 μM) caused a slight reduction in the amplitude of erg ( ether-a-go-go -related)-mediated K + current ( I K(erg) ) without modifying the activation curve of this current, while capsaicin and glyceryl nonivamide were more effective in suppressing I K(erg) . Under current-clamp configuration, arvanil decreased the firing frequency of action potentials. Arvanil-mediated inhibition of I Ca,L appeared to be independent of its binding to either vanilloid or cannabinoid receptors. The channel-blocking properties of arvanil may, at least in part, contribute to the underlying mechanisms by which it affects neuronal or neuroendocrine function.