scholarly journals Calcium currents in embryonic and neonatal mammalian skeletal muscle.

1988 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
pp. 781-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
K G Beam ◽  
C M Knudson

The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to study the properties of inward ionic currents found in primary cultures of rat and mouse skeletal myotubes and in freshly dissociated fibers of the flexor digitorum brevis muscle of rats. In each of these cell types, test depolarizations from the holding potential (-80 or -90 mV) elicited three distinct inward currents: a sodium current (INa) and two calcium currents. INa was the dominant inward current: under physiological conditions, the maximum inward INa was estimated to be at least 30-fold larger than either of the calcium currents. The two calcium currents have been termed Ifast and Islow, corresponding to their relative rates of activation. Ifast was activated by test depolarizations to around -40 mV and above, peaked in 10-20 ms, and decayed to baseline in 50-100 ms. Islow was activated by depolarizations to approximately 0 mV and above, peaked in 50-150 ms, and decayed little during a 200-ms test pulse. Ifast was inactivated by brief, moderate depolarizations; for a 1-s change in holding potential, half-inactivation occurred at -55 to -45 mV and complete inactivation occurred at -40 to -30 mV. Similar changes in holding potential had no effect on Islow. Islow was, however, inactivated by brief, strong depolarizations (e.g., 0 mV for 2 s) or maintained, moderate depolarizations (e.g., -40 mV for 60 s). Substitution of barium for calcium had little effect on the magnitude or time course of either Ifast or Islow. The same substitution shifted the activation curve for Islow approximately 10 mV in the hyperpolarizing direction without affecting the activation of Ifast. At low concentrations (50 microM), cadmium preferentially blocked Islow compared with Ifast, while at high concentrations (1 mM), it blocked both Ifast and Islow completely. The dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist (+)-PN 200-110 (1 microM) caused a nearly complete block of Islow without affecting Ifast. At a holding potential of -80 mV, the half-maximal blocking concentration (K0.5) for the block of Islow by (+)-PN 200-110 was 182 nM. At depolarized holding potentials that inactivated Islow by 35-65%, K0.5 decreased to 5.5 nM.

1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (3) ◽  
pp. F552-F559 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Volk ◽  
C. Zhang ◽  
R. F. Husted ◽  
J. B. Stokes

The hypertonic environment of the renal medulla can change rapidly according to the state of hydration of the animal. We used primary cultures of rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells to investigate the characteristics of Cl- currents activated by an acute reduction in osmolarity (ICl(osm)). Using the whole cell patch-clamp technique, we identified an outwardly rectifying current that decayed slowly at strongly depolarizing voltages. The onset of ICl(osm) began 6.7 min after the fall in bath osmolarity, a delay longer than reported in other cell types. Hypotonicity did not induce an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, and activation of ICl(osm) did not require the presence of Ca2+. Intracellular ATP was needed to evoke ICl(osm) when the hypotonic stimulus was modest (50 mosmol/l or less) but was not necessary when the stimulus was stronger (100 mosmol/ l). ICl(osm) was inhibited by 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid but not by tamoxifen or glibenclamide. 4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid produced a voltage-dependent block. Acute reduction in osmolarity using cells grown on filters did not induce a Cl- secretory current. The ICl(osm) of IMCD cells appears to be on the basolateral membrane and displays some unique features.


1995 ◽  
Vol 198 (7) ◽  
pp. 1483-1492 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Chrachri

Ionic currents from freshly isolated and identified swimmeret motor neurones were characterized using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Two outward currents could be distinguished. A transient outward current was elicited by delivering depolarizing voltage steps from a holding potential of -80 mV. This current was inactivated by holding the cells at a potential of -40 mV and was also blocked completely by 4-aminopyridine. A second current had a sustained time course and continued to be activated at a holding potential of -40 mV. This current was partially blocked by tetraethylammonium. These outward currents resembled two previously described potassium currents: the K+ A-current and the delayed K+ rectifier current respectively. Two inward currents were also detected. A fast transient current was blocked by tetrodotoxin and inactivated at holding potential of -40 mV, suggesting that this is an inward Na+ current. A second inward current had a sustained time course and was affected neither by tetrodotoxin nor by holding the cell at a potential of -40 mV. This current was substantially enhanced by the addition of Ba2+ to the bath or when equimolar Ba2+ replaced Ca2+ as the charge carrier. Furthermore, this current was significantly suppressed by nifedipine. All these points suggest that this is an L-type Ca2+ current. Bath application of nifedipine into an isolated swimmeret preparation affected both the frequency of the swimmeret rhythm and the duration of power-stroke activity, suggesting an important role for the inward Ca2+ current in maintaining a regular swimmeret rhythmic activity in crayfish.


1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (6) ◽  
pp. H1810-H1818
Author(s):  
M. R. Gold ◽  
G. R. Strichartz

Acute effects of repetitive depolarization on the inward Na+ current (INa) of cultured embryonic chick atrial cells were studied using the whole cell patch-clamp technique. Stimulation rates of 1 Hz or greater produced a progressive decrement of peak INa. With depolarizations to 0 mV of 150-ms duration, applied at 2 Hz from a holding potential of -100 mV, the steady-state decrement was approximately 20%. The magnitude of this effect increased with stimulation frequency and with test potential depolarization and decreased with membrane hyperpolarization. Analysis of INa kinetics revealed that reactivation was sufficiently slow to preclude complete recovery from inactivation with interpulse intervals less than 1,000 ms. Moreover, reactivation accelerated markedly with membrane hyperpolarization, in parallel with the response to repetitive stimulation. The multiexponential time course of recovery of peak INa from repetitive depolarization was similar to that observed after single stimuli; however, there was a shift toward a greater proportion of current recovering with the slower of two time constants. It is concluded that incomplete recovery from inactivation is responsible for the decrement in INa observed with short interpulse intervals.


1991 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Castellano ◽  
J López-Barneo

Voltage-gated Na+ and Ca2+ conductances of freshly dissociated septal neurons were studied in the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. All cells exhibited a large Na+ current with characteristic fast activation and inactivation time courses. Half-time to peak current at -20 mV was 0.44 +/- 0.18 ms and maximal activation of Na+ conductance occurred at 0 mV or more positive membrane potentials. The average value was 91 +/- 32 nS (approximately 11 mS cm-2). At all membrane voltages inactivation was well fitted by a single exponential that had a time constant of 0.44 +/- 0.09 ms at 0 mV. Recovery from inactivation was complete in approximately 900 ms at -80 mV but in only 50 ms at -120 mV. The decay of Na+ tail currents had a single time constant that at -80 mV was faster than 100 microseconds. Depolarization of septal neurons also elicited a Ca2+ current that peaked in approximately 6-8 ms. Maximal peak Ca2+ current was obtained at 20 mV, and with 10 mM external Ca2+ the amplitude was 0.35 +/- 0.22 nA. During a maintained depolarization this current partially inactivated in the course of 200-300 ms. The Ca2+ current was due to the activity of two types of conductances with different deactivation kinetics. At -80 mV the closing time constants of slow (SD) and fast (FD) deactivating channels were, respectively, 1.99 +/- 0.2 and 0.11 +/- 0.03 ms (25 degrees C). The two kinds of channels also differed in their activation voltage, inactivation time course, slope of the conductance-voltage curve, and resistance to intracellular dialysis. The proportion of SD and FD channels varied from cell to cell, which may explain the differential electrophysiological responses of intracellularly recorded septal neurons.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdesslam Chrachri

AbstractWhole-cell patch-clamp recordings from identified centrifugal neurons of the optic lobe in a slice preparation allowed the characterization of five voltage-dependent currents; two outward and three inward currents. The outward currents were; the 4-aminopyridine-sensitive transient potassium or A-current (IA), the TEA-sensitive sustained current or delayed rectifier (IK). The inward currents were; the tetrodotoxin-sensitive transient current or sodium current (INa). The second is the cobalt- and cadmium-sensitive sustained current which is enhanced by barium and blocked by the dihydropyridine antagonist, nifedipine suggesting that it could be the L-type calcium current (ICaL). Finally, another transient inward current, also carried by calcium, but unlike the L-type, this current is activated at more negative potentials and resembles the low-voltage-activated or T-type calcium current (ICaT) of other preparations.Application of the neuropeptide FMRFamide caused a significant attenuation to the peak amplitude of both sodium and sustained calcium currents without any apparent effect on the transient calcium current. Furthermore, FMRFamide also caused a reduction of both outward currents in these centrifugal neurons. The fact that FMRFamide reduced the magnitude of four of five characterized currents could suggest that this neuropeptide may act as a strong inhibitory agent on these neurons.SummaryFMRFamide modulate the ionic currents in identified centrifugal neurons in the optic lobe of cuttlefish: thus, FMRFamide could play a key role in visual processing of these animals.


1994 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Löhrke ◽  
Hans-Dieter Hofmann

AbstractIn monolayer cultures prepared from immature early postnatal rabbit retina, small populations of neurons can be demonstrated to differentiate into apparently mature A- and B-type horizontal cells. Using wholecell, single-channel, patch-clamp recording techniques, we have analyzed the pattern of voltage-gated conductances expressed by mammalian horizontal cells under these conditions. A total of six different voltage-dependent ionic currents were recorded. Tetrodotoxin-sensitive fast sodium inward currents (INa) were found in 81% of the A-type and 90% of the B-type cells. Inward calcium currents could be demonstrated in all cells tested after blockade of other conductances. Two types of outward potassium currents with properties of the 4–aminopyridine-sensitive transient IA and the tetraethylammonium sensitive delayed rectifier IK, respectively, could be characterized in whole-cell recordings. An inward rectifying potassium current (Ianom) typical for horizontal cells was activated in response to hyperpolarizing voltage steps. These types of currents have also been described in dissociated adult horizontal cells from lower vertebrates and cat. With single-channel recordings on inside-out patches excised from B-type cells, an additional Ca2+-dependent current (IK(Ca)) was observed which, so far, has not been described in horizontal cells developing in situ. Our results demonstrate that cultured rabbit horizontal cells express a set of voltage-gated currents which largely, but not completely, corresponds to that described in situ for horizontal cells of other species. The culture system will allow further investigation of developmental and functional aspects of mammalian horizontal cells.


2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 2349-2354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ansalan Stewart ◽  
Robert C. Foehring

Our previous studies of calcium (Ca2+) currents in cortical pyramidal cells revealed that the percentage contribution of each Ca2+ current type to the whole cell Ca2+ current varies from cell to cell. The extent to which these currents are modulated by neurotransmitters is also variable. This study was directed at testing the hypothesis that a major source of this variability is recording from multiple populations of pyramidal cells. We used the whole cell patch-clamp technique to record from dissociated corticocortical, corticostriatal, and corticotectal projecting pyramidal cells. There were significant differences between the three pyramidal cell types in the mean percentage of L-, P-, and N-type Ca2+ currents. For both N- and P-type currents, the range of percentages expressed was small for corticostriatal and corticotectal cells as compared with cells which project to the corpus callosum or to the general population. The variance was significantly different between cell types for N- and P-type currents. These results suggest that an important source of the variability in the proportions of Ca2+ current types present in neocortical pyramidal neurons is recording from multiple populations of pyramidal cells.


1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (2) ◽  
pp. G370-G376 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Bielefeldt ◽  
L. Waite ◽  
F. M. Abboud ◽  
J. L. Conklin

Previous experiments demonstrated that progesterone affects intestinal smooth muscle cells through genomic and nongenomic pathways. We hypothesized that the nongenomic effect was mediated by changes in membrane excitability. We studied the effects of progesterone and other steroid hormones on a human intestinal smooth muscle cell line, using the whole cell patch-clamp technique. Ionic currents were elicited through steps from -70 mV to various test potentials. Progesterone dose-dependently reduced calcium currents. The decrease in inward current was partly due to a shift in the steady-state inactivation to more hyperpolarized potentials. This effect did not involve gene transcription, since it was not blocked by the progesterone antagonist ZK-98-299. The progesterone analogue 5-beta-dihydroprogesterone also decreased calcium currents, whereas its stereoisomer, 5-alpha- dihydroprogesterone, did not affect the properties of voltage-sensitive ion channels. Similarly, estradiol and dexamethasone did not alter inward currents. We conclude that progestins exert their nongenomic effects on intestinal smooth muscle cells by decreasing calcium currents. The change in the calcium signal may contribute to the reduction in muscle contraction observed after progesterone.


1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (10) ◽  
pp. 1328-1336 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Krieger ◽  
T. A. Sears

The development of voltage-dependent ionic conductances of foetal mouse spinal cord neurones was examined using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique on neurones cultured from embryos aged 10–12 days (E10–E12) which were studied between the first day in vitro (V1) to V10. A delayed rectifier potassium conductance (IK) and a leak conductance were observed in neurones of E10.V1, E11, V1, and E12, V1 as well as in neurones cultured for longer periods. A rapidly activating and inactivating potassium conductance (IA) was seen in neurones from E11, V2 and E12, V1 and at longer times in vitro. A tetrodotoxin (TTX) sensitive sodium-dependent inward current was observed in neurones of E11 and E12 from V1 onwards. Calcium-dependent conductances were not detectable in these neurones unless the external calcium concentration was raised 10- to 20-foid and potassium conductances were blocked. Under these conditions calcium currents could be observed as early as E11, V3 and E12, V2 and at subsequent times in vitro. The pattern of development of voltage-dependent ionic conductances in murine spinal neurones is such that initially leak and potassium currents are present followed by sodium current and subsequently calcium current.


1997 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 3069-3076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettye Hollins ◽  
Stephen R. Ikeda

Hollins, Bettye and Stephen R. Ikeda. Heterologous expression of a P2 x -purinoceptor in rat chromaffin cells detects vesicular ATP release. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 3069–3076, 1997. A cloned P2 x -purinoceptor was transiently expressed in single isolated rat adrenal chromaffin cells and evaluated for the detection of released ATP. After cytoplasmic injection of the P2 x complementary RNA (cRNA; 4–24 h), application of ATP produced an inwardly rectifying current over the voltage range −130 to −10 mV as measured by the whole cell patch-clamp technique. The dose-response curve for ATP was sigmoidal with a 50% effective concentration of 18.2 μM. Suramin, a P2 x -antagonist, attenuated the ATP-induced current. Depolarizing voltage pulses to 0 mV or application of histamine, stimuli that trigger exocytosis, resulted in the appearance of suramin-sensitive spontaneous transient inward currents (at −60 mV) that resembled excitatory postsynaptic currents although they were slower in time course. Concurrent detection of catecholamine release with a carbon fiber electrode often showed coincidence of the amperometric current with the synaptic currentlike events suggesting that ATP and catecholamines were released from the same vessicle. These data demonstrate that expression of a P2 x -purinoceptor in chromaffin cells produces a functional autoreceptor capable of detecting vesicular release of ATP. In combination with carbon fiber amperometry, simultaneous vesicular release of two neurotransmitters from a single chromaffin cell could be monitored. The P2 x -purinoceptor, however, produced a regenerative effect on release apparently resulting from the high Ca2+ permeability of the receptor. Thus modification of the P2 x -purinoceptor would be required before the system could be applied to examining processes involved in stimulus-release coupling.


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