scholarly journals Properties of calcium and potassium currents of clonal adrenocortical cells.

1989 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 495-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Tabares ◽  
J Ureña ◽  
J López-Barneo

The ionic currents of clonal Y-1 adrenocortical cells were studied using the whole-cell variant of the patch-clamp technique. These cells had two major current components: a large outward current carried by K ions, and a small inward Ca current. The Ca current depended on the activity of two populations of Ca channels, slow (SD) and fast (FD) deactivating, that could be separated by their different closing time constants (at -80 mV, SD, 3.8 ms, and FD, 0.13 ms). These two kinds of channels also differed in (a) activation threshold (SD, approximately -50 mV; FD, approximately -20 mV), (b) half-maximal activation (SD, between -15 and -10 mV; FD between +10 and +15 mV), and (c) inactivation time course (SD, fast; FD, slow). The total amplitude of the Ca current and the proportion of SD and FD channels varied from cell to cell. The amplitude of the K current was strongly dependent on the internal [Ca2+] and was almost abolished when internal [Ca2+] was less than 0.001 microM. The K current appeared to be independent, or only slightly dependent, of Ca influx. With an internal [Ca2+] of 0.1 microM, the activation threshold was -20 mV, and at +40 mV the half-time of activation was 9 ms. With 73 mM external K the closing time constant at -70 mV was approximately 3 ms. The outward current was also modulated by internal pH and Mg. At a constant pCa gamma a decrease of pH reduced the current amplitude, whereas the activation kinetics were not much altered. Removal of internal Mg produced a drastic decrease in the amplitude of the Ca-activated K current. It was also found that with internal [Ca2+] over 0.1 microM the K current underwent a time-dependent transformation characterized by a large increase in amplitude and in activation kinetics.

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1300
Author(s):  
Yi-Ching Lo ◽  
Chih-Lung Lin ◽  
Wei-Yu Fang ◽  
Bálint Lőrinczi ◽  
István Szatmári ◽  
...  

Kynurenic acid (KYNA, 4-oxoquinoline-2-carboxylic acid), an intermediate of the tryptophan metabolism, has been recognized to exert different neuroactive actions; however, the need of how it or its aminoalkylated amide derivative N-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-3-(morpholinomethyl)-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-2-carboxamide (KYNA-A4) exerts any effects on ion currents in excitable cells remains largely unmet. In this study, the investigations of how KYNA and other structurally similar KYNA derivatives have any adjustments on different ionic currents in pituitary GH3 cells and hippocampal mHippoE-14 neurons were performed by patch-clamp technique. KYNA or KYNA-A4 increased the amplitude of M-type K+ current (IK(M)) and concomitantly enhanced the activation time course of the current. The EC50 value required for KYNA- or KYNA-A4 -stimulated IK(M) was yielded to be 18.1 or 6.4 μM, respectively. The presence of KYNA or KYNA-A4 shifted the relationship of normalized IK(M)-conductance versus membrane potential to more depolarized potential with no change in the gating charge of the current. The voltage-dependent hysteretic area of IK(M) elicited by long-lasting triangular ramp pulse was observed in GH3 cells and that was increased during exposure to KYNA or KYNA-A4. In cell-attached current recordings, addition of KYNA raised the open probability of M-type K+ channels, along with increased mean open time of the channel. Cell exposure to KYNA or KYNA-A4 mildly inhibited delayed-rectifying K+ current; however, neither erg-mediated K+ current, hyperpolarization-activated cation current, nor voltage-gated Na+ current in GH3 cells was changed by KYNA or KYNA-A4. Under whole-cell, current-clamp recordings, exposure to KYNA or KYNA-A4 diminished the frequency of spontaneous action potentials; moreover, their reduction in firing frequency was attenuated by linopirdine, yet not by iberiotoxin or apamin. In hippocampal mHippoE-14 neurons, the addition of KYNA also increased the IK(M) amplitude effectively. Taken together, the actions presented herein would be one of the noticeable mechanisms through which they modulate functional activities of excitable cells occurring in vivo.


1992 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 1301-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Meyers ◽  
R. A. Graf ◽  
I. M. Cooke

1. The X-organ sinus gland is a major peptidergic neurosecretory system in Crustacea, analogous to the vertebrate hypothalamoneurohypophyseal system. Neuronal somata isolated from the crab (Cardisoma carnifex) X-organ and maintained in primary culture in unconditioned, fully defined medium show immediate regenerative outgrowth. Outgrowth occurring as broad lamellipodia ("veiled") distinguishes neurons consistently showing crustacean hyperglycemic hormone immunoreactivity. Neurons that are immunoreactive against molt-inhibiting hormone and red pigment concentrating hormone antisera give rise to branched neurites ("branched"). 2. The whole-cell variation of the patch-clamp technique was used to study the electrophysiology of these two cell types 24-48 h after plating. Under current clamp, only veiled neurons fired overshooting action potentials either spontaneously or in response to depolarization. 3. Under voltage clamp, net current was predominantly outward. When solutions that suppressed outward current were used, only veiled neurons showed significant inward current. These included a tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive Na current and a slow (time to peak 6-10 ms at 0 mV) Cd-sensitive Ca current (ICa) that was activated at potentials less than -30 mV, was maximal at 0 to +20 mV, and did not reverse at potentials up to +60 mV. 4. In TTX, the form of the Ca current I(V) curve was unchanged by changes of holding potential between -40 and -80 mV, and 75-100% of ICa was available from -40 mV. 5. ICa inactivated slowly and incompletely. Analysis with two-pulse regimes suggested that both inactivation and facilitation mechanisms were present. 6. Outward current was examined in the presence and absence of 0.5 mM Cd2+ (1 microM TTX was always present in the external medium). Cd2+ ions slightly reduced the peak outward current, usually by less than 10% (Vc = -10 to +20 mV; Vh = -80 mV). All additional observations were in the presence of TTX and Cd2+. 7. Both cell types expressed a 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-sensitive transient current, analogous to IA, and a slower-rising (minimum time to peak 20 ms), sustained current that was partially sensitive to tetraethylammonium, analogous to IK. 8. The mean Vh at which IA was half inactivated was -46 mV, and the mean time constant for removal of inactivation was 46 ms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


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.


1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (2) ◽  
pp. C375-C382 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Post ◽  
R. J. Stevens ◽  
K. M. Sanders ◽  
J. R. Hume

The effects of cromakalim (BRL 34915) and its optical isomer lemakalim (BRL 38227) were investigated in intact tissue and freshly dispersed circular muscle cells from canine proximal colon. Cromakalim and lemakalim hyperpolarized resting membrane potential, shortened the duration of slow waves by abolishing the plateau phase, and decreased the frequency of slow waves. Glyburide, a K channel blocker, prevented the effect of cromakalim on slow-wave activity. The mechanisms of these alterations in slow-wave activity were studied in isolated myocytes under voltage-clamp conditions. Cromakalim and lemakalim increased the magnitude of a time-independent outward K current, but cromakalim also reduced the peak outward K current. Glyburide inhibited lemakalim stimulation of the time-independent background current. Nisoldipine also reduced the peak outward current, and in the presence of nisoldipine, cromakalim did not affect the peak outward component of current. This suggested that cromakalim may block a Ca-dependent component of the outward current. Lemakalim did not affect the peak outward current. We tested whether the effects of cromakalim on outward current might be indirect due to an effect on inward Ca current. Cromakalim, but not lemakalim, was found to inhibit L-type Ca channels; however, glyburide did not alter cromakalim inhibition of inward Ca current. We conclude that the effects of cromakalim and lemakalim on membrane potential and slow waves in colonic smooth muscle appear to result primarily from stimulation of a time-independent background K conductance. The effects of these compounds on channel activity may explain the inhibitory effect of these compounds on contractile activity.


1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Grolleau ◽  
B. Lapied

1. Whole cell voltage-clamp studies performed in isolated adult neurosecretory cells identified as dorsal unpaired median (DUM) neurons of the terminal abdominal ganglion of the cockroach Periplaneta americana have allowed us to reveal a complex voltage-dependent outward current regulating the pacemaker activity. 2. The global outward current remaining after tetrodotoxin treatment was activated by depolarization above -50 mV, showing steep voltage dependence and outward rectification. 3. We used tail current analysis to determine the ionic selectivity of this outward current. The reversal potentials for two extracellular potassium concentrations (-92.7 and -65.4 mV for 3.1 and 10 mM, respectively) is consistent with the expected equilibrium potential for potassium ions. 4. Both peak and sustained components of the global outward K+ current were reduced by external application of 20 mM tetraethylammonium chloride, 10 nM iberiotoxin, 1 nM charybdotoxin (CTX) and 1 mM cadmium chloride. Subtraction of current recorded in CTX solution from that in control solution revealed an unusual biphasic Ca(2+)-dependent K+ current. The fast transient current resistant to 5 mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) is distinguished by its dependence on holding potential and time course from the late sustained current. 5. In addition, two other components of CTX-resistant outward K+ current could be separated by sensitivity to 4-AP, time course, and voltage dependence. Beside a calcium-independent delayed outwardly rectifying current, a 4-AP-sensitive fast transient current resembling the A-current has been also identified. It activates at negative potential (about -65 mV) and unlike the A-current of other neurons, it inactivates rapidly with complex inactivation kinetics. A-like current is half-inactivated at -63.5 mV and half-activated at -35.6 mV. 6. Our findings demonstrate for the first time in DUM neuron cell bodies the existence of multiple potassium currents underlying the spontaneous electrical activity. Their identification and characterization represent a fundamental step in further understanding the pacemaker properties of these insect neurosecretory cells.


1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (1) ◽  
pp. L145-L154 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Vandier ◽  
M. Delpech ◽  
P. Bonnet

Single smooth muscle cells of rabbit intrapulmonary artery were voltage clamped using the perforated-patch configuration of the patch-clamp technique. We observed spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) and a steady-state outward current. Because STOCs were tetraethylammonium sensitive and activated by Ca2+ influx, they were believed to represent activation of Ca2+-activated K+ channels. The steady-state outward current, which was sensitive to 4-aminopyridine, was the delayed rectifier K+ current. In cells voltage clamped at 0 mV, we found that STOCs were not randomly distributed in amplitude but were composed of multiples of 1.57 ± 0.56 pA/pF. The mean frequency of STOCs was 5.51 ± 3.49 Hz. Ryanodine (10 μM), caffeine (5 mM), thapsigargin (200 nM), and hypoxia [Formula: see text] = 10 mmHg) decreased STOCs. The effect of hypoxia on STOCs was partially reversible only if the experiment was conducted in the presence of thapsigargin. Hypoxia and thapsigargin decrease steady-state outward current. Thapsigargin and removal of external Ca2+abolished the effect of hypoxia, suggesting that hypoxia decreases steady-state outward current by a Ca2+-dependent mechanism.


1986 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
pp. 777-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
J R Hume ◽  
W Giles ◽  
K Robinson ◽  
E F Shibata ◽  
R D Nathan ◽  
...  

Individual myocytes were isolated from bullfrog atrium by enzymatic and mechanical dispersion, and a one-microelectrode voltage clamp was used to record the slow outward K+ currents. In normal [K+]o (2.5 mM), the slow outward current tails reverse between -95 and -100 mV. This finding, and the observed 51-mV shift of Erev/10-fold change in [K+]o, strongly suggest that the "delayed rectifier" in bullfrog atrial cells is a K+ current. This current, IK, plays an important role in initiating repolarization, and it is distinct from the quasi-instantaneous, inwardly rectifying background current, IK. In atrial cells, IK does not exhibit inactivation, and very long depolarizing clamp steps (20 s) can be applied without producing extracellular K+ accumulation. The possibility of [K+]o accumulation contributing to these slow outward current changes was assessed by (a) comparing reversal potentials measured after short (2 s) and very long (15 s) activating prepulses, and (b) studying the kinetics of IK at various holding potentials and after systematically altering [K+]o. In the absence of [K+]o accumulation, the steady state activation curve (n infinity) and fully activated current-voltage (I-V) relation can be obtained directly. The threshold of the n infinity curve is near -50 mV, and it approaches a maximum at +20 mV; the half-activation point is approximately -16 mV. The fully activated I-V curve of IK is approximately linear in the range -40 to +30 mV. Semilog plots of the current tails show that each tail is a single-exponential function, which suggests that only one Hodgkin-Huxley conductance underlies this slow outward current. Quantitative analysis of the time course of onset of IK and of the corresponding envelope of tails demonstrate that the activation variable, n, must be raised to the second power to fit the sigmoid onset accurately. The voltage dependence of the kinetics of IK was studied by recording and curve-fitting activating and deactivating (tail) currents. The resulting 1/tau n curve is U-shaped and somewhat asymmetric; IK exhibits strong voltage dependence in the diastolic range of potentials. Changes in the [Ca2+]o in the superfusing Ringer's, and/or addition of La3+ to block the transmembrane Ca2+ current, show that the time course and magnitude of IK are not significantly modulated by transmembrane Ca2+ movements, i.e., by ICa. These experimentally measured voltage- and time-dependent descriptors of IK strongly suggest an important functional role for IK in atrial tissue: it initiates repolarization and can be an important determinant of rate-induced changes in action potential duration.


1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (4) ◽  
pp. H1313-H1322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raul Vinet ◽  
Fernando F. Vargas

We investigated voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels of bovine adrenal medulla endothelial cells with the whole cell version of the patch-clamp technique. Depolarization elicited an inward current that was carried by Ca2+ and was composed of a transient (T) current, present in all the cells tested, and a sustained (L) current, present in 65% of them. We separated these currents and measured their individual kinetic and gating properties. The activation threshold for T current was approximately −50 mV, and its maximum amplitude was −49.8 ± 4.8 pA (means ± SE, n = 19) at 0 mV. The time constant was 10.2 ± 1.5 ms ( n= 4) for activation and 18.4 ± 2.8 ms ( n = 4) for inactivation. The L current activated at −40 mV, and it reached a plateau at −20.1 ± 2.3 pA ( n = 6). Its activation time course was a single exponential with an activation time contant of 26.8 ± 2.3 ms ( n = 4). Current-voltage curves, kinetics, gating, response to BAY K 8644, nifedipine, amiloride, and different selectivity for Ba2+ and Ca2+ indicated that the underlying channels for the observed currents are only of the T- and L-types that resemble those of the endocrine secretory cells.


1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (1) ◽  
pp. C179-C187 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Hughes ◽  
M. Takahira ◽  
Y. Segawa

Currents in freshly dissociated adult human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were studied using the perforated patch-clamp technique. The zero-current potential (V0) averaged -48.9 +/- 7.7 mV (n = 50). Depolarizing voltage pulses from -70 mV evoked an outward current that activated with first-order kinetics and that did not inactivate during prolonged depolarizations. Repolarizing the membrane potential produced tail currents that reversed near the K+ equilibrium potential, indicating that the sustained outward current was carried mainly by K+. The outwardly rectifying K+ conductance (gK) had an activation threshold voltage near -60 mV and was half-maximal at -37 mV. Approximately 25% of gK was active at the average V0. The K+ current was nearly completely blocked by 2 mM Ba2+ but was relatively insensitive to 20 mM tetraethylammonium. The kinetics, voltage dependence, and blocker sensitivity of this current clearly distinguish it from delayed rectifier K+ currents previously identified in RPE cells. We conclude that the sustained outward K+ current may help establish the resting potential of the apical and/or basolateral membranes and may also participate in K+ transport across the RPE.


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