Role of Na-Ca exchange in the action potential changes caused by drive in cardiac myocytes exposed to different Ca2+ loads

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 383-397
Author(s):  
Qi-Ying Liu ◽  
Mario Vassalle

The role of Na-Ca exchange in the membrane potential changes caused by repetitive activity ("drive") was studied in guinea pig single ventricular myocytes exposed to different [Ca2+]o. The following results were obtained. (i) In 5.4 mM [Ca2+]o, the action potentials (APs) gradually shortened during drive, and the outward current during a train of depolarizing voltage clamp steps gradually increased. (ii) The APs shortened more and were followed by a decaying voltage tail during drive in the presence of 5 mM caffeine; the outward current became larger and there was an inward tail current on repolarization during a train of depolarizing steps. (iii) These effects outlasted drive so that immediately after a train of APs, currents were already bigger and, after a train of steps, APs were already shorter. (iv) In 0.54 mM [Ca2+]o, the above effects were much smaller. (v) In high [Ca2+]o APs were shorter and outward currents larger than in low [Ca2+]o. (vi) In 10.8 mM [Ca2+]o, both outward and inward currents during long steps were exaggerated by prior drive, even with steps (+80 and +120 mV) at which there was no apparent inward current identifiable as ICa. (vii) In 0.54 mM [Ca2+]o, the time-dependent outward current was small and prior drive slightly increased it. (viii) During long steps, caffeine markedly increased outward and inward tail currents, and these effects were greatly decreased by low [Ca2+]o. (ix) After drive in the presence of caffeine, Ni2+ decreased the outward and inward tail currents. It is concluded that in the presence of high [Ca2+]o drive activates outward and inward Na-Ca exchange currents. During drive, the outward current participates in the plateau shortening and the inward tail current in the voltage tail after the action potential.Key words: ventricular myocytes, repetitive activity, outward and inward Na-Ca exchange currents, caffeine, nickel.

1967 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-355
Author(s):  
Y. PICHON ◽  
J. BOISTEL

1. An experimental method of recording and controlling the membrane potential of a small area of the membrane of the cockroach giant axon is described. 2. The recorded action potentials were essentially similar to those previously recorded by other methods. 3. The membrane currents resemble those reported for the squid axon, the node of Ranvier in frog nerve and the lobster giant axon. 4. Small cathodal polarizations gave only small outward currents; larger depolarizations (10-100 mV.) gave an initial inward current which changed into a delayed outward current. 5. The initial inward current attained a maximum with depolarizing pulses of 40-50 mV. and showed a reversed, outward, flow of about 100 mV. 6. Delayed outward currents increased continuously with increasing impulse voltage. 7. The initial inward current was larger when the pulse was preceded by an hyperpolarizing prepulse. 8. It is concluded that, although the early inward currents were in all probability related to Na+ ions and the delayed outward currents to K+ ions, the possible participation of Ca2+ and Cl- ions to the ionic currents cannot be excluded.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 4876
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Burdach ◽  
Agnieszka Siemieniuk ◽  
Waldemar Karcz

In contrast to the well-studied effect of auxin on the plasma membrane K+ channel activity, little is known about the role of this hormone in regulating the vacuolar K+ channels. Here, the patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the effect of auxin (IAA) on the fast-activating vacuolar (FV) channels. It was found that the macroscopic currents displayed instantaneous currents, which at the positive potentials were about three-fold greater compared to the one at the negative potentials. When auxin was added to the bath solution at a final concentration of 1 µM, it increased the outward currents by about 60%, but did not change the inward currents. The imposition of a ten-fold vacuole-to-cytosol KCl gradient stimulated the efflux of K+ from the vacuole into the cytosol and reduced the K+ current in the opposite direction. The addition of IAA to the bath solution with the 10/100 KCl gradient decreased the outward current and increased the inward current. Luminal auxin reduced both the outward and inward current by approximately 25% compared to the control. The single channel recordings demonstrated that cytosolic auxin changed the open probability of the FV channels at the positive voltages to a moderate extent, while it significantly increased the amplitudes of the single channel outward currents and the number of open channels. At the positive voltages, auxin did not change the unitary conductance of the single channels. We suggest that auxin regulates the activity of the fast-activating vacuolar (FV) channels, thereby causing changes of the K+ fluxes across the vacuolar membrane. This mechanism might serve to tightly adjust the volume of the vacuole during plant cell expansion.


1995 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 1485-1497 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Schmidt ◽  
S. Gramoll ◽  
R. L. Calabrese

1. The effects of Phe-Met-Arg-Phe (FMRF)amide (10(-6) M) on membrane properties of heart interneurons in the third, fourth, and fifth segmental ganglia [HN(3), HN(4), and HN(5) cells, respectively] of the leech were studied using discontinuous current-clamp and single-electrode voltage-clamp techniques. FMRFamide was focally applied onto the soma of the cell under investigation. 2. Application of FMRFamide depolarized HN(3) and HN(4) cells by evoking an inward current. These responses were subject to pronounced desensitization. The inward currents evoked by application of FMRFamide were associated with an increase in membrane conductance and appeared to be voltage dependent. Currents were enhanced at more depolarized potentials. 3. The responsiveness of the HN(3) and HN(4) cells was not affected when the Ca2+ concentration in the bath saline was reduced from normal (1.8 mM) to 0.1 mM. The depolarizing response on application of FMRFamide was blocked when Co2+ was substituted for Ca2+. 4. HN(3) and HN(4) cells did not respond to FMRFamide application in Na(+)-free solution. Inward currents were largely reduced when bath saline with 30% of the normal Na+ concentration was used. When Li+ was substituted for Na+ in the saline, application of FMRFamide still evoked depolarizing responses in HN(3) and HN(4) cells. 5. We conclude that focal application of FMRFamide onto the somata of HN(3) and HN(4) cells evokes a voltage-dependent inward current, carried largely by Na+. 6. Focal application of FMRFamide onto somata of HN(5) cells hyperpolarized these cells by activating a voltage-dependent outward current. 7. HN(5) cells were loaded with Cl- until inhibitory postsynaptic potentials carried by Cl- reversed. Cl(-)-loaded cells still responded with a hyperpolarization when FMRFamide was applied onto their somata. Therefore the outward current evoked by FMRFamide appears to be mediated by a K+ conductance increase. 8. Application of FMRFamide onto the somata of HN(5) cells enhanced outward currents that were evoked by depolarizing voltage steps from a holding potential of -45 mV. 9. We conclude that the hyperpolarizing response of HN(5) cells to focal application of FMRFamide onto their somata is the result of an up-regulation of a voltage-dependent K+ current.


1982 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
J E Lisman ◽  
G L Fain ◽  
P M O'Day

The voltage-dependent conductances of Limulus ventral photoreceptors have been investigated using a voltage-clamp technique. Depolarization in the dark induces inward and outward currents. The inward current is reduced by removing Na+ or Ca2+ and is abolished by removing both ions. These results suggest that both Na+ and Ca2+ carry voltage-dependent inward current. Inward current is insensitive to tetrodotoxin but is blocked by external Ni2+. The outward current has a large transient component that is followed by a smaller maintained component. Intracellular tetraethylammonium preferentially reduces the maintained component, and extracellular 4-amino pyridine preferentially reduces the transient component. Neither component is strongly affected by removal of extracellular Ca2+ or by intracellular injection of EGTA. It is concluded that the photoreceptors contain at least three separate voltage-dependent conductances: 1) a conductance giving rise to inward currents; 2) a delayed rectifier giving rise to maintained outward K+ current; and 3) a rapidly inactivating K+ conductance similar to the A current of molluscan neurons.


1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (9) ◽  
pp. 1065-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio L. Alvarez ◽  
Miguel Garcia ◽  
Francisco R. Dorticós ◽  
Jesús A. Morlans

The effects of MnCl2 on outward currents in frog atrial muscle were investigated under voltage-clamp conditions. MnCl2 (3 mmol/L), which completely abolished the slow inward current, produced a decrease in the outward background current (Ib) at potentials positive to −50 mV. The delayed outward current (Ix, time dependent) was not altered by Mn. "Isochronic activation curves" for Ix and decay of current tails at −40 mV remained unaffected after Mn. Effects on Ib probably reflect a decrease in [Formula: see text] related to the decrease in Ca influx as well as a reduction in the Na–Ca exchange current.


2003 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 541-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valérie Leuranguer ◽  
Robert T. Dirksen ◽  
Kurt G. Beam

Strong depolarization and dihydropyridine agonists potentiate inward currents through native L-type Ca2+ channels, but the effect on outward currents is less clear due to the small size of these currents. Here, we examined potentiation of wild-type α1C and two constructs bearing mutations in conserved glutamates in the pore regions of repeats II and IV (E2A/E4A-α1C) or repeat III (E3K-α1C). With 10 mM Ca2+ in the bath and 110 mM Cs+ in the pipette, these mutated channels, expressed in dysgenic myotubes, produced both inward and outward currents of substantial amplitude. For both the wild-type and mutated channels, we observed strong inward rectification of potentiation: strong depolarization had little effect on outward tail currents but caused the inward tail currents to be larger and to decay more slowly. Similarly, exposure to DHP agonist increased the amplitude of inward currents and decreased the amplitude of outward currents through both E2A/E4A-α1C and E3K-α1C. As in the absence of drug, strong depolarization in the presence of dihydropyridine agonist had little effect on outward tail currents but increased the amplitude and slowed the decay of inward tail currents. We tested whether cytoplasmic Mg2+ functions as the blocking particle responsible for the rectification of potentiated L-type Ca2+ channels. However, even after complete removal of cytoplasmic Mg2+, (−)BayK 8644 still potentiated inward current and partially blocked outward current via E2A/E4A-α1C. Although zero Mg2+ did not reveal potentiation of outward current by DHP agonist, it did have two striking effects, (a) a strong suppression of decay of both inward and outward currents via E2A/E4A-α1C and (b) a nearly complete elimination of depolarization-induced potentiation of inward tail currents. These results can be explained by postulating that potentiation exposes a binding site in the pore to which an intracellular blocking particle can bind and produce inward rectification of the potentiated channels.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (5) ◽  
pp. H1448-H1454 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Hadley ◽  
J. R. Hume

Currents through time-dependent K+ channels (also referred to as IK or the delayed rectifier) were studied with the whole cell patch-clamp technique in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes. IK measurements were restricted to the examination of deactivation tail currents. Substitution of various monovalent cations for external K+ produced shifts of the reversal potential of IK. These shifts were used to calculate permeability ratios relative to K+. The permeability sequence for the IK channels was K+ = Rb+ greater than NH4+ = Cs+ greater than Na+. Time-dependent outward currents were also examined when the myocytes were dialyzed with Cs+ instead of K+. A sizeable time-dependent outward current, quite similar to that seen with K+ dialysis, was demonstrated. This current was primarily carried by intracellular Cs+, as the reversal potential of the current shifted 46 mV per 10-fold change of external Cs+ concentration. The significance of Cs+ permeation through IK channels is discussed with respect to the common use of Cs+ in isolating other currents.


1997 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 3125-3132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdesslam Chrachri ◽  
Roddy Williamson

Chrachri, Abdesslam and Roddy Williamson. Voltage-dependent conductances in primary sensory hair cells. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 3125–3132, 1997. Cephalopods, such as sepia, squid, and octopus, show a well-developed and sophisticated control of balance particularly during prey capture and escape behaviors. There are two separate areas of sensory epithelium in cephalopod statocysts, a macula/statolith system, which detects linear accelerations (gravity), and a crista/cupula system, which detects rotational movements. The aim of this study is to characterize the ionic conductances in the basolateral membrane of primary sensory hair cells. These were studied using a whole cell patch-clamp technique, which allowed us to identify five ionic conductances in the isolated primary hair cells; an inward sodium current, an inward calcium current, and three potassium outward currents. These outward currents were distinguishable on the basis of their voltage-dependence and pharmacological sensitivities. First, a transient outward current ( I A) was elicited by depolarizing voltage steps from a holding potential of −60 mV, was inactivated by holding the cell at −40 mV, and was blocked by 4-aminopyridine. A second, voltage-sensitive, outward current with a sustained time course was identified. This current was not blocked by 4-aminopyridine nor inactivated at a holding potential of −40 mV and hence could be separated from I A using these protocols. A third outward current that depended on Ca2+ entry for its activation was detected, this current was identified by its sensitivity to Ca2+ channel blockers such as Co2+ and Cd2+ and by the N-shaped profile of its current-voltage curve. Inward currents were studied using cesium aspartate solution in the pipette to block the outward currents. Two inward currents were observed in the primary sensory hair cells. A fast transient inward current, which is presumably responsible for spike generation. This inward current appeared as a rapidly activating inward current; this was strongly voltage dependent. Three lines of evidence suggest that this fast transient inward current is a Na+ current ( I Na). First, it was blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX); second, it also was blocked by Na+-free saline; and third, it was inactivated when primary hair cells were held at a potential more than −40 mV. The sustained inward current was not affected by TTX and was increased in amplitude 5 min after equimolar Ba2+ replaced Ca2+ as a charge carrier. This inward current also was blocked after external application of 2 mmol/l Co2+ or Cd2+. Furthermore, this current was reduced significantly in a dose-dependent manner by nifedipine, suggesting that it is an L-type Ca2+ current ( I Ca).


1983 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1460-1478 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Freschi

Sympathetic neurons, dissociated from neonatal rat superior cervical ganglia, were voltage clamped with two microelectrodes. Depolarization from resting potential activated a rapid transient inward current carried by sodium and a slow inward current blocked by cobalt. Depolarization from resting potential also activated up to three kinetically distinct outward currents, which were further studied by tail current analysis. Following long depolarizing steps, outward current decayed biphasically. The fast phase (delayed rectifier) decayed over 10-20 ms. The slow phase (calcium dependent) required as much as 1-2 s to decay to base line. A small component of the total outward current was a persistent current activated between -70 and -30 mV (M-current), which decayed over 200-300 ms. This current was studied in isolation following hyperpolarizing steps from potentials negative to the threshold for activation of the other delayed outward currents. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) blocked the fast tail current, partially inhibited the slow tail current, and reduced M-currents. Cobalt selectively decreased the slow tail current. Muscarine blocked M-current but not other outward currents. A transient outward current was activated by depolarization from only holding potentials negative to -60 mV. This current peaked in 10-20 ms and decayed over about 50 ms. A persistent ("anomalous") inward current was evoked by hyperpolarizing steps from only holding potentials negative to -50 to -60 mV. These seven membrane currents may be separately characterized on the basis of their voltage- and time-dependent properties. Further identification is aided by the use of channel-blocking chemicals, although the latter may lack specificity, especially when used to study potassium channels.


1986 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 1739-1762 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Tazaki ◽  
I. M. Cooke

Crustacean cardiac ganglion neuronal somata, although incapable of generating action potentials, produce regenerative, slow (greater than 200 ms) depolarizing potentials reaching -20 mV (from -50 mV) in response to depolarizing stimuli. These potentials initiate a burst of action potentials in the axon and are thus termed driver potentials. The somata of the anterior-most neurons (cells 1 or 2) were isolated by ligaturing for study of their membrane currents with a two-electrode voltage clamp. Inward current is attributed to Ca2+ by reason of dependence of driver potential amplitude on [Ca2+]0, independence of [Na+]0, resistance to tetrodotoxin, and inhibition by Cd (0.2 mM) and Mn (4 mM). Ca-mediated current (ICa) is present at -40 mV. It is optimally activated by a holding potential (Vh) of -50 to -60 mV and by clamps (command potential, Vc) to -10 mV. Time to peak (10-30 ms) and amplitude are strongly voltage dependent. Maximum tail-current amplitudes observed at -70 to -85 mV are ca. 100 nA. Inward tail peaks may not be resolved by our clamp (settling time, 2 ms). Tails relax with a time constant (tau) of approximately equal to 12 ms (at -70 to -85 mV). ICa exhibits inactivation in double pulse regimes. Recovery has a tau of approximately equal to 0.7 s. Tail current analyses indicate an exponential decline (tau approximately equal to 23 ms at -20 mV) toward a maintained amplitude of inward current tails. Analysis of outward currents indicates the presence of three conductance mechanisms having voltage dependences, time courses, and pharmacology similar to those of early outward current (IA), delayed outward current (IK), and outward current (IC) of molluscan neurons. Analysis of tail currents indicates a reversal potential for each of these near -75 mV, indicating that they are K currents. Early outward current, IA, shows a peak at 5 ms followed by rapid decline. Response to a second clamp given within 0.4 s is reduced; recovery is exponential, with a tau of approximately equal to 200 ms (at Vh = -50 mV). The amplitude of IA tested at 0 mV shows activation or deactivation by subthreshold shifts of Vh. The extent and rate of these changes shows voltage dependence (tau approximately equal to 100-500 ms for subthreshold prepulses). At the normal cell resting potential of -50 mV the amplitude of IA is 25% of that tested from -80 mV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


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