Differences in voltage-dependent sodium currents exhibited by superficial and deep layer neurons of guinea pig entorhinal cortex

1994 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 1986-1991 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Fan ◽  
M. Stewart ◽  
R. K. Wong

1. Sodium currents were studied using whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques in neurons acutely isolated from superficial (II/III) and deep (V/VI) layers of guinea pig entorhinal cortex. 2. Sodium currents were larger (peak amplitude) in superficial than in deep layer cells under the same conditions: -1939 +/- 780 (SD) pA (N = 6) versus -307 +/- 257 pA (N = 6). Specific membrane conductance was calculated to be 12.3 +/- 9.6 mS/cm2 for superficial layer cells and 1.4 +/- 0.9 mS/cm2 for deep layer cells. 3. Sodium currents could be activated in superficial layer cells from potentials as depolarized as -20 mV, whereas no significant currents could be activated in deep neurons from potentials more depolarized than about -50 mV. Using a protocol consisting of a 25-ms prepulse and a 20 ms test pulse, the inactivation curves for superficial layer cells were found to be shifted toward more depolarized potentials by an average of 15 mV (V50 = -59.8 +/- 3.8 mV compared with -75.7 +/- 12.0 mV for deep cells). This produced a region of overlap with the activation curves for superficial cells. 4. Over a range of about -50 to -20 mV in superficial layer cells, the region of overlap of the activation and inactivation curves, a sodium current could be activated, which did not fully inactivate during the test pulse (average peak amplitude: -89.5 +/- 48.7 pA; crossover voltage: -39.2 +/- 2.0 mV). Voltage steps to more depolarized potentials, outside the voltage “window”, permitted complete inactivation of the sodium current.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 1635-1642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilya A. Rybak ◽  
Krzysztof Ptak ◽  
Natalia A. Shevtsova ◽  
Donald R. McCrimmon

Rapidly inactivating and persistent sodium currents have been characterized in acutely dissociated neurons from the area of rostroventrolateral medulla that included the pre-Bötzinger Complex. As demonstrated in many studies in vitro, this area can generate endogenous rhythmic bursting activity. Experiments were performed on neonate and young rats (P1-15). Neurons were investigated using the whole cell voltage-clamp technique. Standard activation and inactivation protocols were used to characterize the steady-state and kinetic properties of the rapidly inactivating sodium current. Slow depolarizing ramp protocols were used to characterize the noninactivating sodium current. The “window” component of the rapidly inactivating sodium current was calculated using mathematical modeling. The persistent sodium current was revealed by subtraction of the window current from the total noninactivating sodium current. Our results provide evidence of the presence of persistent sodium currents in neurons of the rat rostroventrolateral medulla and determine voltage-gated characteristics of activation and inactivation of rapidly inactivating and persistent sodium channels in these neurons.


2002 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 1159-1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerardo Biella ◽  
Laura Uva ◽  
Ulrich G. Hofmann ◽  
Marco De Curtis

Associative fiber systems in the entorhinal cortex (EC) have been extensively studied in different mammals with tracing techniques. The largest contingent of intra-EC cortico-cortical fibers runs in the superficial layers and is distributed predominantly within longitudinal cortical bands. We studied the patterns of intrinsic EC connectivity in the in vitro isolated guinea pig brain preparation by performing current-source density analysis of field potential laminar profiles recorded with multi-channel silicon probes. The response pattern evoked by stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract was utilized to identify the lateral (l-EC) and medial (m-EC) entorhinal cortex. Stimulation of the deep layers did not evoke consistent responses. Local stimulation of the superficial layers in different portions of the EC induced an early, possibly direct response restricted to layer II–III in the close proximity to the stimulating electrode, followed by a late potential in the superficial layer I, that propagated at distance with a progressively increasing latency. The monosynaptic nature of the delayed response was verified by applying a pairing test. The results demonstrated that stimulation in the rostral-medial part of the EC generated activity restricted to the rostral pole of the l-EC, stimulation of the m-EC induced an associative activation that propagated rostrocaudally within the m-EC, stimulation of the caudal pole of the m-EC induced an additional response directed laterally, and stimulation of the lateral band of the EC determined a prominent longitudinal propagation of neuronal activity, but also induced associative potentials that propagated medially. The results are in partial agreement with the general picture derived from the anatomical studies performed in different species. Even though the largest associative interactions between superficial layers are restricted within either the m-EC or the l-EC, both rostral and caudal stimuli in the EC region close to the rhinal sulcus induced activity that propagated across the border between l- and m-EC.


1993 ◽  
Vol 185 (1) ◽  
pp. 267-286
Author(s):  
K. L. Blair ◽  
P. A. V. Anderson

Cells were dispersed from the brains of the triclad flatworm Bdelloura candida and maintained in primary culture for up to 2 weeks. Cultured cells assumed a variety of morphologies consistent with those of neurones in vivo. Whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings from cultured cells revealed that these cells possess a variety of ionic currents, including a fast transient sodium current, a calcium current and several potassium currents. The sodium current does not inactivate completely but instead decays to a steady-state component which has the same physiology and pharmacology as the fast transient component, suggesting that the two components are carried by the same population of channels. The physiology and pharmacology of these various currents were not remarkable save for the fact that, contrary to earlier reports, all sodium currents examined were sensitive to tetrodotoxin (TTX). These animals are, therefore, the lowest animals known to possess TTX-sensitive sodium currents and, as such, represent a major stage in sodium channel evolution.


1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 2240-2249 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. G. Grigoriev ◽  
J. D. Spafford ◽  
J. Przysiezniak ◽  
A. N. Spencer

1. Whole cell voltage-clamp recordings from isolated swimming motor neurons (SMNs) reveal a rapidly activating and inactivating sodium current. 2. Permeability ratios of PLi/PNa = 0.941 and P(guanidinium)/PNa = 0.124 were measured for the mediating channel, which was impermeable to rubidium. 3. The conductance/voltage and steady state inactivation curves are shifted in a depolarizing direction by approximately 45 mV relative to most neuronal sodium currents in higher animals. 4. Activation could be fitted with two exponents and maximal current peaked at 0.74 +/- 0.06 ms (mean +/- SD). 5. Inactivation could be fitted with fast (Tau 1 = 1.91 +/- 0.07 ms at +10 mV) and slow (Tau 2 = 11.65 +/- 0.55 ms at +10 mV) exponents. 6. Half-recovery from inactivation occurred slowly (52.6 +/- 2.9 ms). 7. A second class of identifiable neurons, "B" neurons, possesses a distinctly different population of sodium channels. they showed different inactivation kinetics and far more rapid recovery from inactivation (half-recovery < 5 ms). 8. We conclude that there was physiological diversification of sodium channels early in metazoan evolution and that there has been considerable cell-specific selection of channel properties.


2017 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 21-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Uva ◽  
Davide Boido ◽  
Massimo Avoli ◽  
Marco de Curtis ◽  
Maxime Lévesque

The α action of catecholamines on oestrogen dominated guinea-pig uterus is stimulant. The cell membrane is depolarized, membrane conductance is increased, spike discharge is accelerated and tension develops. This action resembles that of acetylcholine though catecholamines are less potent, and, in equiactive concentrations, catecholamines have a longer latency and a longer duration of action. Evidence, obtained by modifications of the ionic environment, indicates that the depolarization by acetylcholine is due to an increase in sodium and calcium permeability and that acetylcholine can release calcium from intracellular stores. The depolarization by catecholamines is due to an increase in chloride permeability and, in addition, sodium is required for the ensuing increase of spike discharge. Catecholamines produce an increase in the force of contraction, long outlasting their immediate stimulation. Moreover, their effect on membrane potential and membrane conductance persists in the presence of lanthanum. These results suggest that Ca release from intracellular stores may be the primary effect produced by the α action of catecholamines and that the increase in the cytoplasmic Ca 2+ concentration may cause the changes at the cell membrane.


Author(s):  
Ryoichi Sato ◽  
Ichiro Hisatome ◽  
Yasunori Tanaka ◽  
Norito Sasaki ◽  
Hiroshi Kotake ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (2) ◽  
pp. H756-H761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigeo Baba ◽  
Wen Dun ◽  
Masanori Hirose ◽  
Penelope A. Boyden

The incidence of atrial fibrillation increases with age, but it is unknown whether there are changes in the intrinsic function of Na+ currents in cells of the aged atria. Thus, we studied right (RA) and left (LA) atrial cells from two groups of dogs, adult and aged (>8 yr), to determine the change in Na+ currents with age. In this study all dogs were in normal sinus rhythm. Whole cell voltage clamp techniques were used to compare the Na+ currents in the two cell groups. Immunocytochemical studies were completed for the Na+ channel protein Nav1.5 to determine whether there was structural remodeling of this protein with age. In cells from aged animals, we found that Na+ currents are similar to those we measured in adult atria. However, Na+ current ( INa) density of the aged atria differed depending on the atrial chamber with LA cell currents being larger than RA cell currents. Thus with age, the difference in INa density between atrial chambers remains. INa kinetic differences between aged and adult cells included a significant acceleration into the inactivated state and an enhanced use-dependent decrease in peak current in aged RA cells. Finally, there is no structural remodeling of the cardiac Na+ channel protein Nav1.5 in the aged atrial cell. In conclusion, with age there is no change in INa density, but there are subtle kinetic differences contributing to slight enhancement of use dependence. There is no structural remodeling of the fast Na+ current protein with age.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document