Pharmacology of a Slowly Inactivating Outward Current in Hippocampal CA3 Pyramidal Neurons

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 1116-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Bianchi ◽  
Shih-Chieh Chuang ◽  
Robert K. S. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Transient Outward Current ◽  
Activation Threshold

The pharmacology of a slowly inactivating outward current was examined using whole cell patch-clamp recordings in CA3 pyramidal cells of guinea pig hippocampal slices. The current had a low activation threshold (about −60 mV) and inactivated slowly (time constant of 3.4 ± 0.5 s at −50 mV) and completely at membrane voltages depolarized to −50 mV. The slowly inactivating outward current was mainly mediated by K+ with a reversal potential close to the equilibrium potential for K+. The slowly inactivating outward current had distinct pharmacological properties: its time course was not affected by extracellular Cs+ (1 mM) or 4-AP (1–5 mM)—broad spectrum inhibitors of K+ currents and of inactivating K+ currents, respectively. The presence of extracellular Mn2+ (0.5–1 mM), which suppresses several Ca2+-dependent K+ currents, also did not affect the slowly inactivating outward current. The current was partially suppressed by TEA (50 mM) and was blocked by intracellular Cs+ (134 mM). In addition, intracellular QX-314 (5 mM), a local anesthetic derivative, inhibited this current. The slowly inactivating outward current with its low activation threshold should be operational at the resting potential. Our results suggest that the transient outward current activated at subthreshold membrane potentials in hippocampal pyramidal cells consists of at least three components. In addition to the well-described A- and D-currents, the slowest decaying component reflects the time course of a distinct current, suppressible by QX-314.

Ionic basis of the postsynaptic depolarizing GABA response in hippocampal pyramidal cells

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 3886-3894 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Perkins ◽  
R. K. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Pipette Solution ◽  
Inward Current ◽  
Chloride Accumulation ◽  
Current Sequence ◽  
Ionic Basis

1. Whole cell voltage-clamp recording with recording pipette solutions of differing ionic composition was used to determine the ionic basis of the depolarizing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) response. In the presence of 4-aminopyridine and excitatory amino acid receptor blockers, giant GABA-mediated postsynaptic currents (GPSCs) were recorded from CA3 pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slices from adult guinea pigs. With the GABAB component blocked, the GPSC was composed of an initial outward current (GABAA component) that peaked at 115 ms followed by a late inward current (GABAD component) that peaked at 400-600 ms. 2. Reduction of the intracellular concentration of potassium ([K+]i)resulted in no significant change in the reversal potential of the GABAD component of the GPSC, indicating that it is not a nonspecific cation current. 3. The HCO3- permeability of the channel mediating the GABAD response was assessed by using recording pipette solutions containing three different concentrations of bicarbonate ([HCO3-], 19, 49, and 102 mM). The reversal potential of the GABAD response shifted in the depolarizing direction as the HCO3- equilibrium potential was shifted in the depolarizing direction, indicating that the channel mediating the GABAD response is permeable to HCO3-. The reversal potential of the GABAD response was more sensitive to changes in recording pipette [HCO3-] than the reversal potential of the GABAA response, indicating that the GABAD response is carried by HCO3- to a greater extent than the GABAA response. 4. The outward current-inward current sequence of the biphasic GPSC was reversed to an inward current-outward current sequence by using a high [Cl-]/low [HCO3-] recording pipette solution (40 mM Cl-/6 mM HCO3-), indicating that the GABAA component is more sensitive to changes in [Cl-]i, and the GABAD component is more sensitive to changes in [HCO3-]i. 5. These data indicate that the GABAD component of the GPSC is predominantly carried by HCO3-. While this result supports the recently propsed chloride accumulation model, the model in its present form cannot explain the inward current-outward current polarity sequence of the GPSC recorded with the high [Cl-]/low [HCO3-] intracellular solution. The data obtained using that solution reveal the need for a more expansive chloride accumulation/ depletion model or for a model utilizing two distinct ionotropic GABA channels with different anion permeability ratios to account for the biphasic nature of the GPSC.

Calcium-dependent current generating the afterhyperpolarization of hippocampal neurons

1986 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 1268-1282 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Lancaster ◽  
P. R. Adams
Keyword(s):  
Voltage Clamp ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Tail Current ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
K Current

A single-electrode voltage-clamp technique was employed on in vitro hippocampal slices to examine the membrane current responsible for the slow afterhyperpolarization (AHP) in CA1 pyramidal cells. This was achieved by using conventional procedures to evoke an AHP in current clamp, followed rapidly by a switch into voltage clamp (hybrid clamp). The AHP current showed a dependence on extracellular K+, which was close to that predicted for a K+ current by the Nernst equation. The AHP current could be blocked by Cd2+ or norepinephrine. Although the AHP current showed a requirement for voltage-dependent Ca2+ entry, the current did not show any clear intrinsic voltage dependence. Once activated, AHP current is not turned off by hyperpolarizing the membrane potential. The effects of norepinephrine, Cd2+, and tetraethylammonium (TEA) were used to identify an AHP current component to the outward current evoked by depolarizing voltage commands from holding potentials that approximate to the resting potential for these cells. The AHP current can contribute significantly to the outward current during the depolarizing command. Upon repolarization it is evident as a slow outward tail current. This slow tail current had the same time constant as AHP currents evoked by hybrid clamp. Fast components to the tail currents were also observed. These were sensitive to Cd2+ and TEA. They probably represent a voltage-sensitive gKCa, sometimes termed C-current. The strong sensitivity to voltage and TEA displayed by the conventionally described gKCa (IC) are properties inconsistent with the AHP. It seems likely that the AHP current (IAHP) represents a Ca2+-activated K+ current separate from IC and that these two currents coexist in the same cell.

Transient voltage and calcium-dependent outward currents in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons

1985 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 1038-1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Zbicz ◽  
F. F. Weight
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Sympathetic Neurons ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Transient Current ◽  
Transient Outward Current ◽  
Molluscan Neurons ◽  
Voltage Sensitivity ◽  
Transient Currents ◽  
Fast Transient

Membrane currents activated by step changes in membrane potential were studied in hippocampal pyramidal neurons of region CA3 using the single microelectrode voltage-clamp technique. The transient outward current activated by depolarizing steps appeared to be composed of two transient currents that could be distinguished by differences in voltage sensitivity, time course, and pharmacological sensitivity. The more slowly decaying current was activated by voltage steps positive to -60 mV and declined exponentially with a time constant between 200 and 400 ms. This current inactivated as the holding potential was made more positive over the range of -75 to -45 mV and was 50% inactivated near -60 mV. The more slowly decaying transient current was selectively blocked by 0.5 mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) but not by 5-10 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA) or 2-5 mM Mn2+. The second transient current had a much faster time course than the 4-AP-sensitive current, having a duration of 5-20 ms. This very fast transient current was observed during potential steps positive to -45 mV. The fast transient current was inactivated when the holding potential was made positive to -45 mV. The amplitude of the fast transient current was greatly reduced by the application of 4 mM Mn2+ or Ca2+-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The fast transient current appeared to be unaffected by 0.5 mM 4-AP but was greatly reduced by 10 mM TEA. These results suggest that the transient outward current observed during depolarizing steps is composed of at least two distinct transient currents. The more slowly decaying current resembles the A-current originally described in molluscan neurons (9, 32, 42) in voltage sensitivity, time course, and pharmacological sensitivity. The faster transient current resembles a fast, Ca2+-dependent transient current previously observed in bull-frog sympathetic neurons (5, 27).

Effects of myocardial hypertrophy on transient outward current

1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (5) ◽  
pp. H1738-H1745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Li ◽  
E. C. Keung
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Action Potential ◽  
Action Potential Duration ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Myocardial Hypertrophy ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Transient Outward Current ◽  
The Difference

In the one-clip, two-kidney model of hypertensive rat, a gradual chronic pressure overload is imposed on the heart. Myocardial hypertrophy resulting from such pressure overload is associated with an increased but slower inactivating L-type calcium current and prolongation of action potential duration. Voltage clamp experiments in a variety of excitable tissues indicate that a 4-aminopyridine-sensitive transient outward current (Ito) plays an important role in regulating the action potential duration. Accordingly, we studied Ito in single adult cardiac myocytes enzymatically isolated from hypertrophied left ventricles of the renovascular hypertensive (HBP) rat hearts using the whole cell patch-clamp method. The current densities (normalized to cell capacitative surface area) measured at the early transient peak Ito, at the steady state, and as the difference between the transient peak and the steady state were larger in HBP cells (n = 23) than in control (Ctrl) cells (n = 20) (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the Ito reversal potential between Ctrl (-60.9 +/- 1.9 mV, mean +/- SE; n = 16) and HBP (-63.7 +/- 2.6 mV; n = 19) cells. The observed increase in Ito amplitude was not due to an increase in the number of channels available for activation or in the fraction of channels activated because there were no statistical differences in the membrane potential at which one-half of the Ito channels are activated (V0.5) for the steady-state activation and inactivation curves between Ctrl and HBP cells. The time course of inactivation of Ito was described by a double-exponential function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of a transient outward K+ current with inward rectification in canine ventricular myocytes

1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (3) ◽  
pp. C577-C585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gui-Rong Li ◽  
Haiying Sun ◽  
Stanley Nattel
Keyword(s):  
Action Potential ◽  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Inward Rectification ◽  
Transient Outward Current ◽  
Membrane Excitability ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Patch Technique

The threshold potential for the classical depolarization-activated transient outward K+ current and Cl− current is positive to −30 mV. With the whole cell patch technique, a transient outward current was elicited in the presence of 5 mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and 5 μM ryanodine at voltages positive to the K+ equilibrium potential in canine ventricular myocytes. The current was abolished by 200 μM Ba2+ or omission of external K+([Formula: see text]) and showed biexponential inactivation. The current-voltage relation for the peak of the transient outward component showed moderate inward rectification. The transient outward current demonstrated voltage-dependent inactivation (half-inactivation voltage: −43.5 ± 3.2 mV) and rapid, monoexponential recovery from inactivation (time constant: 13.2 ± 2.5 ms). The reversal potential responded to the changes in[Formula: see text] concentration. Action potential clamp revealed two phases of Ba2+-sensitive current during the action potential, including a large early transient component after the upstroke and a later outward component during phase 3 repolarization. The present study demonstrates that depolarization may elicit a Ba2+- and[Formula: see text]-sensitive, 4-AP-insensitive, transient outward current with inward rectification in canine ventricular myocytes. The properties of this K+ current suggest that it may carry a significant early outward current upon depolarization that may play a role in determining membrane excitability and action potential morphology.

Interaction of anionic and cationic currents leads to a voltage dependence in the odor response of olfactory receptor neurons

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 562-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Firestein ◽  
G. M. Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Olfactory Receptor ◽  
Voltage Dependence ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Olfactory Receptor Neurons ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Ambystoma Tigrinum ◽  
Induced Current ◽  
Receptor Neurons

1. We recorded odor-induced currents from isolated olfactory receptor neurons of the land phase tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) with the whole cell patch clamp. 2. In a subset of cells the current-voltage relation for the odor-induced current showed a strong rectification with, in some cells, a negative resistance slope between about -45 and -25 mV. In these cells there was little or no odor-induced current at -55 mV, the average resting potential of olfactory neurons. 3. Depolarizing the membrane to +20 mV revealed a large outward current, and on repolarizing the membrane to -55 mV we could observe a large inward current. This current was not observed in the absence of the depolarizing step or in the absence of odor stimuli. 4. This odor-induced tail current was dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and voltage, activating with increased depolarization. The reversal potential was sensitive to the chloride equilibrium potential and it could be significantly blocked by niflumic acid, a blocker of calcium-activated chloride currents. The voltage dependence could result from either the voltage-dependent block of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-gated cation channels known to be activated by odorants and permeable to Ca2+, or from an inherent voltage dependence in the chloride channel gating. 5. The current appears to function as a regenerative mechanism that might increase the amplitude and duration of the odor-induced current, especially to low concentrations of stimulus.

scholarly journals The sodium current underlying action potentials in guinea pig hippocampal CA1 neurons.

1988 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Sah ◽  
A J Gibb ◽  
P W Gage
Keyword(s):  
Action Potentials ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Sodium Current ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Sodium Currents ◽  
Time To Peak ◽  
Ca1 Region ◽  
Inward Currents

Neurons were acutely dissociated from the CA1 region of hippocampal slices from guinea pigs. Whole-cell recording techniques were used to record and control membrane potential. When the electrode contained KF, the average resting potential was about -40 mV and action potentials in cells at -80 mV (current-clamped) had an amplitude greater than 100 mV. Cells were voltage-clamped at 22-24 degrees C with electrodes containing CsF. Inward currents generated with depolarizing voltage pulses reversed close to the sodium equilibrium potential and could be completely blocked with tetrodotoxin (1 microM). The amplitude of these sodium currents was maximal at about -20 mV and the amplitude of the tail currents was linear with potential, which indicates that the channels were ohmic. The sodium conductance increased with depolarization in a range from -60 to 0 mV with an average half-maximum at about -40 mV. The decay of the currents was not exponential at potentials more positive than -20 mV. The time to peak and half-decay time of the currents varied with potential and temperature. Half of the channels were inactivated at a potential of -75 mV and inactivation was essentially complete at -40 to -30 mV. Recovery from inactivation was not exponential and the rate varied with potential. At lower temperatures, the amplitude of sodium currents decreased, their time course became longer, and half-maximal inactivation shifted to more negative potentials. In a small fraction of cells studied, sodium currents were much more rapid but the voltage dependence of activation and inactivation was very similar.

Voltage-clamp analysis of the effects of classical conditioning on the hippocampus

1991 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 796-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. V. Sanchez-Andres ◽  
D. L. Alkon
Keyword(s):  
Voltage Clamp ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Linear Increase ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Training Experience ◽  
Ca1 Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Cholinergic Agents ◽  
K Currents

1. Effects of nictitating membrane conditioning on K+ currents of CA1 pyramidal cells of rabbit hippocampus were studied by the use of the single-electrode voltage-clamp (SEVC) technique. 2. IQ, IM, IC, and IAHP were recorded in slices from control animals, showing behavior similar to that previously described for other preparations. IQ developed as an inward current during hyperpolarizing steps to potentials more negative than the K+ equilibrium potential. IM appeared as an inward inactivating relaxation during hyperpolarizing pulses, from potentials slightly more positive than the resting potential (approximately -40 mV). Such depolarization is thought to activate the IM, IC was recorded during long depolarizing pulses as a slow outward current. IAHP appeared during short depolarizing pulses as an outward current peaking at approximately 200 ms after the pulse. Progressively more positive pulses were accompanied by a linear increase of the peak IAHP value. The slope of the IAHP-voltage relation was used for comparison of cells between groups of animals that had different training experience. 3. Responses of control cells to cholinergic agents were similar to those previously characterized in other preparations. Specifically, cholinergic agonists blocked IM and IAHP, partially reduced IC, and did not affect IQ. 4. Conditioning did not affect IQ, IM, and IC but reduced the slope values of the IAHP-voltage relation. This change is consistent with the conditioning-specific afterhyperpolarization (AHP) reduction previously reported. 5. The effect of conditioning on the IAHP but not on the IC, both Ca(2+)-dependent K+ currents, suggests a direct effect on the former, rather than a reduction of ICa2+ or a change in the levels of Cai2+.

Decreased transient outward K+ current in ventricular myocytes from acromegalic rats

1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (3) ◽  
pp. H935-H942 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. P. Xu ◽  
P. M. Best
Keyword(s):  
Action Potential ◽  
Action Potential Duration ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Gh3 Cells ◽  
Heart Weight ◽  
Transient Outward Current ◽  
Tumor Bearing

Cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure are common to acromegalic patients who have abnormally high serum growth hormone (GH). While the function of cardiac muscle is clearly affected by chronically elevated GH, the electrical activity of myocytes from hearts with GH-dependent hypertrophy has not been studied. We used adult, female Wistar-Furth rats with induced GH-secreting tumors to study the effect of excessive GH on ion channels of cardiac myocytes. GH-secreting tumors were induced by subcutaneous inoculation of GH3 cells. Eight weeks after inoculation, the rats had doubled their body weight and heart size compared with age-matched controls. There were no differences in either action potential amplitude or resting potential of right ventricular myocytes from control and tumor-bearing rats. However, action potential duration increased significantly in tumor-bearing rats; the time to 50% repolarization was 23 +/- 14 ms (n = 10) compared with 6.6 +/- 1.5 ms (n = 14) in controls. The prolongation of the action potential was mainly due to a decrease in density of a transient outward current (It,o) carried by K+. The normalized conductance for It,o decreased from 0.53 +/- 0.10 nS/pF (n = 25) in controls to 0.33 +/- 0.09 nS/pF (n = 26) in tumor-bearing rats. The decrease in It,o) and increase in heart weight occurred with a similar time course. The increased action potential duration prolongs Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels in the tumor-bearing animals; this may be important in cardiovascular adaptation.

Rat hippocampal neurons in culture: potassium conductances

1984 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 1409-1433 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Segal ◽  
J. L. Barker
Keyword(s):  
Time Constant ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Equilibrium Potential ◽  
Transient Outward Current ◽  
Current Response ◽  
Normal Medium ◽  
Inward Current ◽  
Voltage Dependent

Two-electrode voltage-clamp methodology was used to analyze voltage-dependent ionic conductances in 81 rat hippocampal neurons grown in culture for 4-6 wk. Pyramidal and multipolar cells with 15- to 20-micron-diameter cell bodies were impaled with two independent KCl electrodes. The cells had resting potentials of -30 to -60 mV and an average input resistance of about 30 M omega. A depolarizing command applied to a cell maintained in normal medium invariably evoked a fast (2-10 ms) inward current that saturated the current-passing capacity of the system. This was blocked in a reversible manner by application of tetrodotoxin (TTX) (0.1-1.0 microM) near the recorded cell. In the presence of TTX, a depolarizing command evoked a rapidly rising (3-5 ms), rapidly decaying (25 ms) transient outward current reminiscent of "IA" reported in molluscan neurons. This was followed by a more slowly activating (approximately 100 ms) outward current response of greater amplitude that decayed with a time constant of about 2-3 s. These properties resemble those associated with the K+ conductance, IK, underlying delayed rectification described in many excitable membranes. IK was blocked by extracellular application of tetraethylammonium (TEA) but was insensitive to 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) at concentrations that effectively eliminated IA. IA, in turn, was only marginally depressed by TEA. Unlike IK, IA was completely inactivated when the membrane was held at potentials positive to -50 mV. Inactivation was completely removed by conditioning hyperpolarization at -90 mV. A brief hyperpolarizing pulse (10 ms) was sufficient to remove 95% of the inactivation. IA activated on commands to potentials more positive than -50 mV. The inversion potential of the ionic conductance underlying IA and IK was in the range of the K+ equilibrium potential, EK, as measured by the inversion of tail currents; and this potential was shifted in a depolarizing direction by elevated [K+]0. Thus, both current species reflect activation of membrane conductance to K+ ions. Hyperpolarizing commands from resting potentials revealed a time- and voltage-dependent slowly developing inward current in the majority of cells studied. This membrane current was observed in cells exhibiting "anomalous rectification" and was therefore labeled IAR. It was activated at potentials negative to -70 mV with a time constant of 100-200 ms and was not inactivated. A return to resting potential revealed a tail current that disappeared at about EK. IAR was blocked by extracellular CS+ and was enhanced by elevating [K+]0. It thus appears to be carried by inward movement of K+ ions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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