scholarly journals Ionic currents in intimal cultured synoviocytes from the rabbit

2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (5) ◽  
pp. C1180-C1194 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Large ◽  
M. A. Hollywood ◽  
G. P. Sergeant ◽  
K. D. Thornbury ◽  
S. Bourke ◽  
...  

Hyaluronan, a joint lubricant and regulator of synovial fluid content, is secreted by fibroblast-like synoviocytes lining the joint cavity, and secretion is greatly stimulated by Ca2+-dependent protein kinase C. This study aimed to define synoviocyte membrane currents and channels that may influence synoviocyte Ca2+ dynamics. Resting membrane potential ranged from −30 mV to −66 mV (mean −45 ± 8.60 mV, n = 40). Input resistance ranged from 0.54 GΩ to 2.6 GΩ (mean 1.28 ± 0.57 GΩ; ν = 33). Cell capacitance averaged 97.97 ± 5.93 pF. Voltage clamp using Cs+ pipette solution yielded a transient inward current that disappeared in Ca2+-free solutions and was blocked by 1 μM nifedipine, indicating an L-type calcium current. The current was increased fourfold by the calcium channel activator FPL 64176 (300 nM). Using K+ pipette solution, depolarizing steps positive to −40 mV evoked an outward current that showed kinetics and voltage dependence of activation and inactivation typical of the delayed rectifier potassium current. This was blocked by the nonspecific delayed rectifier blocker 4-aminopyridine. The synoviocytes expressed mRNA for four Kv1 subtypes (Kv1.1, Kv1.4, Kv1.5, and Kv1.6). Correolide (1 μM), margatoxin (100 nM), and α-dendrotoxin block these Kv1 subtypes, and all of these drugs significantly reduced synoviocyte outward current. The current was blocked most effectively by 50 nM κ-dendrotoxin, which is specific for channels containing a Kv1.1 subunit, indicating that Kv1.1 is critical, either as a homomultimeric channel or as a component of a heteromultimeric Kv1 channel. When 50 nM κ-dendrotoxin was added to current-clamped synoviocytes, the cells depolarized by >20 mV and this was accompanied by an increase in intracellular calcium concentration. Similarly, depolarization of the cells with high external potassium solution caused an increase in intracellular calcium, and this effect was greatly reduced by 1 μM nifedipine. In conclusion, fibroblast-like synoviocytes cultured from the inner synovium of the rabbit exhibit voltage-dependent inward and outward currents, including Ca2+ currents. They thus express ion channels regulating membrane Ca2+ permeability and electrochemical gradient. Since Ca2+-dependent kinases are major regulators of synovial hyaluronan secretion, the synoviocyte ion channels are likely to be important in the regulation of hyaluronan secretion.

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 1006-1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Marie F Salapatek ◽  
Junzhi Ji ◽  
Ahmad Muinuddin ◽  
Nicholas E Diamant

We hypothesized that regional differences in electrophysiological properties exist within the musculature of the feline lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and that they may potentially contribute to functional asymmetry within the LES. Freshly isolated esophageal smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from the circular muscle and sling regions within the LES were studied under a patch clamp. The resting membrane potential (RMP) of the circular SMCs was significantly more depolarized than was the RMP of the sling SMCs, resulting from a higher Na+and Cl–permeability in circular muscle than in sling muscle. Large conductance Ca2+-activated K+(BKCa) set the RMP at both levels, since specific BKCainhibitors caused depolarization; however, BKCadensity was greatest in the circular region. A significant portion of the outward current was due to non-BKCa, especially in sling muscle, and likely delayed rectifier K+channels (KDR). There was a large reduction in outward current with 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) in sling muscle, while BKCablockers had a limited effect on the voltage-activated outward current in sling muscle. Differences in BKCa:KDRchannel ratios were also manifest by a leftward shift in the voltage-dependent activation curve in circular cells compared to sling cells. The electrophysiological differences seen between the circular and sling muscles provide a basis for their different contributions to LES activities such as resting tone and neurotransmitter responsiveness, and in turn could impart asymmetric drug responses and provide specific therapeutic targets.Key words: esophagus, esophageal motility, gastroesophageal reflux, KCa, KDR, LES tone.


2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (1) ◽  
pp. R115-R129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang-Li Zhao ◽  
Shao-Gang Lu ◽  
Scott Herness

Although the numerous stimuli representing the taste quality of bitterness are known to be transduced through multiple mechanisms, recent studies have suggested an unpredicted complexity of the transduction pathways for individual bitter stimuli. To investigate this notion more thoroughly, a single prototypic bitter stimulus, caffeine, was studied by using patch-clamp and ratiometric imaging techniques on dissociated rat taste receptor cells. At behaviorally relevant concentrations, caffeine produced strong inhibition of outwardly and inwardly rectifying potassium currents. Caffeine additionally inhibited calcium current, produced a weaker inhibition of sodium current, and was without effect on chloride current. Consistent with its effects on voltage-dependent currents, caffeine caused a broadening of the action potential and an increase of the input resistance. Caffeine was an effective stimulus for elevation of intracellular calcium. This elevation was concentration dependent, independent of extracellular calcium or ryanodine, and dependent on intracellular stores as evidenced by thapsigargin treatment. These dual actions on voltage-activated ionic currents and intracellular calcium levels suggest that a single taste stimulus, caffeine, utilizes multiple transduction mechanisms.


2007 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter R. MacLeish ◽  
Colin A. Nurse

Vertebrate photoreceptors are highly polarized sensory cells in which several different ionic currents have been characterized. In the present study we used whole cell voltage-clamp and optical imaging techniques, the former combined with microsurgical manipulations, and simultaneous recording of membrane current and intracellular calcium signals to investigate the spatial distribution of ion channels within isolated salamander rods. In recordings from intact rods with visible terminals, evidence for five previously identified ionic currents was obtained. These include two Ca2+-dependent, i.e., a Ca2+-dependent chloride current [ ICl(Ca)] and a large-conductance Ca2+- and voltage-dependent K+ or BK current [ IK(Ca)], and three voltage-dependent currents, i.e., a delayed-rectifier type current [ IK(V)], a hyperpolarization-activated cation current ( Ih), and a dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type calcium current ( ICa). Of these, ICl(Ca) was highly correlated with the presence of a terminal; rods with visible terminals expressed ICl(Ca) without exception ( n = 125), whereas approximately 71% of rods (40/56) without visible terminals lacked ICl(Ca). More significantly, ICl(Ca) was absent from all rods ( n = 33) that had their terminals ablated, and recordings from the same cell before and after terminal ablation led, in all cases ( n =10), to the loss of ICl(Ca). In contrast, IK(Ca), IK(V), and Ih remained largely intact after terminal ablation, suggesting that they arose principally from ion channels located in the soma and/or inner segment. The outward IK(Ca) in terminal-ablated rods was reversibly suppressed on “puffing” a Ca2+-free extracellular solution over the soma and was appreciably enhanced by the L-type Ca2+ channel agonist, Bay K 8644 (0.1–2 μM). These data indicate that rod photoreceptors possess discrete targeting mechanisms that preferentially sort ion channels mediating ICl(Ca) to the terminal.


2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (10) ◽  
pp. 1022-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Veress ◽  
Dóra Baranyai ◽  
Bence Hegyi ◽  
Kornél Kistamás ◽  
Csaba Dienes ◽  
...  

The role of transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) channels has been frequently tested using their inhibitor 9-phenanthrol in various cardiac preparations; however, the selectivity of the compound is uncertain. Therefore, in the present study, the concentration-dependent effects of 9-phenanthrol on major ionic currents were studied in canine isolated ventricular cells using whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique and 10 mM BAPTA-containing pipette solution to prevent the Ca2+-dependent activation of TRPM4 channels. Transient outward (Ito1), rapid delayed rectifier (IKr), and inward rectifier (IK1) K+ currents were suppressed by 10 and 30 μM 9-phenanthrol with the blocking potency for IK1 < IKr < Ito1 and partial reversibility. L-type Ca2+ current was not affected up to the concentration of 30 μM. In addition, a steady outward current was detected at voltages positive to –40 mV in 9-phenanthrol, which was larger at more positive voltages and larger 9-phenanthrol concentrations. Action potentials were recorded using microelectrodes. Maximal rate of depolarization, phase-1 repolarization, and terminal repolarization were decreased and the plateau potential was depressed by 9-phenanthrol (3–30 μM), congruently with the observed alterations of ionic currents. Significant action potential prolongation was observed by 9-phenanthrol in the majority of the studied cells, but only at 30 μM concentration. In conclusion, 9-phenanthrol is not selective to TRPM4 channels in canine ventricular myocardium; therefore, its application as a TRPM4 blocker can be appropriate only in expression systems but not in native cardiac cells.


1992 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 332-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Buchholtz ◽  
J. Golowasch ◽  
I. R. Epstein ◽  
E. Marder

1. The ionic currents in the lateral pyloric (LP) cell of the stomatogastric ganglion (STG) described in the preceding paper of the rock crab Cancer borealis were fit with a set of differential equations that describe their voltage, time, and Ca2+ dependence. The voltage-dependent currents modeled are a delayed rectifier-like current, id; a Ca(2+)-activated outward current, io(Ca); a transient A-like current, iA; a Ca2+ current, iCa; an inwardly rectifying current, ih; and a fast tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive Na+ current, iNa. 2. A single-compartment, isopotential model of the LP cell was constructed from the six voltage-dependent currents, a voltage-independent leak current il, a Ca2+ buffering system, and the membrane capacitance. 3. The behavior of the model LP neuron was compared with that of the biological neuron by simulating physiological experiments carried out in both voltage-clamp and current-clamp modes. The model and biological neurons show similar action-potential shapes, durations, steady-state current-voltage (I-V) curves, and respond to injected current in a comparable way.


1994 ◽  
Vol 188 (1) ◽  
pp. 339-345
Author(s):  
D Cattaert ◽  
A Araque ◽  
W Buno ◽  
F Clarac

In crustaceans, some motor neurones (MNs) have been shown to be part of the central pattern generator in the stomatogastric system (Harris-Warrick et al. 1992; Moulins, 1990), the swimmeret system (Heitler, 1978) or the walking system (Chrachri and Clarac, 1990). These MNs induce changes in the central rhythm when depolarized and are conditional oscillators in the stomatogastric ganglion. Moreover, in the walking system, rhythmic activity can be triggered by muscarinic cholinergic agonists (Chrachri and Clarac, 1987). We have recently analyzed the role of muscarinic receptors in crayfish walking leg MNs (D. Cattaert and A. Araque, in preparation) and demonstrated that oxotremorine, a muscarinic agonist, evoked long-lasting depolarizing responses associated with an increased input resistance. The outward current blocked by oxotremorine is likely to be carried by K+, as is the case for the M current (IM) in vertebrates (Brown and Adams, 1980). In most neurones, K+ conductances play a principal role in maintaining the membrane potential at rest: for example, IM is active at the resting membrane potential, thus contributing to its maintenance, and the 'delayed-rectifier' (IK) assists the fast repolarization after an action potential. Some K+ conductances are Ca2+-dependent (IK,Ca) and are activated by an increase in internal Ca2+ concentration. In such cases, Ca2+ currents may result in hyperpolarization of the neurone through activation of IK,Ca. In opposition to these K+ currents, the direct effect of Na+ and Ca2+ conductances is to depolarize the neurone. For example, the persistant Na+ current (INap) that is responsible for the slow subthreshold depolarization termed slow pre-potentials (Gestrelius et al. 1983; Leung and Yim, 1991) participates in the formation of pacemaker depolarization (Barrio et al. 1991) and generates plateau-type responses in control conditions (Barrio et al. 1991; Llinas and Sugimori, 1980). Similarly Ca2+ or non-specific (Na+/Ca2+) conductances generate such events in Aplysia californica burster neurones (Adams and Benson, 1985), crustacean cardiac ganglion (Tazaki and Cooke, 1990), insect neurones (Hancox and Pitman, 1991) and crustacean stomatogastric ganglion (Kiehn and Harris-Warrick, 1992). Since crustacean MNs can participate in rhythm production, such depolarizing conductances may exist in most of them and may contribute to the long-lasting MN depolarizations and spike bursts present during locomotion.


1988 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
pp. 287-316
Author(s):  
W. T. Mason ◽  
S. R. Rawlings ◽  
P. Cobbett ◽  
S. K. Sikdar ◽  
R. Zorec ◽  
...  

Normal anterior pituitary cells, in their diversity and heterogeneity, provide a rich source of models for secretory function. However, until recently they have largely been neglected in favour of neoplastic, clonal tumour cell lines of pituitary origin, which have enabled a number of studies on supposedly homogeneous cell types. Because many of these lines appear to lack key peptide and neurotransmitter receptors, as well as being degranulated with accompanying abnormal levels of secretion, we have developed a range of normal primary anterior pituitary cell cultures using dispersion and enrichment techniques. By studying lactotrophs, somatotrophs and gonadotrophs we have revealed a number of possible transduction mechanisms by which receptors for hypothalamic peptides and neurotransmitters may control secretion. In particular, the transduction events controlling secretion from pituitary cells may differ fundamentally from those found in other cell types. Patch-clamp recordings in these various pituitary cell preparations have revealed substantial populations of voltage-dependent Na+, Ca2+ and K+ channels which may support action potentials in these cells. Although activation of these channels may gate Ca2+ entry to the cells under some conditions, our evidence taken with that of other laboratories suggests that peptide-receptor interactions leading to hormone secretion occur independently of significant membrane depolarization. Rather, secretion of hormone and rises in intracellular calcium measured with new probes for intracellular calcium activity, can occur in response to hypothalamic peptide activation in the absence of substantial changes in membrane potential. These changes in intracellular calcium activity almost certainly depend on both intracellular and extracellular calcium sources. In addition, strong evidence of a role for multiple intracellular receptors and modulators in the secretory event suggests we should consider the plasma membrane channels important for regulation of hormone secretion to be predominantly agonist-activated, rather than of the more conventional voltage-dependent type. Likewise, evidence from new methods for recording single ion channels suggests the existence of intracellular sites for channel modulation, implying they too may play an important role in secretory regulation. We shall consider new data and new technology which we hope will provide key answers to the many intriguing questions surrounding the control of pituitary hormone secretion. We shall highlight our work with recordings of single ion channels activated by peptides, and recent experiments using imaging of intracellular ionized free calcium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (3) ◽  
pp. H806-H817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary A. Gintant

Although inactivation of the rapidly activating delayed rectifier current ( I Kr) limits outward current on depolarization, the role of I Kr (and recovery from inactivation) during repolarization is uncertain. To characterize I Krduring ventricular repolarization (and compare with the inward rectifier current, I K1), voltage-clamp waveforms simulating the action potential were applied to canine ventricular, atrial, and Purkinje myocytes. In ventricular myocytes, I Kr was minimal at plateau potentials but transiently increased during repolarizing ramps. The I Kr transient was unaffected by repolarization rate and maximal after 150-ms depolarizations (+25 mV). Action potential clamps revealed the I Kr transient terminating the plateau. Although peak I Kr transient density was relatively uniform among myocytes, potentials characterizing the peak transients were widely dispersed. In contrast, peak inward rectifier current ( I K1) density during repolarization was dispersed, whereas potentials characterizing I K1 defined a narrower (more negative) voltage range. In summary, rapidly activating I Kr provides a delayed voltage-dependent (and functionally time-independent) outward transient during ventricular repolarization, consistent with rapid recovery from inactivation. The heterogeneous voltage dependence of I Kr provides a novel means for modulating the contribution of this current during repolarization.


2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 2026-2034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fumihito Saitow ◽  
Shiro Konishi

In the preceding paper, we showed that norepinephrine (NE) enhances the spontaneous spike firings in cerebellar interneurons, basket cells (BCs), resulting in an increase in the frequency of BC-spike-triggered inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in Purkinje cells (PCs), and that the effects of NE on GABAergic BCs are mediated by β2-adrenergic receptors. This study aimed to further examine the ionic mechanism underlying the β-adrenoceptor-mediated facilitation of GABAergic transmission at the BC-PC synapses. Using cerebellar slices obtained from 15- to 21-day-old rats and whole cell recordings, we investigated ionic currents in the BCs and the effects of the β-agonist isoproterenol (ISP) as well as forskolin on the BC excitability. Hyperpolarizing voltage steps from a holding potential of −50 mV elicited a hyperpolarization-activated inward current, I h, in the BC. This current exhibited voltage-dependent activation that was accelerated by strong hyperpolarization, displaying two time constants, 84 ± 6 and 310 ± 40 ms, at −100 mV, and was inhibited by 20 μM ZD7288. ISP and forskolin, both at 20 μM, enhanced I h by shifting the activation curve by 5.9 and 9.3 mV toward positive voltages, respectively. Under the current-clamp mode, ISP produced a depolarization of 7 ± 3 mV in BCs and reduced their input resistance to 74 ± 6%. ISP and a cAMP analogue, Rp-cAMP-S, increased the frequency of spontaneous spikes recorded from BCs using the cell-attached mode. The I h inhibitor ZD7288 decreased the BC spike frequency and abolished the ISP-induced increase in spike discharges. The results suggest that NE depolarizes the BCs through β-adrenoceptor-mediated cAMP formation linking it to activation of I h, which is, at least in part, involved in noradrenergic afferent-mediated facilitation of GABAergic synaptic activity at BC-PC connections in the rat cerebellum.


1992 ◽  
Vol 262 (1) ◽  
pp. C75-C83 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. H. Follmer ◽  
N. J. Lodge ◽  
C. A. Cullinan ◽  
T. J. Colatsky

The effects of cadmium on the delayed outward potassium current (IK) were investigated in isolated cat ventricular myocytes using the single suction pipette voltage-clamp technique. IK activation was examined using peak tail currents elicited after 750-ms voltage-clamp steps to selected membrane potentials from a holding potential of -40 mV. In the presence of Cd2+ (0.2 mM), peak tail currents increased from a control value of 85 +/- 12 to 125 +/- 18 pA (n = 4). Activation curves constructed from the average peak tail-current measurements in all experiments showed that Cd2+ shifted the voltage dependence of activation to more positive potentials by 16.4 +/- 2.0 mV and increased the slope factor of the activation curve from 6.1 +/- 0.2 to 6.9 +/- 0.2 mV. In the absence of Cd2+, increases in holding potential from -30 to -70 mV had no effect on the magnitude of the peak tail currents, suggesting that the Cd(2+)-induced increase was not the result of a voltage-dependent increase in the number of available K+ channels at the holding potential. Slow voltage ramps from -70 to +70 mV revealed that Cd2+ increased the outward current at membrane potentials positive to +20 mV and shifted the voltage range in which IK inwardly rectified to more positive potentials. The fully activated current-voltage relationship was also shifted to more positive potentials by Cd2+. Cd2+ did not alter channel selectivity for K+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


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