scholarly journals The Ventral Photoreceptor Cells of Limulus

1969 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald Millecchia ◽  
Alexander Mauro
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Voltage Clamp ◽  
Dark Current ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Negative Slope ◽  
Induced Current ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Steady State Current ◽  
Current Voltage Relation

In the dark, the ventral photoreceptor of Limulus exhibits time-variant currents under voltage-clamp conditions; that is, if the membrane potential of the cell is clamped to a depolarized value there is an initial large outward current which slowly declines to a steady level. The current-voltage relation of the cell in the dark is nonlinear. The only ion tested which has any effect on the current-voltage relation is potassium; high potassium shifts the reversal potential towards zero and introduces a negative slope-conductance region. When the cell is illuminated under voltage-clamp conditions, an additional current, the light-induced current, flows across the cell membrane. The time course of this current mimics the time course of the light response (receptor potential) in the unclamped cell; namely, an initial transient phase is followed by a steady-state phase. The amplitude of the peak transient current can be as large as 60 times the amplitude of the steady-state current, while in the unclamped cell the amplitude of the peak transient voltage never exceeds 4 times the amplitude of the steady-state voltage. The current-voltage relations of the additional light-induced current obtained for different instants of time are also nonlinear, but differ from the current-voltage relations of the dark current. The ions tested which have the greatest effect on the light-induced current are sodium and calcium; low sodium decreases the current, while low calcium increases the current. The data strongly support the hypothesis that two systems of electric current exist in the membrane. Thus the total ionic current which flows in the membrane is accounted for as the sum of a dark current and a light-induced current.

scholarly journals Two Light-Induced Processes in the Photoreceptor Cells of Limulus Ventral Eye

1971 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 544-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Lisman ◽  
J. E. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Voltage Clamp ◽  
Photoreceptor Cell ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Membrane Conductance ◽  
Photoreceptor Cells ◽  
Negative Slope ◽  
Induced Current ◽  
Positive Slope ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Lower Slope

The dark-adapted current-voltage (I-V) curve of a ventral photoreceptor cell of Limulus, measured by a voltage-clamp technique, has a high slope-resistance region more negative than resting voltage, a lower slope-resistance region between resting voltage and zero, and a negative slope-resistance region more positive than 0 v. With illumination, we find no unique voltage at which there is no light-induced current. At the termination of illumination, the I-V curve changes quickly, then recovers very slowly to a dark-adapted configuration. The voltage-clamp currents during and after illumination can be interpreted to arise from two separate processes. One process (fast) changes quickly with change in illumination, has a reversal potential at +20 mv, and has an I-V curve with positive slope resistance at all voltages. These properties are consistent with a light-induced change in membrane conductance to sodium ions. The other process (slow) changes slowly with changes in illumination, generates light-activated current at +20 mv, and has an I-V curve with a large region of negative slope resistance. The mechanism of this process cannot as yet be identified.

Caffeine-induced current in embryonic heart cells: time course and voltage dependence

1983 ◽  
Vol 245 (3) ◽  
pp. H528-H532 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. T. Clusin ◽  
R. Fischmeister ◽  
R. L. DeHaan
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Myocardial Cell ◽  
Slow Inward Current ◽  
Heart Cells ◽  
Induced Current ◽  
Inward Current ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Micron Diameter ◽  
Current Voltage Relation

Abrupt exposure of 90- to 130-micron diameter chick embryonic myocardial cell aggregates to 10 mM caffeine has been shown to induce a transient inward current. In the present study, we recorded a similar current in small cell clusters (less than 10 cells) in which access of caffeine to each of the cells was rapid. The resulting inward current consisted of a single peak, which decayed exponentially (predominant time constant 335 +/- 130 ms at -40 mV) and had a peak amplitude of up to 15.5 microA/cm2. The caffeine-induced current persisted when the slow inward current was abolished by a 30-s pretreatment with 2 microM D 600 and could be observed at potentials where the fast sodium channels were fully inactivated. The current-voltage relation of the caffeine response was linear between -110 and -40 mV, giving an extrapolated voltage intercept of +12 mV. However, the inward current did not diminish or reverse with further depolarization. A substantial inward current occurred at potentials up to +60 mV, which is more positive than the reversal potential of the tetrodotoxin-sensitive inward current. We conclude that the caffeine-induced current is mediated in part by electrogenic Na+-Ca2+ exchange.

1S,3R-ACPD Induces a Region of Negative Slope Conductance in the Steady-State Current-Voltage Relationship of Hippocampal Pyramidal Cells

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 221-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Lüthi ◽  
Beat H. Gähwiler ◽  
Urs Gerber
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Negative Slope ◽  
Inward Current ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Steady State Current ◽  
Current Voltage Relationship ◽  
Voltage Relationship

Lüthi, Anita, Beat H. Gähwiler, and Urs Gerber. 1 S,3 R-ACPD induces a region of negative slope conductance in the steady-state current-voltage relationship of hippocampal pyramidal cells. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 221–228, 1997. Synaptic responses mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) display a marked voltage-dependent increase in amplitude when neurons are moderately depolarized beyond membrane potential. We have investigated the basis for this apparent nonlinear behavior by activatingmGluRs with 1 S,3 R-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylate(1 S,3 R-ACPD; 10 μM) in CA3 pyramidal cells from rat hippocampal slice cultures with the use of the single-electrode voltage-clamp technique. Under control conditions, cells depolarized from resting potential by 10–20 mV responded with delayed outwardly rectifying currents due to activation of voltage- and Ca2+-dependent K+ conductances. In contrast, in the continuous presence of 1 S,3 R-ACPD, small depolarizations (10–20 mV) induced a delayed inward current. The steady-state current-voltage relationship for this response displayed a region of negative slope conductance at potentials between −55 and −40 mV. The reversal potential of the corresponding 1 S,3 R-ACPD-sensitive tail currents (−93.0 ± 2.2 mV, mean ± SE) was close to the potassium reversal potential, consistent with an mGluR-mediated suppression of K+ current. When external K+ concentration was increased to 8 mM, there was a positive shift in reversal potential to −76.9 ± 5.1 mV. The depolarization-induced inward current in the presence of 1 S,3 R-ACPD was blocked by Ba2+ (1 mM). The response was not dependent on changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and was insensitive to bath-applied Cs+ (1 mM), ruling out a contribution of Ca2+-dependent currents or the inward rectifier I Q. Furthermore, the effect of 1 S,3 R-ACPD was not mimicked by inhibiting afterhyperpolarizing current and M current with low-Ca2+ saline (0.5 mM Ca2+, 10 mM Mg2+) containing 10 mM tetraethylammonium chloride. A comparison of the responses induced by 1 S,3 R-ACPD and N-methyl-d-aspartate showed that both induce an inward current with small depolarizations from resting potential but with different kinetics and Mg2+ sensitivity. These results indicate that the suppression of K+ currents in response to activation of mGluRs is markedly voltage dependent, increasing at depolarized potentials and decreasing at hyperpolarized potentials. The negative slope conductance at membrane voltages positive to resting potential may underlie the amplification of mGluR-mediated responses when the membrane potential approaches action potential threshold.

NMDA-receptor-mediated synaptic currents in guinea pig laterodorsal tegmental neurons in vitro

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 1101-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Sanchez ◽  
C. S. Leonard
Keyword(s):  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Nmda Receptors ◽  
Brain Stem ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Negative Slope ◽  
Synaptic Currents ◽  
Linear Current ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Current Voltage Relation

1. Whole cell voltage-clamp techniques were used to record glutamate-receptor-mediated synaptic currents from neurons of the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT). The principal cells of the LDT contain acetylcholine and nitric oxide synthase, and are believed to be involved in the control of sleep-waking behavior via widespread projections to the thalamus and brain stem. LDT cells were recorded from slices of mature guinea pig brain stem with patch pipette solutions containing cesium as the primary cation. 2. Application of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) elicited currents that were strongly voltage dependent with a mean reversal potential of +16.3 mV. Peak currents occurred near -15 mV, and a region of negative slope conductance was seen at more negative potentials. Application of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid evoked currents that exhibited a nearly linear current-voltage relation with a mean reversal potential of -3.4 mV. 3. Electrical stimulation of local afferents elicited dual-component excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) with decays that were well fitted by the sum of two exponentials. Mean decay time constants at -60 mV were 8.77 ms for the faster component and 129.4 ms for the slower component. The faster component displayed a linear current-voltage relation and was blocked by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) or 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, indicating that it was mediated by non-NMDA receptors, whereas the slower component displayed a voltage dependence similar to that for NMDA-evoked currents and was blocked by 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5), indicating its mediation by NMDA receptors. 4. The fractional contribution of NMDA receptors to the EPSC was estimated from double-exponential curve fits to the decay phases. With this method, NMDA receptors were estimated on average to carry 10.1% of the total peak EPSC at -60 mV. Blockade of the non-NMDA-receptor-mediated component with CNQX revealed a residual EPSC whose amplitude was 14.4% of the control value, whereas AP-5 alone reduced the control EPSC peak by 16.1%, both values were comparable with those obtained from curve fit estimates. 5. Previous work has shown that the presence of 4-aminopyridine-sensitive, A-like transient current in LDT cells is correlated with the cholinergic phenotype. The majority of cells in this study exhibited A-like transient currents that were blocked by 4-amino-pyridine, suggesting that the majority of the data were obtained from the cholinergic and NOS-containing neurons of the LDT nucleus. 6. These experiments demonstrate the synaptic activation of functional NMDA and non-NMDA receptors in LDT neurons, and indicate that NMDA receptors contribute to fast excitatory transmission in these cells. The results suggest that afferents releasing excitatory amino acids may play an important role in controlling the state-dependent activity of LDT neurons.

Whole-cell voltage-clamp study of the fading of GABA-activated currents in acutely dissociated hippocampal neurons

1986 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Huguenard ◽  
B. E. Alger
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Voltage Clamp ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Cell Voltage ◽  
Membrane Properties ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Spinal Cord Neurons ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
Whole Cell Voltage Clamp

The lability of the responses of mammalian central neurons to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was studied using neurons acutely dissociated from the CA1 region of the adult guinea pig hippocampus as a model system. GABA was applied to the neuronal somata by pressure ejection and the resulting current (IGABA) recorded under whole-cell voltage clamp. In initial experiments we examined several basic properties of cells in this preparation. Our data confirm that passive and active membrane properties are similar to those which characterize cells in other preparations. In addition, GABA-dependent conductance (gGABA), reversal potential (EGABA), and the interaction of GABA with pentobarbital and bicuculline all appeared to be normal. Dendritic GABA application could cause depolarizing GABA responses, and somatic GABA application caused hyperpolarizations due to chloride (Cl-) movements. Repetitive brief applications (5-15 ms) of GABA (10(-5) to 10(-3) M) at a frequency of 0.5 Hz led to fading of successive peaks of IGABA until, at a given holding potential, a steady state was reached in which IGABA no longer changed. Imposing voltage steps lasting seconds during a train of steady-state GABA responses led initially to increased IGABA that then diminished with maintenance of the step voltage. The rate of decrease of IGABA at each new holding potential was independent of the polarity of the step in holding potential but was highly dependent on the rate of GABA application. Application rates as low as 0.05 Hz led to fading of IGABA, even with activation of relatively small conductances (5-15 nS). Since IGABA evoked by somatic GABA application in these cells is carried by Cl-, the Cl- equilibrium potential (ECl) is equal to the reversal potential for IGABA, i.e., to EGABA. The fading of IGABA with changes in holding potential can be almost entirely accounted for by a shift in ECl resulting from transmembrane flux of Cl- through the GABA-activated conductance. Maneuvers that prevent changes in the intracellular concentration of Cl-ions, [Cl-]i, including holding the membrane potential at EGABA during repetitive GABA application or buffering [Cl-]i with high pipette [Cl-], prevent changes in EGABA. Desensitization of the GABA response (an actual decrease in gGABA) occurs in these neurons during prolonged application of GABA (greater than 1 s) but with a slower time course than changes in EGABA. Whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques applied to tissue-cultured spinal cord neurons indicated that rapid shifts in EGABA result from repetitive GABA application in these cells as well.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Membrane Conductance and Current-Voltage Relation in the Squid Axon Under ‘Voltage-Clamp’

1958 ◽  
Vol 193 (2) ◽  
pp. 318-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Tasaki ◽  
C. S. Spyropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Excited State ◽  
Voltage Clamp ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Membrane Conductance ◽  
Membrane Current ◽  
Sinusoidal Wave ◽  
Squid Axon ◽  
Axon Membrane ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Current Voltage Relation

The conductance of the squid axon membrane under ‘voltage-clamp’ was measured by superposing a sinusoidal wave upon rectangular clamping voltage pulses. It was possible to determine the time course of the emf of the membrane under ‘voltage-clamp’ on a single photographic record showing the membrane current together with the simultaneously recorded membrane conductance. The properties of the membrane in the mixed state, in which only a portion of the axon membrane is in the excited state, were investigated by the same method. The property of the weak variable inward membrane current which preceded the appearance of discrete inward surges was investigated.

Measurement of a Steady State Current in the Dark in Photoreceptors of the Barnacle

1973 ◽  
Vol 28 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 597-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christof C. Krischer ◽  
D. Hupp
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Optic Nerve ◽  
Dark Current ◽  
Receptor Potential ◽  
Air Gap ◽  
Induced Current ◽  
Similar Magnitude ◽  
Plateau Phase ◽  
Lateral Eye ◽  
Steady State Current

Abstract Receptor potentials are measured extracellularly by means of an air gap method along the optic nerve of the median and the lateral photoreceptor of the barnacle. Both photoreceptors have an outward dark current (photoreceptor positive with respect to the nerve) which is diminished ap­proximately 70% during the plateau phase of the receptor potential. Ouabain abolishes dark current and receptor potential in the same proportion. With a Limulus lateral eye preparation a dark cur­rent and light induced current changes were measured which had the same polarity and a similar magnitude as the receptor currents of the barnacle.

scholarly journals Characterization of the inward-rectifying potassium current in cat ventricular myocytes.

1988 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 593-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
R D Harvey ◽  
R E Ten Eick
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Voltage Dependence ◽  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Inward Current ◽  
Steady State Current ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
K Current ◽  
K Concentration

Whole-cell membrane currents were measured in isolated cat ventricular myocytes using a suction-electrode voltage-clamp technique. An inward-rectifying current was identified that exhibited a time-dependent activation. The peak current appeared to have a linear voltage dependence at membrane potentials negative to the reversal potential. Inward current was sensitive to K channel blockers. In addition, varying the extracellular K+ concentration caused changes in the reversal potential and slope conductance expected for a K+ current. The voltage dependence of the chord conductance exhibited a sigmoidal relationship, increasing at more negative membrane potentials. Increasing the extracellular K+ concentration increased the maximal level of conductance and caused a shift in the relationship that was directly proportional to the change in reversal potential. Activation of the current followed a monoexponential time course, and the time constant of activation exhibited a monoexponential dependence on membrane potential. Increasing the extracellular K+ concentration caused a shift of this relationship that was directly proportional to the change in reversal potential. Inactivation of inward current became evident at more negative potentials, resulting in a negative slope region of the steady state current-voltage relationship between -140 and -180 mV. Steady state inactivation exhibited a sigmoidal voltage dependence, and recovery from inactivation followed a monoexponential time course. Removing extracellular Na+ caused a decrease in the slope of the steady state current-voltage relationship at potentials negative to -140 mV, as well as a decrease of the conductance of inward current. It was concluded that this current was IK1, the inward-rectifying K+ current found in multicellular cardiac preparations. The K+ and voltage sensitivity of IK1 activation resembled that found for the inward-rectifying K+ currents in frog skeletal muscle and various egg cell preparations. Inactivation of IK1 in isolated ventricular myocytes was viewed as being the result of two processes: the first involves a voltage-dependent change in conductance; the second involves depletion of K+ from extracellular spaces. The voltage-dependent component of inactivation was associated with the presence of extracellular Na+.

Intrinsic properties of deep dorsal horn neurons in the L6-S1 spinal cord of the intact rat

1995 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 1819-1827 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Jiang ◽  
C. L. Cleland ◽  
G. F. Gebhart
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Dorsal Horn ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Inward Rectification ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Steady State Current ◽  
Current Passage

1. Stable intracellular recordings were obtained from neurons (n = 62) in the L6-S1 deep dorsal horn of the spinal cord in pentobarbital-sodium-anesthetized, intact rats (n = 26). All neurons responded to natural mechanical stimuli and/or electrical stimulation of peripheral afferents. 2. Intracellular penetrations were maintained for 30 min-2 h. Action potentials occurred spontaneously in most neurons (n = 50) and could be evoked in the remainder (n = 12) by depolarizing current passage. Mean resting membrane potential was -60.9 mV, mean action potential height amplitude was 75.2 mV, mean half-width of the action potentials was 0.33 ms, mean input resistance was 38 M omega, and mean time constant was 9.1 ms. 3. Action potentials were followed by afterpotentials made up of at least three components; a fast afterhyperpolarization (fAHP), a slow afterhyperpolarization (sAHP), and an afterdepolarization (ADP). Most neurons (n = 40) exhibited all three afterpotentials, although some displayed only a fAHP and an ADP (n = 10) or a fAHP and a sAHP (n = 12). The durations and magnitudes of the afterpotentials varied widely among neurons. 4. Steady-state current-voltage relations were investigated in 14 neurons with depolarizing and hyperpolarizing current pulses. Of these 14 neurons, 5 exhibited inward rectification, 3 had outward rectification, and the remaining 6 showed a predominantly linear change of membrane potential to current injection. In addition, several neurons (n = 9) exhibited a postinhibitory rebound that was sometimes (n = 4) accompanied by a "sag" in voltage during the preceding hyperpolarizing current step. 5. Four patterns of spike frequency adaptation occurred during step depolarizing current passage. The firing of most neurons gradually decreased with a simple, approximately exponential time course (n = 21), in some neurons it decreased with both a fast and a slow time course (n = 8), in several it incremented in rate (n = 3), and one neuron showed a complex combination of multiple decrementing and incrementing adaptations. Time constants, magnitude of adaptation, and the slopes of the steady-state current-voltage relation varied widely. 6. Oscillations in membrane potential and firing rate occurred in three neurons. The oscillations arose from endogenous mechanisms in at least one neuron because manipulation of membrane potentials altered the frequency of oscillation; a depolarizing current increased the period of oscillation and eventually produced tonic firing, and a hyperpolarizing current increased the frequency of oscillation and eventually terminated firing. 7. The results demonstrate that neurons in the L6-S1 region of the dorsal horn exhibit a diversity of cellular mechanisms that may significantly modulate normal somatosensory and visceral input.

scholarly journals Current-Voltage Relations in the Lobster Giant Axon Membrane Under Voltage Clamp Conditions

1962 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1217-1238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred J. Julian ◽  
John W. Moore ◽  
David E. Goldman
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Voltage Clamp ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Giant Axon ◽  
Squid Axon ◽  
Initial Current ◽  
Axon Membrane ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Steady State Current

The sucrose-gap method introduced by Stämpfli provides a means for the application of a voltage clamp to the lobster giant axon, which responds to a variety of different experimental procedures in ways quite similar to those reported for the squid axon and frog node. This is particularly true for the behavior of the peak initial current. However, the steady state current shows some differences. It has a variable slope conductance less than that of the peak initial current. The magnitude of the steady state slope conductance is related to the length of the repolarization phase of the action potential, which does not have an undershoot in the lobster. The steady state outward current is maintained for as long as 100 msec.; this is in contrast to a decline of about 50 per cent in the squid axon. Lowering the external calcium concentration produces shifts in the current-voltage relations qualitatively similar to those obtained from the squid axon. On the basis of the data available, there is no reason to doubt that the Hodgkin and Huxley analysis for the squid giant axon in sea water can be applied to the lobster giant axon.

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