scholarly journals Voltage-dependent ionic currents in taste receptor cells of the larval tiger salamander.

1990 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 809-834 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Sugimoto ◽  
J H Teeter

Voltage-dependent membrane currents of cells dissociated from tongues of larval tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) were studied using whole-cell and single-channel patch-clamp techniques. Nongustatory epithelial cells displayed only passive membrane properties. Cells dissociated from taste buds, presumed to be gustatory receptor cells, generated both inward and outward currents in response to depolarizing voltage steps from a holding potential of -60 or -80 mV. Almost all taste cells displayed a transient inward current that activated at -30 mV, reached a peak between 0 and +10 mV and rapidly inactivated. This inward current was blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX) or by substitution of choline for Na+ in the bath solution, indicating that it was a Na+ current. Approximately 60% of the taste cells also displayed a sustained inward current which activated slowly at about -30 mV and reached a peak at 0 to +10 mV. The amplitude of the slow inward current was larger when Ca2+ was replaced by Ba2+ and it was blocked by bath applied CO2+, indicating it was a Ca2+ current. Delayed outward K+ currents were observed in all taste cells although in about 10% of the cells, they were small and activated only at voltages more depolarized than +10 mV. Normally, K+ currents activated at -40 mV and usually showed some inactivation during a 25-ms voltage step. The inactivating component of outward current was not observed at holding potentials more depolarized -40 mV. The outward currents were blocked by tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) and BaCl2 in the bath or by substitution of Cs+ for K+ in the pipette solution. Both transient and noninactivating components of outward current were partially suppressed by CO2+, suggesting the presence of a Ca2(+)-activated K+ current component. Single-channel currents were recorded in cell-attached and outside-out patches of taste cell membranes. Two types of K+ channels were partially characterized, one having a mean unitary conductance of 21 pS, and the other, a conductance of 148 pS. These experiments demonstrate that tiger salamander taste cells have a variety of voltage- and ion-dependent currents including Na+ currents, Ca2+ currents and three types of K+ currents. One or more of these conductances may be modulated either directly by taste stimuli or indirectly by stimulus-regulated second messenger systems to give rise to stimulus-activated receptor potentials. Others may play a role in modulation of neurotransmitter release at synapses with taste nerve fibers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

1988 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Marchetti ◽  
R T Premont ◽  
A M Brown

Voltage-dependent membrane currents were studied in dissociated hepatocytes from chick, using the patch-clamp technique. All cells had voltage-dependent outward K+ currents; in 10% of the cells, a fast, transient, tetrodotoxin-sensitive Na+ current was identified. None of the cells had voltage-dependent inward Ca2+ currents. The K+ current activated at a membrane potential of about -10 mV, had a sigmoidal time course, and did not inactivate in 500 ms. The maximum outward conductance was 6.6 +/- 2.4 nS in 18 cells. The reversal potential, estimated from tail current measurements, shifted by 50 mV per 10-fold increase in the external K+ concentration. The current traces were fitted by n2 kinetics with voltage-dependent time constants. Omitting Ca2+ from the external bath or buffering the internal Ca2+ with EGTA did not alter the outward current, which shows that Ca2+-activated K+ currents were not present. 1-5 mM 4-aminopyridine, 0.5-2 mM BaCl2, and 0.1-1 mM CdCl2 reversibly inhibited the current. The block caused by Ba was voltage dependent. Single-channel currents were recorded in cell-attached and outside-out patches. The mean unitary conductance was 7 pS, and the channels displayed bursting kinetics. Thus, avian hepatocytes have a single type of K+ channel belonging to the delayed rectifier class of K+ channels.


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.


1987 ◽  
Vol 253 (1) ◽  
pp. H210-H214
Author(s):  
M. Horie ◽  
H. Irisawa

Rectifying properties of the acetylcholine (ACh)-sensitive K+ channels were studied using a patch-clamp method in single atrial cells prepared enzymatically from adult guinea pig hearts. In the presence of micromolar concentration of nonhydrolyzable guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP) analogue 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate (GppNHp) and the absence of Mg2+ at the inner surface of patch membrane [( Mg2+]i), the channel activity recovered in inside-out patch condition. The single channel conductance became ohmic between -80 and +80 mV (symmetrical 150 mM K+ solutions). The rapid relaxation of outward single channel currents was disclosed on a depolarization. [Mg2+]i blocked the outward current through the channel dose- and voltage-dependently and also induced a dose-dependent increase in the channel activation. The apparent paradoxical role of [Mg2+]i is important for the cholinergic control in the heart; voltage-dependent Mg block ensures a low K+ conductance of cell membrane at the plateau of action potentials during the exposure to ACh, thereby slowing the heart rate without unfavorable shortening of the action potentials.


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.


2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (3) ◽  
pp. F493-F504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Gray ◽  
Gustavo Frindt ◽  
Yu-Yang Zhang ◽  
Lawrence G. Palmer

Whole cell K+ current was measured by forming seals on the luminal membrane of principal cells in split-open rat cortical collecting ducts. The mean inward, Ba2+-sensitive conductance, with 40 mM extracellular K+, was 76 ± 12 and 141 ± 22 nS/cell for animals on control and high-K+ diets, respectively. The apical contribution to this was estimated to be 3 and 16 nS/cell on control and high-K+ diets, respectively. To isolate the basolateral component of whole cell current, we blocked ROMK channels with either tertiapin-Q or intracellular acidification to pH 6.6. The current was weakly inward rectifying when bath K+ was ≥40 mM but became more strongly rectified when bath K+ was lowered into the physiological range. Including 1 mM spermine in the pipette moderately increased rectification, but most of the outward current remained. The K+ current did not require intracellular Ca2+ and was not inhibited by 3 mM ATP in the pipette. The negative log of the acidic dissociation constant (p Ka) was ∼6.5. Block by extracellular Ba2+ was voltage dependent with apparent Ki at −40 and −80 mV of ∼160 and ∼80 μM, respectively. The conductance was TEA insensitive. Substitution of Rb+ or NH4+ for K+ led to permeability ratios of 0.65 ± 0.07 and 0.15 ± 0.02 and inward conductance ratios of 0.17 ± 0.03 and 0.57 ± 0.09, respectively. Analysis of Ba2+-induced noise, with 40 mM extracellular K+, yielded single-channel currents of 0.39 ± 0.04 and −0.28 ± 0.04 pA at voltages of 0 and −40 mV, respectively, and a single-channel conductance of 17 ± 1 pS.


1993 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 241-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Muller ◽  
H. D. Lux

1. Numerical methods were used to evaluate voltage space-clamp performance in the investigation of a voltage-dependent inward current similar to the noninactivating Ca current. In addition, the cell is equipped with a repolarizing system, represented by leak and outwardly rectifying outward conductances. The electrotonically compact model cell is represented by a cable with an electrotonic length of 1 space constant under control conditions, but that becomes effectively only 0.33 space constants during a 90% reduction of the leak and outward conductance. The cable is perfectly voltage clamped at one end. 2. The apparent voltage dependence, activation, and inactivation of the clamp current depend on the distribution of the membrane slope conductance along the cable; this depends on 1) the distribution of the inward current along the cable and 2) the amplitude of the inward current relative to the amplitudes of the leak and voltage-dependent outward currents. 3. Under control conditions, the membrane voltage decays steeply with distance from the command voltage at the clamp site to almost resting potential for most of the rest of the cable. This is because the leak and outward current are dominant over the inward current. The inward current is activated primarily at the clamped part of the cable. Clamp currents are activated instantaneously. The clamp-current current-voltage (I-V) relation is less steep with depolarization because the membrane potential for locations away from the clamp site lags behind the clamp potential. 4. When the conductances for leak and outward current are reduced by 90%, these conductances lose their dominance. The membrane slope conductance now has a range with negative values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2012 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tai-An Liu ◽  
Hsueh-Kai Chang ◽  
Ru-Chi Shieh

Outward currents through Kir2.1 channels play crucial roles in controlling the electrical properties of excitable cells, and such currents are subjected to voltage-dependent block by intracellular Mg2+ and polyamines that bind to both high- and low-affinity sites on the channels. Under physiological conditions, high-affinity block is saturated and yet outward Kir2.1 currents can still occur, implying that high-affinity polyamine block cannot completely eliminate outward Kir2.1 currents. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. Here, we show that high-affinity spermidine block, rather than completely occluding the single-channel pore, induces a subconducting state in which conductance is 20% that of the fully open channel. In a D172N mutant lacking the high-affinity polyamine-binding site, spermidine does not induce such a substate. However, the kinetics for the transitions between the substate and zero-current state in wild-type channels is the same as that of low-affinity block in the D172N mutant, supporting the notion that these are identical molecular events. Thus, the residual outward current after high-affinity spermidine block is susceptible to low-affinity block, which determines the final amplitude of the outward current. This study provides a detailed insight into the mechanism underlying the emergence of outward Kir2.1 currents regulated by inward rectification attributed to high- and low-affinity polyamine blocks.


1988 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
S C Kinnamon ◽  
S D Roper

The voltage-dependent currents of isolated Necturus lingual cells were studied using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. Nongustatory surface epithelial cells had only passive membrane properties. Small, spherical cells resembling basal cells responded to depolarizing voltage steps with predominantly outward K+ currents. Taste receptor cells generated both outward and inward currents in response to depolarizing voltage steps. Outward K+ currents activated at approximately 0 mV and increased almost linearly with increasing depolarization. The K+ current did not inactivate and was partially Ca++ dependent. One inward current activated at -40 mV, reached a peak at -20 mV, and rapidly inactivated. This transient inward current was blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX), which indicates that it is an Na+ current. The other inward current activated at 0 mV, peaked at 30 mV, and slowly inactivated. This more sustained inward current had the kinetic and pharmacological properties of a slow Ca++ current. In addition, most taste cells had inwardly rectifying K+ currents. Sour taste stimuli (weak acids) decreased outward K+ currents and slightly reduced inward currents; bitter taste stimuli (quinine) reduced inward currents to a greater extent than outward currents. It is concluded that sour and bitter taste stimuli produce depolarizing receptor potentials, at least in part, by reducing the voltage-dependent K+ conductance.


1995 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 2043-2050 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. David ◽  
R. M. Pitman

1. Membrane currents have been examined in the cell body of the fast coxal depressor motor neuron (Df) of the cockroach Periplaneta americana with the use of two-electrode voltage clamp. 2. Most of the outward current induced by membrane depolarizations to between -40 and +80 mV was carried by K+ because it was blocked by external tetraethylammonium+ (TEA+; 20 mM) and internal Cs+. 3. Over the potential range -20 to +80 mV, a large proportion of this TEA+/Cs(+)-sensitive K+ current consisted of two temporal components, a transient outward current (IKtrans) and a sustained outward current (IKsus). IKtrans and a large proportion of IKsus appeared to be calcium-activated potassium currents (IK,Ca,trans and IK,Ca,sus, respectively) because these were suppressed by injecting ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), removing Ca2+ from the saline or replacing Ca2+ with Ba2+. After suppression of IK,Ca by internal EGTA or Ca(2+)-free saline, membrane depolarizations positive to -40 mV induced voltage-dependent outward currents (IK,V), which consisted of single-component outward relaxations. 4. When outward currents were blocked by external TEA+/internal Cs+, a voltage-dependent inward current consisting of a transient and a sustained component was observed over the potential range -40 to +40 mV. Both components of this inward current appeared to be carried by Ca2+ because they were blocked by external Cd2+ (1 mM), verapamil (0.1 mM), nifedipine (0.1 mM), or diltiazem (0.1 mM). 5. Both the transient component of the calcium current (ICa,trans) and the sustained component (ICa,sus) were maximal at 0 mV and present when Ca2+ in the saline were replaced by Ba2+. The inactivation of ICa,trans is voltage dependent, the rate of inactivation increasing with membrane depolarization. 6. The current-voltage relationships of Ca2+ currents differed from those of calcium-activated K+ currents. It is proposed that the discrepancy between these current-voltage relationships arises from the rapidity with which IK,Ca is saturated by Ca2+ entering through voltage-dependent channels and because the apparent reversal potential for ICa is not at ECa. 7. Although the similarity in the shape of IK,Ca and ICa might suggest that the time course of IK,Ca is determined by the kinetics of ICa, this appears unlikely in view of the rapid saturation of IK,Ca by Ca2+, which considerably outlasts the period of Ca2+ influx.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document