OBJECTIVES The early phase of myocardial ischemia is characterized by a considerable K+ efflux from cardiac myocytes, causing decreasing internal ([K+]i) and increasing external ([K+]o) K+ concentrations. The change in [K+]i and [K+]o is one of the factors thought to initiate the ischemia-induced changes in electrical activity. Nevertheless, little is known about the influence of [K+]i and [K+]...

The diversity of Ca2+ channel types in rat cerebellar granule neurons was investigated with whole-cell recordings (5 mM external Ba2+). Contributions of five different high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channel current components were distinguished pharmacologically. Nimodipine-sensitive L-type current and omega-CTx-GVIA-sensitive N-type current contributed 15 and 20% of the total current, respectivel...

The effects of osmotic stress on chloride (CI-) currents in the human neuroblastoma cell line CHP-100 were evaluated. Following exposure to hypoosmotic solution, an increase in whole-cell CI- current was observed. This current was blocked by the CI- channel blocker 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid (NPPB). In cells loaded with the CI- permeability marker 125I, exposure to hypoosmotic...

The balance of Ca2+ influx and efflux regulates the Ca2+ load of cardiac myocytes, a process known as autoregulation. Previous work has shown that Ca2+ influx, via L-type Ca2+ current (ICa), and efflux, via the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX), occur predominantly at t-tubules; however, the role of t-tubules in autoregulation is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the sarcolemmal distribution of ICa an...

The patch-clamp technique was used to study the electrophysiological properties of single smooth muscle cells obtained from the human cystic artery. These cells contracted on exposure to high K+ and had a mean resting potential of -36 +/- 7 mV. Under current clamp, regenerative responses could not be elicited when depolarizing pulses were applied. Voltage-clamp measurements demonstrated that a ...

The inhibition of voltage-activated Ca2+ channel currents by cortisol (hydrocortisone), the principal glucocorticoid in man and guinea pig, was examined in freshly dissociated pyramidal neurons from the adult guinea pig hippocampal CA1 region using whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings. Steady-state inhibition by cortisol of the peak Ca2+ channel current evoked by depolarization from -80 to -10 m...

Both physiological and pathological neuronal events, many of which elevate intracellular [Ca2+], can produce changes in intracellular pH of between 0.15 and 0.5 U, between pH 7.4 and 6.8. N-type Ca2+ channels, which are intimately involved in exocytosis and other excitable cell processes, are sensitive to intracellular pH changes. However, the pH range over which N-type Ca2+ channels are sensit...

The opioid receptor-like 1 (NOP or ORL1) receptor is a G-protein-coupled receptor the endogenous ligand of which is the heptadecapeptide, nociceptin (Noc). NOP receptors are known to modulate pain processing at spinal, supraspinal, and peripheral levels. Previous work has demonstrated that NOP receptors inhibit N-type Ca2+ channel currents in rat sympathetic stellate ganglion (SG) neurons via p...

Modulation of voltage-activated Ca2+ channels by adenosine was investigated in male rat major pelvic ganglion (MPG) neurons by using the whole-cell variant of the patch-clamp technique. Adenosine inhibited high voltage-activated (HVA) Ca2+ currents in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC50 of 313 nM and a maximal inhibition of 36%, respectively. Inhibition of HVA Ca2+ currents in adrener...