scholarly journals Physiological basis of a steady endogenous current in rat lumbrical muscle.

1984 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
W J Betz ◽  
J H Caldwell ◽  
S C Kinnamon
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Nonuniform Distribution ◽  
Ion Concentration ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Physiological Basis ◽  
Steady Current ◽  
Lumbrical Muscle

In an attempt to determine the mechanism by which rat skeletal muscle endplates generate a steady outward current, we measured the effects of several drugs (furosemide, bumetanide, 9-anthracene carboxylic acid [9-AC]) and changes in external ion concentration (Na+, K+, Cl-, Ba++) on resting membrane potential (Vm) and on the steady outward current. Each of the following treatments caused a 10-15-mV hyperpolarization of the membrane: replacement of extracellular Cl- with isethionate, addition of furosemide or bumetanide, and addition of 9-AC. These results suggest that Cl- is actively accumulated by the muscle fibers and that the equilibrium potential of Cl- is more positive than the membrane potential. Removal of external Na+ also caused a large hyperpolarization and is consistent with evidence in other tissues that active Cl- accumulation requires external Na+. The same treatments greatly reduced or abolished the steady outward current, with a time course that paralleled the changes in Vm. These results cannot be explained by a model in which the steady outward current is assumed to arise as a result of a nonuniform distribution of Na+ conductance, but they are consistent with models in which the steady current is produced by a nonuniform distribution of GCl or GK. Other treatments (Na+-free and K+-free solutions, and 50 microM BaCl2) caused a temporary reversal of the steady current. Parallel measurements of Vm suggested that in none of these cases did the electrochemical driving force for K+ change sign, which makes it unlikely that the steady current arises as a result of a nonuniform distribution of GK. All of the results, however, are consistent with a model in which the steady outward current arises as a result of a nonuniform distribution of Cl- conductance, with GCl lower near the endplate than in extrajunctional regions.

Ca2+-activated Cl− current in cultured myenteric neurons from murine proximal colon

2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (4) ◽  
pp. C839-C847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sok Han Kang ◽  
Pieter Vanden Berghe ◽  
Terence K. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Channel Blocker ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Proximal Colon ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Myenteric Neurons ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp

Whole cell patch-clamp recordings were made from cultured myenteric neurons taken from murine proximal colon. The micropipette contained Cs+ to remove K+ currents. Depolarization elicited a slowly activating time-dependent outward current ( I tdo), whereas repolarization was followed by a slowly deactivating tail current ( I tail). I tdo and I tail were present in ∼70% of neurons. We identified these currents as Cl− currents ( I Cl), because changing the transmembrane Cl− gradient altered the measured reversal potential ( E rev) of both I tdo and I tail with that for I tailshifted close to the calculated Cl− equilibrium potential ( E Cl). I Cl are Ca2+-activated Cl− current [ I Cl(Ca)] because they were Ca2+dependent. E Cl, which was measured from the E rev of I Cl(Ca) using a gramicidin perforated patch, was −33 mV. This value is more positive than the resting membrane potential (−56.3 ± 2.7 mV), suggesting myenteric neurons accumulate intracellular Cl−. ω-Conotoxin GIVA [0.3 μM; N-type Ca2+ channel blocker] and niflumic acid [10 μM; known I Cl(Ca) blocker], decreased the I Cl(Ca). In conclusion, these neurons have I Cl(Ca) that are activated by Ca2+entry through N-type Ca2+ channels. These currents likely regulate postspike frequency adaptation.

Conductance changes underlying a late synaptic hyperpolarization in hippocampal CA3 neurons

1987 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Hablitz ◽  
R. H. Thalmann
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Voltage Clamp ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Membrane Potentials ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Extracellular Potassium ◽  
Voltage Sensitivity ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Membrane Hyperpolarization ◽  
Ca3 Neurons

1. Single-electrode current- and voltage-clamp techniques were employed to study properties of the conductance underlying an orthodromically evoked late synaptic hyperpolarization or late inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) in CA3 pyramidal neurons in the rat hippocampal slice preparation. 2. Late IPSPs could occur without preceding excitatory postsynaptic potentials at the resting membrane potential and were graded according to the strength of the orthodromic stimulus. The membrane hyperpolarization associated with the late IPSP peaked within 140-200 ms after orthodromic stimulation of mossy fiber afferents. The late IPSP returned to base line with a half-decay time of approximately 200 ms. 3. As determined from constant-amplitude hyperpolarizing-current pulses, the membrane conductance increase during the late IPSP, and the time course of its decay, were similar whether measurements were made near the resting membrane potential or when the cell was hyperpolarized by approximately 35 mV. 4. When 1 mM cesium was added to the extracellular medium to reduce inward rectification, late IPSPs could be examined over a range of membrane potentials from -60 to -140 mV. For any given neuron, the late IPSP amplitude-membrane potential relationship was linear over the same range of membrane potentials for which the slope input resistance was constant. The late IPSP reversed symmetrically near -95 mV. 5. Intracellular injection of ethyleneglycol-bis-(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid or extracellular application of forskolin, procedures known to reduce or block certain calcium-dependent potassium conductances in CA3 neurons, had no significant effect on the late IPSP. 6. Single-electrode voltage-clamp techniques were used to analyze the time course and voltage sensitivity of the current underlying the late IPSP. This current [the late inhibitory postsynaptic current (IPSC)] began as early as 25 ms after orthodromic stimulation and reached a peak 120-150 ms following stimulation. 7. The late IPSC decayed with a single exponential time course (tau = 185 ms). 8. A clear reversal of the late IPSC at approximately -99 mV was observed in a physiological concentration of extracellular potassium (3.5 mM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Membrane depolarization in PC-12 cells during hypoxia is regulated by an O2-sensitive K+ current

1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (2) ◽  
pp. C658-C665 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. H. Zhu ◽  
L. Conforti ◽  
M. F. Czyzyk-Krzeska ◽  
D. E. Millhorn
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Cell Voltage ◽  
Membrane Depolarization ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Current Clamp ◽  
Pc 12 Cells ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
K Current

The effects of hypoxia on K+ current (IK), resting membrane potential, and cytosolic free Ca2+ in rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells were studied. Whole cell voltage- and current-clamp experiments were performed to measure IK and membrane potential, respectively. Cytosolic free Ca2+ level was measured using the Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent dye fura 2. Depolarizing voltage steps to +50 mV from a holding potential of -90 mV elicited a slowly inactivating, tetraethylammonium chloride-sensitive, and Ca(2+)-insensitive IK that was reversibly inhibited by reduced O2 tension. Graded reduction in PO2 (from 150 to 0 mmHg) induced a graded inhibition of O2-sensitive IK [IK(O2)] up to 46% at 0 mmHg. Moreover, hypoxia induced a 19-mV membrane depolarization and a twofold increase in cytosolic free Ca2+. In Ca(2+)-free condition, inhibition of IK(O2) induced an 8-mV depolarization, suggesting that inhibition of IK(O2) was responsible for initiating depolarization. The effect of reduced PO2 on the current-voltage relationship showed a reduction of outward current and a 14-mV shift in the reversal potential comparable with the amount of depolarization measured in current clamp experiments. Neither Ca(2+)-activated IK nor inwardly rectifying IK are responsible for the hypoxia-induced depolarization. In conclusion, PC-12 cells express an IK(O2), inhibition of which leads to membrane depolarization and increased intracellular Ca2+, making the PC-12 clonal cell line a useful model for studying the molecular and biophysical mechanisms that mediate O2 chemosensitivity.

scholarly journals Depletion and accumulation of potassium in the extracellular clefts of cardiac Purkinje fibers during voltage clamp hyperpolarization and depolarization: experiments in sodium-free bathing media.

1977 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
C M Baumgarten ◽  
G Isenberg ◽  
T F McDonald ◽  
R E Ten Eick
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Voltage Clamp ◽  
Driving Force ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Potassium Concentration ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Voltage Step ◽  
Purkinje Fibers ◽  
Cardiac Purkinje Fibers ◽  
Voltage Dependent

Voltage clamp hyperpolarization and depolarization result in currents consistent with depletion and accumulation of potassium in the extracellular clefts o cardiac Purkinje fibers exposed to sodium-free solutions. Upon hyperpolarization, an inward current that decreased with time (id) was observed. The time course of tail currents could not be explained by a conductance exhibiting voltage-dependent kinetics. The effect of exposure to cesium, changes in bathing media potassium concentration and osmolarity, and the behavior of membrane potential after hyperpolarizing pulses are all consistent with depletion of potassium upon hyperpolarization. A declining outward current was observed upon depolarization. Increasing the bathing media potassium concentration reduced the magnitude of this current. After voltage clamp depolarizations, membrane potential transiently became more positive. These findings suggest that accumulation of potassium occurs upon depolarization. The results indicate that changes in ionic driving force may be easily and rapidly induced. Consequently, conclusions based on the assumption that driving force remains constant during the course of a voltage step may be in error.

Electrophysiology of the mammillary complex in vitro. I. Tuberomammillary and lateral mammillary neurons

1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 1307-1320 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. Llinas ◽  
A. Alonso
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Lucifer Yellow ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Repetitive Firing ◽  
Inward Rectification ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Transient Outward Current ◽  
Mammillary Body ◽  
Pacemaker Current

1. The electrophysiological properties of the tuberomammillary and lateral mammillary neurons in the guinea pig mammillary body were studied using an in vitro brain slice preparation. 2. Tuberomammillary (n = 79) neurons were recorded mainly ventral to the lateral mammillary body as well as ventromedially to the fornix within the rostral part of the medial mammillary nucleus. Intracellular staining with horseradish peroxidase (n = 9) and Lucifer yellow (n = 3) revealed that these cells have several thick, long, spiny dendrites emerging from large (20-35 microns) fusiform somata. 3. Most tuberomammillary neurons (66%) fired spontaneously at a relatively low frequency (0.5-10 Hz) at the resting membrane potential. The action potentials were broad (2.3 ms) with a prominent Ca(2+)-dependent shoulder on the falling phase. Deep (17.8 mV), long-lasting spike afterhyperpolarizations were largely Ca(2+)-independent. 4. All tuberomammillary neurons recorded displayed pronounced delayed firing when the cells were activated from a potential negative to the resting level. The cells also displayed a delayed return to the baseline at the break of hyperpolarizing pulses applied from a membrane potential level close to firing threshold. Analysis of the voltage- and time dependence of this delayed rectification suggested the presence of a transient outward current similar to the A current (IA). These were not completely blocked by high concentrations of 4-aminopyridine, whereas the delayed onset of firing was always abolished when voltage-dependent Ca2+ conductances were blocked by superfusion with Cd2+. 5. Tuberomammillary neurons also displayed inward rectification in the hyperpolarizing and, primarily, depolarizing range. Block of voltage-gated Na(+)-dependent conductances with tetrodotoxin (TTX) selectively abolished inward rectification in the depolarizing range, indicating the presence of a persistent low-threshold sodium-dependent conductance (gNap). In fact, persistent TTX-sensitive, plateau potentials were always elicited following Ca2+ block with Cd2+ when K+ currents were reduced by superfusion with tetraethylammonium. 6. The gNap in tuberomammillary neurons may subserve the pacemaker current underlying the spontaneous firing of these cells. The large-amplitude spike afterhyperpolarization of these neurons sets the availability of the transient outward rectifier, which, in conjunction with the pacemaker current, establishes the rate at which membrane potential approaches spike threshold. 7. Repetitive firing elicited by direct depolarization enhanced the spike shoulder of tuberomammillary neurons. Spike trains were followed by a Ca(2+)-dependent, apamine-sensitive, slow afterhyperpolarization. 8. Lateral mammillary neurons were morphologically and electrophysiologically different from tuberomammillary neurons. All lateral mammillary neurons neurons recorded (n = 44) were silent at rest (-60 mV).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Physiological properties of primate lumbar motoneurons

1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 1121-1132 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Carp
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Action Potential ◽  
Cell Size ◽  
Current Pulse ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Action Potential Amplitude ◽  
Lateral Gastrocnemius ◽  
Potential Amplitude

1. Intracellular recordings were obtained from 149 motoneurons innervating triceps surae (n = 109) and more distal muscles (n = 40) in 14 pentobarbital-anesthetized monkeys (Macaca nemestrina). The variables evaluated were resting membrane potential, action potential amplitude, conduction velocity (CV), input resistance (RN), membrane time constant (tau m), electrotonic length (L), whole-cell capacitance (Ctot), long current pulse threshold (rheobase), short current pulse threshold (Ishort), afterhyperpolarization (AHP) maximum amplitude (AHPmax), AHP duration (AHPdur), time to half maximum AHP amplitude (AHP t1/2), depolarization from resting potential to elicit action potential (Vdep), and threshold voltage for action potential discharge (Vthr). 2. Mean values +/- SD for the entire sample of motoneurons are as follows: resting membrane potential -67 +/- 6 mV; action potential amplitude 75 +/- 7 mV; CV 71 +/- 6 m/s; RN 1.0 +/- 0.5 M omega; tau m 4.4 +/- 1.5 ms; L 1.4 +/- 0.2 lambda; Ctot 7.1 +/- 1.8 nF; rheobase 13 +/- 7 nA; Ishort 29 +/- 14 nA; AHPmax 3.5 +/- 1.3 mV; AHPdur 77 +/- 26 ms; AHP t 1/2 21 +/- 7 ms; Vdep 11 +/- 4 mV; and Vthr -56 +/- 5 mV. CV is lower in soleus than in either medial or lateral gastrocnemius motoneurons, and RN is lower and tau m is longer in soleus than in lateral gastrocnemius motoneurons. 3. RN is higher in motoneurons with longer tau m and slower CV. A linear relationship exists between log(CV) and log(1/RN) with a slope of 1.8-2.2 (depending on the action potential amplitude acceptance criteria used), suggesting that membrane resistivity (Rm) does not vary systematically with cell size. 4. Rheobase is higher in motoneurons with lower RN, longer tau m, shorter AHP time course, and higher CV. Ishort and normalized rheobase (i.e., rheobase/Ctot) vary similarly with these motoneuron properties, except that Ishort is independent of tau m and normalized rheobase is independent of CV. 5. Vthr tends to be more depolarized in motoneurons with large Ctot, but the relationship is sufficiently weak so that any systematic variation in Vthr according to cell size probably contributes only minimally to recruitment order. Vthr does not vary systematically with CV, AHP time course, RN, or tau m. 6. Quantitative differences between macaque and cat triceps surae motoneurons are apparent in CV, which is slower in macaque than in cat, and to a lesser extent in tau m and RN, which are lower in macaque than in cat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Ionic conductances of monkey solitary cone inner segments

1994 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 656-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Yagi ◽  
P. R. Macleish
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Potassium Current ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Light Response ◽  
Membrane Properties ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Ionic Conductances ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Tetraethylammonium Ions

1. The membrane properties of cone inner segments dissociated enzymatically from monkey retina were studied under voltage-clamp conditions using patch pipettes in the whole-cell clamp configuration. 2. A noninactivating, voltage-gated calcium current was evoked at potentials positive to -60 mV and peaked between -30 and -20 mV when barium was substituted for calcium. Cadmium (50 microM) but not nickel (50 microM) blocked the current. 3. A large calcium-activated anion current (IAn) was observed when the membrane potential was set to a level between -60 and 30 mV. The reversal potential of IAn was 0 mV with chloride as the sole anion and about -30 and -40 mV when methanesulfonate and D-aspartate, respectively, replaced intracellular chloride to set the equilibrium potential for chloride at -50 mV. IAn inactivated and oscillated when the membrane potential was maintained at depolarized levels, contrary to calcium-activated anionic currents seen in photoreceptors of other species. 4. A sustained-type potassium current was activated by depolarizations positive to -50 mV. The time course of activation and deactivation were voltage dependent. This potassium current was partially blocked by 20 mM tetraethylammonium ions. 5. A transient potassium current was activated by depolarizations positive to -20 mV. This current was blocked by 4-aminopyridine (2 mM) and inactivated with a time constant of approximately 500 ms. The amplitude in response to voltage steps to 45 mV was decreased by prepulses to voltages more positive than -30 mV. 6. Hyperpolarization negative to -65 mV activated an inward current that was completely blocked by external cesium (10 mM). The reversal potential suggested a conductance mechanism permeable to both sodium and potassium ions. 7. A calcium-activated potassium current, which was found in salamander photoreceptors, was not detected. 8. The presence of these conductances is expected to influence the membrane potential and the time course of the light response in monkey cones.

Generation of resting membrane potential

2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 139-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen H. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Animal Cell ◽  
Electrical Potential ◽  
Quantitative Relationship ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
First Year ◽  
General View ◽  
Electrical Potential Difference ◽  
Physiological Basis ◽  
Students First

This brief review is intended to serve as a refresher on the ideas associated with teaching students the physiological basis of the resting membrane potential. The presentation is targeted toward first-year medical students, first-year graduate students, or senior undergraduates. The emphasis is on general concepts associated with generation of the electrical potential difference that exists across the plasma membrane of every animal cell. The intention is to provide students a general view of the quantitative relationship that exists between 1) transmembrane gradients for K+ and Na+ and 2) the relative channel-mediated permeability of the membrane to these ions.

Membrane Resting Potential of Thalamocortical Relay Neurons Is Shaped by the Interaction Among TASK3 and HCN2 Channels

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 1517-1529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven G. Meuth ◽  
Tatyana Kanyshkova ◽  
Patrick Meuth ◽  
Peter Landgraf ◽  
Thomas Munsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Standard Procedure ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Immunocytochemical Staining ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Hcn Channels ◽  
Extracellular Acidification ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Task Channels

By combining molecular biological, electrophysiological, immunological, and computer modeling techniques, we here demonstrate a counterbalancing contribution of TASK channels, underlying hyperpolarizing K+ leak currents, and HCN channels, underlying depolarizing Ih, to the resting membrane potential of thalamocortical relay (TC) neurons. RT-PCR experiments revealed the expression of TASK1, TASK3, and HCN1–4. Quantitative determination of mRNA expression levels and immunocytochemical staining demonstrated that TASK3 and HCN2 channels represent the dominant thalamic isoforms and are coexpressed in TC neurons. Extracellular acidification, a standard procedure to inhibit TASK channels, blocked a TASK current masked by additional action on HCN channels. Only in the presence of the HCN blocker ZD7288 was the pH-sensitive component typical for a TASK current, i.e., outward rectification and current reversal at the K+ equilibrium potential. In a similar way extracellular acidification was able to shift the activity pattern of TC neurons from burst to tonic firing only during block of Ih or genetic knock out of HCN channels. A single compartmental computer model of TC neurons simulated the counterbalancing influence of TASK and HCN on the resting membrane potential. It is concluded that TASK3 and HCN2 channels stabilize the membrane potential by a mutual functional interaction, that the most efficient way to regulate the membrane potential of TC neurons is the converse modulation of TASK and HCN channels, and that TC neurons are potentially more resistant to insults accompanied by extracellular pH shifts in comparison to other CNS regions.

Chronic carbon monoxide enhanced IbTx-sensitive currents in rat resistance pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (1) ◽  
pp. L120-L129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Dubuis ◽  
Mathieu Gautier ◽  
Alexandre Melin ◽  
Manuel Rebocho ◽  
Catherine Girardin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Pulmonary Artery ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Membrane Resistance ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp

Exogenous carbon monoxide (CO) can induce pulmonary vasodilation by acting directly on pulmonary artery (PA) smooth muscle cells. We investigated the contribution of K+ channels to the regulation of resistance PA resting membrane potential on control (PAC) rats and rats exposed to CO for 3 wk at 530 parts/million, labeled as PACO rats. Whole cell patch-clamp experiments revealed that the resting membrane potential of PACO cells was more negative than that of PAC cells. This was associated with a decrease of membrane resistance in PACO cells. Additional analysis showed that outward current density in PACO cells was higher (50% at +60 mV) than in PAC cells. This was linked to an increase of iberiotoxin (IbTx)-sensitive current. Chronic CO hyperpolarized membrane of pressurized PA from −46.9 ± 1.2 to −56.4 ± 2.6 mV. Additionally, IbTx significantly depolarized membrane of smooth muscle cells from PACO arteries but not from PAC arteries. The present study provides initial evidence of an increase of Ca2+-activated K+ current in smooth muscle cells from PA of rats exposed to chronic CO.

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