Cajal-Retzius cells are among the first neurons appearing during corticogenesis and play an important role in the establishment of cortical lamination. To characterize the hyperpolarization-activated inward current ( I h) and to investigate whether I h contributes to the relatively positive resting membrane potential (RMP) of these cells, we analyzed the properties of I h in visually identified Cajal-Retzius cells in cortical slices from neonatal rats using the whole cell patch-clamp technique. Membrane hyperpolarization to −90 mV activated a prominent inward current that was inhibited by 1 mM Cs+ and was insensitive to 1 mM Ba2+. The activation time constant for I h was strongly voltage dependent. In Na+-free solution, I h was reduced, indicating a contribution of Na+. An analysis of the tail currents revealed a reversal potential of −45.2 mV, corresponding to a permeability coefficient (pNa+/pK+) of 0.13. While an increase in the extracellular K+ concentration ([K+]e) enhances I h, it was reduced by a [K+]e decrease. This [K+]e dependence could not be explained by an effect on the electromotive force on K+ but suggested an additional extracellular binding site for K+ with an apparent dissociation constant of 7.2 mM. Complete Cl−substitution by Br−, I−, or NO3 − had no significant effect on I h, whereas a complete Cl−substitution by the organic compounds methylsulfate, isethionate, or gluconate reduced I h by ∼40%. The I h reduction observed in gluconate could be abolished by the addition of Cl−. The analysis of the [Cl−]e dependence of I h revealed a dissociation constant of 9.8 mM and a Hill-coefficient of 2.5, while the assumption of a gluconate-dependent I h reduction required an unreasonably high Hill-coefficient >20. An internal perfusion with the lidocaine derivative lidocaine N-ethyl bromide blocks I h within 1 min after establishment of the whole cell configuration. An inhibition of I h by 1 mM Cs+ was without an effect on RMP, action potential amplitude, threshold, width, or afterhyperpolarization. We conclude from these results that Cajal-Retzius cells express a prominent I hwith characteristic properties that does not contribute to the RMP.
THE APPARENT FIRST DISSOCIATION CONSTANT, pK1', OF CARBONIC ACID IN THE HUMAN ERYTHROCYTE
