scholarly journals Diverse Ionic Currents and Electrical Activity of Cultured Myenteric Neurons From the Guinea Pig Proximal Colon

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 1253-1263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fivos Vogalis ◽  
Kirk Hillsley ◽  
Terence K. Smith

The aim of this study was to perform a patch-clamp analysis of myenteric neurons from the guinea pig proximal colon. Neurons were enzymatically dispersed, cultured for 2–7 days, and recorded from using whole cell patch clamp. The majority of cells fired phasically, whereas about one-quarter of the neurons fired in a tonic manner. Neurons were divided into three types based on the currents activated. The majority of tonically firing neurons lacked an A-type current, but generated a large fast transient outward current that was associated with the rapid repolarizing phase of an action potential. The fast transient outward current was dependent on calcium entry and was blocked by tetraethylammonium. Cells that expressed both an A-type current and a fast transient outward current were mostly phasic. Depolarization of these cells to suprathreshold potentials from less than −60 mV failed to trigger action potentials, or action potentials were only triggered after a delay of >50 ms. However, depolarizations from more positive potentials triggered action potentials with minimal latency. Neurons that expressed neither the A-type current or the fast transient outward current were all phasic. Sixteen percent of neurons were similar to AH/type II neurons in that they generated a prolonged afterhyperpolarization following an action potential. The current underlying the prolonged afterhyperpolarization showed weak inward rectification and had a reversal potential near the potassium equilibrium potential. Thus cultured isolated myenteric neurons of the guinea pig proximal colon retain many of the diverse properties of intact neurons. This preparation is suitable for further biophysical and molecular characterization of channels expressed in colonic myenteric neurons.

1991 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 744-761 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Johnson ◽  
P. A. Getting

1. The purpose of this study was to determine the electrophysiological properties of neurons within the region of the nucleus ambiguus (NA), an area that contains the ventral respiratory group. By the use of an in vitro brain stem slice preparation, intracellular recordings from neurons in this region (to be referred to as NA neurons, n = 235) revealed the following properties: postinhibitory rebound (PIR), delayed excitation (DE), adaptation, and posttetanic hyperpolarization (PTH). NA neurons were separated into three groups on the basis of their expression of PIR and DE: PIR cells (58%), DE cells (31%), and Non cells (10%). Non cells expressed neither PIR nor DE and no cells expressed both PIR and DE. 2. PIR was a transient depolarization that produced a single action potential or a burst of action potentials when the cell was released from hyperpolarization. In the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), the maximum magnitude of PIR was 7-12 mV. Under voltage-clamp conditions, hyperpolarizing voltage steps elicited a small inward current during the hyperpolarization and a small inward tail current on release from hyperpolarization. These currents, which mediate PIR, were most likely due to Q-current because they were blocked with extracellular cesium and were insensitive to barium. 3. DE was a delay in the onset of action potential firing when cells were hyperpolarized before application of depolarizing current. When cells were hyperpolarized to -90 mV for greater than or equal to 300 ms, maximum delays ranged from 150 to 450 ms. The transient outward current underlying DE was presumed to be A-current because of the current's activation and inactivation characteristics and its elimination by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). 4. Adaptation was examined by applying depolarizing current for 2.0 s and measuring the frequency of evoked action potentials. Although there was a large degree of variability in the degree of adaptation, PIR cells tended to express less adaptation than DE and Non cells. Nearly three-fourths of all NA neurons adapted rapidly (i.e., 50% adaptation in less than 200 ms), but PIR cells tended to adapt faster than DE and Non cells. PTH after a train of action potentials was relatively rare and occurred more often in DE cells (43%) and Non cells (33%) than in PIR cells (13%). PTH had a magnitude of up to 18 mV and time constants that reflected the presence of one (1.7 +/- 1.4 s, mean +/- SD) or two components (0.28 +/- 0.13 and 4.1 +/- 2.2 s).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (3) ◽  
pp. H1157-H1166 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Wahler ◽  
S. J. Dollinger ◽  
J. M. Smith ◽  
K. L. Flemal

The rat ventricular action potential shortens after birth. The contribution of increases in the transient outward current (Ito) to postnatal action potential shortening was assessed by measuring Ito in isolated cells and by determining the effect of 2 mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on the action potentials of papillary muscles. 4-AP had no effect on 1-day action potential duration at 25% repolarization (APD25), and 1-day cells had little Ito. In 8- to 10-day muscles, 4-AP caused a small, but significant, increase in APD25. Ito increased slightly between day 1 and days 8-10, but this increase was not significant. Most of the increase in Ito (79%) and in the response to 4-AP (64%) occurred between days 8-10 and adult; however, approximately 75% of the APD25 shortening took place by days 8-10. Thus, while Ito may contribute to repolarization in late neonatal and adult cells, the different time courses of action potential shortening and increases in Ito suggest that changes in Ito are unlikely to be responsible for most of the postnatal action potential shortening.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (4) ◽  
pp. C839-C847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sok Han Kang ◽  
Pieter Vanden Berghe ◽  
Terence K. Smith

Whole cell patch-clamp recordings were made from cultured myenteric neurons taken from murine proximal colon. The micropipette contained Cs+ to remove K+ currents. Depolarization elicited a slowly activating time-dependent outward current ( I tdo), whereas repolarization was followed by a slowly deactivating tail current ( I tail). I tdo and I tail were present in ∼70% of neurons. We identified these currents as Cl− currents ( I Cl), because changing the transmembrane Cl− gradient altered the measured reversal potential ( E rev) of both I tdo and I tail with that for I tailshifted close to the calculated Cl− equilibrium potential ( E Cl). I Cl are Ca2+-activated Cl− current [ I Cl(Ca)] because they were Ca2+dependent. E Cl, which was measured from the E rev of I Cl(Ca) using a gramicidin perforated patch, was −33 mV. This value is more positive than the resting membrane potential (−56.3 ± 2.7 mV), suggesting myenteric neurons accumulate intracellular Cl−. ω-Conotoxin GIVA [0.3 μM; N-type Ca2+ channel blocker] and niflumic acid [10 μM; known I Cl(Ca) blocker], decreased the I Cl(Ca). In conclusion, these neurons have I Cl(Ca) that are activated by Ca2+entry through N-type Ca2+ channels. These currents likely regulate postspike frequency adaptation.


2000 ◽  
Vol 279 (1) ◽  
pp. H397-H421 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Zhang ◽  
A. V. Holden ◽  
I. Kodama ◽  
H. Honjo ◽  
M. Lei ◽  
...  

Mathematical models of the action potential in the periphery and center of the rabbit sinoatrial (SA) node have been developed on the basis of published experimental data. Simulated action potentials are consistent with those recorded experimentally: the model-generated peripheral action potential has a more negative takeoff potential, faster upstroke, more positive peak value, prominent phase 1 repolarization, greater amplitude, shorter duration, and more negative maximum diastolic potential than the model-generated central action potential. In addition, the model peripheral cell shows faster pacemaking. The models behave qualitatively the same as tissue from the periphery and center of the SA node in response to block of tetrodotoxin-sensitive Na+current, L- and T-type Ca2+ currents, 4-aminopyridine-sensitive transient outward current, rapid and slow delayed rectifying K+ currents, and hyperpolarization-activated current. A one-dimensional model of a string of SA node tissue, incorporating regional heterogeneity, coupled to a string of atrial tissue has been constructed to simulate the behavior of the intact SA node. In the one-dimensional model, the spontaneous action potential initiated in the center propagates to the periphery at ∼0.06 m/s and then into the atrial muscle at 0.62 m/s.


1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (3) ◽  
pp. C577-C585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gui-Rong Li ◽  
Haiying Sun ◽  
Stanley Nattel

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.


2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (8) ◽  
pp. 586-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Corici ◽  
Zsófia Kohajda ◽  
Attila Kristóf ◽  
András Horváth ◽  
László Virág ◽  
...  

Activators of the slow delayed rectifier K+ current (IKs) have been suggested as promising tools for suppressing ventricular arrhythmias due to prolongation of repolarization. Recently, L-364,373 (R-L3) was nominated to activate IKs in myocytes from several species; however, in some studies, it failed to activate IKs. One later study suggested opposite modulating effects from the R-L3 enantiomers as a possible explanation for this discrepancy. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of the RL-3 enantiomers on IKs in ventricular mammalian myocytes, by applying standard microelectrode and whole-cell patch-clamp techniques at 37 °C. We synthesized 2 substances, ZS_1270B (right) and ZS_1271B (left), the 2 enantiomers of R-L3. In rabbit myocytes, ZS_1270B enhanced the IKs tail current by approximately 30%, whereas ZS_1271B reduced IKs tails by 45%. In guinea pig right ventricular preparations, ZS_1270B shortened APD90 (action potential duration measured at 90% repolarization) by 12%, whereas ZS_1271B lengthened it by approximately 15%. We concluded that R-L3 enantiomers in the same concentration range indeed have opposite modulating effects on IKs, which may explain why the racemic drug R-L3 previously failed to activate IKs. ZS_1270B is a potent IKs activator, therefore, this substance is appropriate to test whether IKs activators are ideal tools to suppress ventricular arrhythmias originating from prolongation of action potentials.


2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (2) ◽  
pp. H631-H637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Dong ◽  
Xiaoyin Sun ◽  
Astrid A. Prinz ◽  
Hong-Sheng Wang

The transient outward current ( Ito) is a major repolarizing current in the heart. Marked reduction of Ito density occurs in heart failure and is accompanied by significant action potential duration (APD) prolongation. To understand the species-dependent role of Ito in regulating the ventricular action potential morphology and duration, we introduced simulated Ito conductance in guinea pig and canine endocardial ventricular myocytes using the dynamic clamp technique and perforated patch-clamp recordings. The effects of simulated Ito in both types of cells were complex and biphasic, separated by a clear density threshold of ∼40 pA/pF. Below this threshold, simulated Ito resulted in a distinct phase 1 notch and had little effect on or moderately prolonged the APD. Ito above the threshold resulted in all-or-none repolarization and precipitously reduced the APD. Qualitatively, these results agreed with our previous studies in canine ventricular cells using whole cell recordings. We conclude that 1) contrary to previous gene transfer studies involving the Kv4.3 current, the response of guinea pig ventricular myocytes to a fully inactivating Ito is similar to that of canine ventricular cells and 2) in animals such as dogs that have a broad cardiac action potential, Ito does not play a major role in setting the APD.


1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (6) ◽  
pp. C1552-C1561 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Zhang ◽  
A. D. Bonev ◽  
M. T. Nelson ◽  
G. M. Mawe

Smooth muscle cells in the intact guinea pig gallbladder had a resting membrane potential of about -45 mV and had spontaneous action potentials that consisted of a rapid depolarization, a transient repolarization, a plateau phase, and a complete repolarization. These action potentials lasted approximately 570 ms and occurred at a frequency of approximately 0.4 Hz. Action potentials were abolished by the dihydropyridine (DHP)-sensitive Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine (1.0 microM) and were enhanced by the DHP-sensitive Ca2+ channel agonist BAY K 8644 (0.5 microM). The K+ channel blockers tetraethylammonium chloride (5.0 mM) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; 2.0 mM) prolonged the action potential, whereas charybdotoxin (100 nM), a blocker of calcium-activated potassium channels, had no effect. Whole cell currents were characterized in enzymatically isolated smooth muscle cells from the same preparation. 4-AP, a blocker of voltage-dependent K+ channels, suppressed 70% of the outward current at 0 mV. Charybdotoxin (100 nM) reduced an additional 15% of the current at 0 mV. Single calcium-activated potassium channels were identified. The potential for half-activation of these channels, at a cytosolic Ca2+ concentration of 100 nM, was 66.8 mV. A fivefold increase in cytosolic Ca2+ resulted in a shift of the activation curve by -53 mV. External tetraethylammonium chloride (200 microM) reduced the mean single channel current by 48% at 0 mV. The whole cell outward current was abolished by replacement of intracellular K+ for Cs+. Ca2+ currents were inhibited by nifedipine and were increased by BAY K 8644. We conclude that DHP-sensitive voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels are responsible for the depolarization of the action potentials and that the repolarization is due to primarily 4-AP-sensitive K+ current.


1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (3) ◽  
pp. C962-C972 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Sui ◽  
C. Y. Kao

Outward currents of freshly dissociated ureteral myocytes consist mainly of Ca(2+)-activated K+ current (IKCa) and a transient outward current (ITO). No delayed rectifier current was apparent. IKCa is small and nondecaying and fluctuates actively and irregularly. Blocking IKCa decreased resting membrane conductance and prolonged action potential plateaus, showing its roles in maintaining the resting potential and in repolarizing action potentials. It is also responsible for the membrane potential fluctuations on action potential plateaus. Neither 8-(diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride nor caffeine reduced the fluctuations in the outward current or in the action potentials, indicating that internal Ca2+ storage contributes little to the fluctuations. ITO has fast activation and inactivation kinetics with inactivation time constants of approximately 15 and 150 ms, respectively. Its highly negative voltage-availability relationship (V0.5 = -70.5 mV) suggests a low availability (< 5%) at normal resting potentials. It has only trivial effects on action potentials.


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