scholarly journals An intuitive approach to understanding the resting membrane potential

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 543-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Cardozo
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential

Effect of low chloride on relaxation in hamster diaphragm muscle

1986 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 180-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Esau ◽  
N. Sperelakis
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Muscle Fatigue ◽  
Time Constant ◽  
Diaphragm Muscle ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Krebs Solution ◽  
Sarcolemmal Membrane ◽  
Cl Conductance

With muscle fatigue the chloride (Cl-) conductance of the sarcolemmal membrane decreases. The role of lowered Cl- conductance in the prolongation of relaxation seen with fatigue was studied in isolated hamster diaphragm strips. The muscles were studied in either a Krebs solution or a low Cl- solution in which half of the NaCl was replaced by Na-gluconate. Short tetanic contractions were produced by a 160-ms train of 0.2-ms pulses at 60 Hz from which tension (T) and the time constant of relaxation were measured. Resting membrane potential (Em) was measured using KCl-filled microelectrodes with resistances of 15–20 M omega. Mild fatigue (20% fall in tension) was induced by 24–25 tetanic contractions at the rate of 2/s. There was no difference in Em or T in the two solutions, either initially or with fatigue. The time constant of relaxation was greater in low Cl- solution, both initially (22 +/- 3 vs. 18 +/- 5 ms, mean +/- SD, P less than 0.05) and with fatigue (51 +/- 18 vs. 26 +/- 7 ms, P less than 0.005). Lowering of sarcolemmal membrane Cl- conductance appears to play a role in the slowing of relaxation of hamster diaphragm muscle seen with fatigue.

Calcium channels and excitation–contraction coupling in cardiac cells. I. Two components of contraction in guinea-pig papillary muscle

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (9) ◽  
pp. 1821-1831 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Honoré ◽  
M. M. Adamantidis ◽  
B. A. Dupuis ◽  
C. E. Challice ◽  
P. Guilbault
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Papillary Muscle ◽  
Cardiac Cells ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Tonic Component ◽  
Contraction Coupling ◽  
Rich Solution ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Guinea Pig Atria

Biphasic contractions have been obtained in guinea-pig papillary muscle by inducing partial depolarization in K+-rich solution (17 mM) containing 0.3 μM isoproterenol; whereas in guinea-pig atria, the same conditions led to monophasic contractions corresponding to the first component of contraction in papillary muscle. The relationships between the amplitude of the two components of the biphasic contraction and the resting membrane potential were sigmoidal curves. The first component of contraction was inactivated for membrane potentials less positive than those for the second component. In Na+-low solution (25 mM), biphasic contraction became monophasic subsequent to the loss of the second component, but tetraethylammonium unmasked the second component of contraction. The relationship between the amplitude of the first component of contraction and the logarithm of extracellular Ca2+ concentration was complex, whereas for the second component it was linear. When Ca2+ ions were replaced by Sr2+ ions, only the second component of contraction was observed. It is suggested that the first component of contraction may be triggered by a Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum, induced by the fast inward Ca2+ current and (or) by the depolarization. The second component of contraction may be due to a direct activation of contractile proteins by Ca2+ entering the cell along with the slow inward Ca2+ current and diffusing through the sarcoplasm. These results do not exclude the existence of a third "tonic" component, which could possibly be mixed with the second component of contraction.

scholarly journals Activation of Ca(2+)-dependent K+ current by acetylcholine and histamine in a human gastric epithelial cell line.

1993 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 667-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Hamada ◽  
T Nakajima ◽  
S Ota ◽  
A Terano ◽  
M Omata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
K Channel ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Induced Response ◽  
Epithelial Cell Line ◽  
Bathing Solution ◽  
Pipette Solution ◽  
K Current

The effects of acetylcholine (ACh) and histamine (His) on the membrane potential and current were examined in JR-1 cells, a mucin-producing epithelial cell line derived from human gastric signet ring cell carcinoma. The tight-seal, whole cell clamp technique was used. The resting membrane potential, the input resistance, and the capacitance of the cells were approximately -12 mV, 1.4 G ohms, and 50 pF, respectively. Under the voltage-clamp condition, no voltage-dependent currents were evoked. ACh or His added to the bathing solution hyperpolarized the membrane by activating a time- and voltage-independent K+ current. The ACh-induced hyperpolarization and K+ current persisted, while the His response desensitized quickly (< 1 min). These effects of ACh and His were mediated predominantly by m3-muscarinic and H1-His receptors, respectively. The K+ current induced by ACh and His was inhibited by charybdotoxin, suggesting that it is a Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel current (IK.Ca). The measurement of intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) using Indo-1 revealed that both agents increased [Ca2+]i with similar time courses as they increased IK.Ca. When EGTA in the pipette solution was increased from 0.15 to 10 mM, the induction of IK.Ca by ACh and His was abolished. Thus, both ACh and His activate IK.Ca by increasing [Ca2+]i in JR-1 cells. In the Ca(2+)-free bathing solution (0.15 mM EGTA in the pipette), ACh evoked IK.Ca transiently. Addition of Ca2+ (1.8 mM) to the bath immediately restored the sustained IK.Ca. These results suggest that the ACh response is due to at least two different mechanisms; i.e., the Ca2+ release-related initial transient activation and the Ca2+ influx-related sustained activation of IK.Ca. Probably because of desensitization, the Ca2+ influx-related component of the His response could not be identified. Intracellularly applied inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), with and without inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (IP4), mimicked the ACh response. IP4 alone did not affect the membrane current. Under the steady effect of IP3 or IP3 plus IP4, neither ACh nor His further evoked IK.Ca. Intracellular application of heparin or of the monoclonal antibody against the IP3 receptor, mAb18A10, inhibited the ACh and His responses in a concentration-dependent fashion. Neomycin, a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, also inhibited the agonist-induced response in a concentration-dependent fashion. Although neither pertussis toxin (PTX) nor N-ethylmaleimide affected the ACh or His activation of IK,Ca, GDP beta S attenuated and GTP gamma S enhanced the agonist response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The resting membrane potential of white muscle from brown trout (Salmo trutta) exposed to copper in soft, acidic water

2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (14) ◽  
pp. 2229-2236 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.W. Beaumont ◽  
E.W. Taylor ◽  
P.J. Butler
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Brown Trout ◽  
Salmo Trutta ◽  
White Muscle ◽  
Low Ph ◽  
Ammonium Ion ◽  
Muscle Membrane ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Muscle Fibres ◽  
Brown Trout Salmo Trutta

Previously, the distribution of ammonia between the intracellular and extracellular compartments has been used to predict a significant depolarisation of the resting membrane potential (E(M)) of white muscle from brown trout (Salmo trutta) exposed to a sub-lethal combination of copper and low pH. However, this prediction is based upon two assumptions (i) a relatively high membrane permeability for the ammonium ion with respect to that for ammonia gas and (ii) that this is unaltered by exposure to copper and low pH. Since there is conflicting evidence in the literature of the validity of these assumptions, in the present study E(M) was directly measured in white muscle fibres of trout exposed to copper and low pH (E(M)=−52.2+/−4.9 mV) and compared with that of unexposed, control animals (E(M)=−86.5+/−2.9 mV) (means +/− s.e.m., N=6). In confirming the predicted depolarisation, these data support the hypothesis of electrophysiological impairment as a factor in the reduction in the swimming performance of trout exposed to these pollutants. In addition, the results of this study support the role of a significant permeability of the muscle membrane to NH(4)(+) in determining the distribution of ammonia in fish.

Characterization of synaptically mediated fast and slow inhibitory processes in piriform cortex in an in vitro slice preparation

1988 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 1352-1376 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. F. Tseng ◽  
L. B. Haberly
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Piriform Cortex ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Membrane Depolarization ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential ◽  
Pentobarbital Sodium ◽  
Postsynaptic Potential ◽  
Conductance Increase

1. Intracellular recordings were obtained from anatomically verified layer II pyramidal cells in slices from rat piriform cortex cut perpendicular to the surface. 2. Responses to afferent and association fiber stimulation at resting membrane potential consisted of a depolarizing potential followed by a late hyperpolarizing potential (LHP). Membrane polarization by current injection revealed two components in the depolarizing potential: an initial excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) followed at brief latency by an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) that inverted with membrane depolarization and truncated the duration of the EPSP. 3. The early IPSP displayed the following characteristics suggesting mediation by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors linked to Cl- channels: associated conductance increase, sensitivity to increases in internal Cl- concentration, blockage by picrotoxin and bicuculline, and potentiation by pentobarbital sodium. The reversal potential was in the depolarizing direction with respect to resting membrane potential so that the inhibitory effect was exclusively via current shunting. 4. The LHP had an associated conductance increase and a reversal potential of -90 mV in normal bathing medium that shifted according to Nernst predictions for a K+ potential with changes in external K+ over the range 4.5-8 mM indicating mediation by the opening of K+ channels and ruling out an electrogenic pump origin. 5. Lack of effect of bath-applied 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP) or internally applied ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) on the LHP and failure of high amplitude, direct membrane depolarization to evoke a comparable potential, argue against endogenous mediation of the LHP by a Ca2+ activated K+ conductance [gK(Ca)]. However, an apparent endogenously mediated gK(Ca) with a duration much greater than the LHP was observed in a low percent of layer II pyramidal cells. Lack of effect of 8-Br-cAMP also indicates a lack of dependence of the LHP on cAMP. 6. Other characteristics of the LHP that were demonstrated include: a lack of blockage by GABAA receptor antagonists, a probable voltage sensitivity (decrease in amplitude in the depolarizing direction), and an apparent brief onset latency (less than 10 ms) when the early IPSP was blocked by picrotoxin. The LHP was unaffected by pentobarbital sodium when the early IPSP was blocked by picrotoxin. 7. Both the LHP and early IPSP were blocked by low Ca2+/high Mg2+, consistent with disynaptic mediation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Role of HERG-like K+ currents in opossum esophageal circular smooth muscle

1999 ◽  
Vol 277 (6) ◽  
pp. C1284-C1290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid I. Akbarali ◽  
Hemant Thatte ◽  
Xue Dao He ◽  
Wayne R. Giles ◽  
Raj K. Goyal
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Circular Muscle ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Channel Blockers ◽  
Circular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Inward Currents

An inwardly rectifying K+ conductance closely resembling the human ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG) current was identified in single smooth muscle cells of opossum esophageal circular muscle. When cells were voltage clamped at 0 mV, in isotonic K+ solution (140 mM), step hyperpolarizations to −120 mV in 10-mV increments resulted in large inward currents that activated rapidly and then declined slowly (inactivated) during the test pulse in a time- and voltage- dependent fashion. The HERG K+ channel blockers E-4031 (1 μM), cisapride (1 μM), and La3+ (100 μM) strongly inhibited these currents as did millimolar concentrations of Ba2+. Immunoflourescence staining with anti-HERG antibody in single cells resulted in punctate staining at the sarcolemma. At membrane potentials near the resting membrane potential (−50 to −70 mV), this K+ conductance did not inactivate completely. In conventional microelectrode recordings, both E-4031 and cisapride depolarized tissue strips by 10 mV and also induced phasic contractions. In combination, these results provide direct experimental evidence for expression of HERG-like K+ currents in gastrointestinal smooth muscle cells and suggest that HERG plays an important role in modulating the resting membrane potential.

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