Omega-conotoxin: direct and persistent blockade of specific types of calcium channels in neurons but not muscle

Evidence for a dihydropyridine-sensitive and conotoxin-insensitive release of noradrenaline and uptake of calcium in adrenal chromaffin cells

1. It has been suggested that neuronal voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCC) may be divided into dihydropyridine (DHP)-sensitive (L) and DHP-insensitive (N and T), and that both the L and the N type channels are attenuated by the peptide blocker omega-conotoxin. Here the effects of omega-conotoxin on release of noradrenaline and uptake of calcium in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells were investigated. 2. Release of noradrenaline in response to 25 mM K+, 65 mM K+, 10 nM bradykinin or 10 microM prostaglandin E1 was not affected by omega-conotoxin in the range 10 nM-1 microM. 3. 45Ca2+ uptake stimulated by high K+ and prostaglandin was attenuated by 1 microM nitrendipine and enhanced by 1 microM Bay K 8644; these calcium fluxes were not modified by 20 nM omega-conotoxin. 4. With superfused rat brain striatal slices in the same medium as the above cell studies, release of dopamine in response to 25 mM K+ was attenuated by 20 nM omega-conotoxin. 5. These results show that in these neurone-like cells, release may be effected by calcium influx through DHP-sensitive but omega-conotoxin-insensitive VSCC, a result inconsistent with the suggestion that omega-conotoxin blocks both L-type and N-type neuronal calcium channels.

Human isolated small intestine: motor responses of the longitudinal muscle to field stimulation and exogenous neuropeptides

(1) Longitudinal muscle strips from the human small intestine (jejunum/ileum) responded to electrical field stimulation (1-50 Hz) with frequency-related primary contractions which were largely atropine- (3 microM) sensitive. When the tone was raised by addition of galanin (0.3-1 microM), prostaglandin (PG) E2 (1-10 microM) or neurokinin A (NKA, 0.1 microM), a frequency-related relaxation was evident which was potentiated by atropine. All the responses to field stimulation were abolished by tetrodotoxin (1 microM), thus indicating their neural origin. (2) The atropine-sensitive primary contraction to field stimulation was virtually abolished by omega conotoxin fraction GVIA (CTX, 0.1-0.3 microM) while the relaxations were CTX-resistant. The field stimulation-induced relaxations, which were observed in the presence of atropine and guanethidine (3 microM), were also unaffected by apamin (0.1 microM). (3) NKA and substance P (SP) produced a concentration- (1 nM-1 microM for both peptides) related contraction, NKA being about 53 times more potent than SP. [Pro9]SP sulphone and [MePhe7]-NKB, selective agonists of the NK-1 and NK-3 receptor, respectively, were barely effective. On the other hand, [beta Ala8]NKA(4-10), a selective NK-2 receptor agonist, had a potent contractile activity, similar to that of NKA. (4) Galanin (1 nM-1 microM) produced an atropine- and tetrodotoxin-resistant concentration-related contraction of longitudinal muscle of human isolated small intestine. The response to galanin did not show any sign of fading and was particularly suitable to study the evoked relaxations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium channels that are required for secretion from intact nerve terminals of vertebrates are sensitive to omega-conotoxin and relatively insensitive to dihydropyridines. Optical studies with and without voltage-sensitive dyes

Extrinsic absorption changes exhibited by potentiometric dyes have established the ionic basis of the action potential in synchronously activated populations of nerve terminals in the intact neurohypophyses of amphibia and mammals (Salzberg et al., 1983; Obaid et al., 1983, 1985b). Also, large and rapid changes in light scattering, measured as transparency, have been shown to follow membrane depolarization and to be intimately associated with the release of neuropeptides from the nerve terminals of the mouse neurohypophysis (Salzberg et al., 1985; Gainer et al., 1986). We report some experiments that help to define the pharmacological profile of the calcium channels present in intact neurosecretory terminals of vertebrates. For these, we used the peptide toxin omega-conotoxin GVIA (1-5 microM) and the dihydropyridine compounds Bay-K 8644 and nifedipine (2-5 microM), together with the after-hyperpolarization of the nerve terminal action potential. This undershoot depends upon the activation of a calcium-mediated potassium channel, as suggested by its sensitivity to [Ca++]o and charybdotoxin. omega-conotoxin GVIA substantially reduced the after-hyperpolarization in neurosecretory terminals of Xenopus, while neither of the dihydropyridine compounds had any effect under conditions that mimic natural stimulation. The effects of these calcium channel modifiers on the action potential recorded optically from the terminals of the Xenopus neurohypophysis were faithfully reflected in the behavior of the light-scattering changes observed in the neurohypophysis of the CD-1 mouse. omega-conotoxin GVIA (5 microM) reduced the size of the intrinsic optical signal associated with secretion by 50%, while the dihydropyridines had little effect. These observations suggest that the type of calcium channel that dominates the secretory behavior of intact vertebrate nerve terminals is at least partially blocked by omega-conotoxin GVIA and is insensitive, under normal conditions, to dihydropyridines.

Further studies on the motor response of the human isolated urinary bladder to tachykinins, capsaicin and electrical field stimulation

1. Muscle strips from the dome of the human urinary bladder responded to field stimulation with contractions which were atropine- (3 microM) and tetrodotoxin- (1 microM) sensitive. These contractions were sensitive to omega conotoxin (CTX, 0.1 microM). The atropine- and tetrodotoxin-resistant contractions produced by field stimulation were totally unaffected by CTX. 2. DMPP (30-100 microM), a nicotinic agonist, produced transient bladder contractions which were hexamethonium- and atropine-sensitive. 3. Tachykinins produced a contraction of the human bladder. Among several synthetic tachykinin analogs only those having activity at the NK-2 receptor produced a consistent contractile response. 4. Either capsaicin (1 microM) or calcitonin gene-related peptide (10 nM-0.1 microM) had no motor effect. At 10 microM, capsaicin exerted a depressant effect on nerve-mediated contractions but this effect did not exhibit desensitization. 5. These findings provide evidence that NK-2 receptors are the main if not the sole mediators of the contractile response of the muscle from the dome of the human isolated bladder to tachykinins. 6. No evidence was found for a tachykininergic component in the excitatory response to field stimulation nor for motor responses mediated by capsaicin-sensitive nerves. 7. CTX-sensitive calcium channels are probably present on cholinergic nerve terminals in the human bladder muscle.

K+-evoked taurine efflux from cerebellar astrocytes: on the roles of Ca2+ and Na+

The ionic requirements for K+-evoked efflux of endogenous taurine from primary cerebellar astrocyte cultures were studied. The Ca2+ ionophore A23187 evoked taurine efflux in a dose-dependent fashion with a time-course identical to that of K+-induced efflux. The Ca2+-channel antagonist nifedipine had no effect upon efflux induced by 10 or 50 mM K+. In addition, verapamil did not antagonize 50 mM K+-evoked efflux except at high, non-pharmacological concentrations (greater than 100 microM), and preincubation with 2 microM omega-conotoxin had no effect on 50 mM K+-evoked efflux. Similarly, preincubation with 1 mM ouabain had no effect on the amount of taurine released by K+ stimulation, but did accelerate the onset of efflux by 2-4 min. Although 2 microM tetrodotoxin had no effect on K+-evoked release, replacing Na+ with choline abolished the taurine efflux seen in response to K+ stimulation. Together, these findings suggest that neuronal N- and L-type Ca2+- and voltage-dependent Na+-channels are not involved in the influx of Ca2+ which appears to be necessary for K+-evoked taurine efflux, and that in addition to Ca2+, extracellular Na+ is also required.

Inhibition of noradrenaline release by omega-conotoxin GVIA in the rat tail artery

1. The perivascular nerves of isolated tail arteries from Wistar rats were stimulated with field pulses (1 Hz, 2 pulses, every 2 min). omega-Conotoxin 10 nmol l-1 depressed neurogenically mediated contractions, but did not influence the contractions to noradrenaline 0.1-0.3 mumol l-1. 2. The inhibitory effect of omega-conotoxin was concentration-dependent (IC50 = 3.8 nmol l-1). It did not reach a steady-state during 30 min incubation and could not be reversed upon subsequent washout for another 60 min. 3. A gradual increase in the Ca2+ concentration of the medium from 1.25 mmol l-1 to 10 mmol l-1 enhanced vasoconstriction and attenuated the action of omega-conotoxin 10 nmol l-1. When a low stimulation intensity (120 mA) was used at high external Ca2+ (10 mmol l-1), similar contractile responses were obtained as under normal conditions (200 mA current, 2.5 mmol l-1 Ca2+). However, the inverse relationship between the effect of the toxin and external Ca2+ remained unchanged. 4. The time-course and degree of the inhibition by omega-conotoxin 3 nmol l-1 was identical in tail arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive controls (WKY). 5. When tail arteries of Wistar rats were preincubated with [3H]-noradrenaline, field stimulation (0.4 Hz, 24 pulses, every 16 min) evoked tritium overflow and vasoconstriction. omega-Conotoxin 30 nmol l-1 inhibited both responses to a similar extent. 6. Our results suggest that omega-conotoxin selectively blocks Ca2+ channels in the terminals of perivascular nerves and thereby reduces the release, but not the contractile effect of the sympathetic transmitter.

cAMP- and diacylglycerol-mediated pathways elevate cytosolic free calcium concentration via dihydropyridine-sensitive, omega-conotoxin-insensitive calcium channels in normal rat anterior pituitary cells

The effect of 8-bromocyclic AMP (8-Br-cAMP) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C activator, on cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in normal rat anterior pituitary cells was examined. [Ca2+]i was monitored directly by the fluorescent indicator fura-2. 8-Br-cAMP as well as PMA elevated [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. Forskolin (10 mumol/l), which activates adenylate cyclase, and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol (10 mumol/l), another activator of protein kinase C, also increased [Ca2+]i. Both the 8-Br-cAMP (2 mmol/l)- and the PMA (100 nmol/l)-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium and could be inhibited by the calcium channel blockers Mg2+ and nifedipine, but not by omega-conotoxin (100 nmol/l). The half-maximally inhibitory concentrations of Mg2+ and nifedipine were about 12 mmol/l and 160 nmol/l, respectively, for the [Ca2+]i response to 8-Br-cAMP (2 mmol/l), and were about 6 mmol/l and 400 nmol/l, respectively, for the PMA (100 nmol/l)-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. The sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (5 mumol/l) or PMA (100 nmol/l) on [Ca2+]i. After pretreatment for 3 min with PMA (100 nmol/l), the subsequent K+ (100 mmol/l)- or arachidonic acid (3 mumol/l)-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was decreased by about 50%. By contrast, pretreatment (3 min) with 8-Br-cAMP (2-10 mmol/l) markedly enhanced the subsequent [Ca2+]i response to K+ (100 mmol/l), and left the effect of arachidonic acid (3 mumol/l) on [Ca2+]i unimpaired.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Modulation of calcium-currents by capsaicin in a subpopulation of sensory neurones of guinea pig

The action of capsaicin (CAP) on the total Ca2+ current was examined in internally perfused voltage-clamped dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurones of guinea pigs. CAP changed the total Ca2+ current in about 50% of the investigated DRG neurones ("CAP-sensitive" neurones) in the following way: (I) a transient increase of the current amplitude at potentials between -35 mV and about -10 mV was accompanied by a shift of the current-voltage relation towards negative potentials by 5-8 mV; (II) the current inactivation was accelerated at potentials positive to about -35 mV; and (III) the current activation of Ca2+ currents (time to peak values) was also accelerated. Separated low voltage-activated (T-type) currents at potentials negative to about -35 mV were either not affected or reduced. It remains undecided whether CAP increases T-type currents in a particular potential range or activates an N-type current. External application of 50 microM Ni2+ blocks the effect of CAP, but does not affect the acceleration of the high voltage-activated (L-type) current inactivation induced by menthol. This appears to exclude a CAP effect on L-type current inactivation. "CAP sensitive" and "CAP insensitive" neurones could be discriminated by their different Ca2+ currents: the former demonstrate both fast and slow inactivating currents while the latter have only L-type currents. The observed changes of fast-inactivating Ca2+ currents may be related to the specific action of CAP on peptidergic sensory neurones.

Opposing effects of acetylcholine on the two classes of voltage-dependent calcium channels in hippocampal neurons

Acetylcholine (Ach) was tested for its effect on calcium currents in primary cultures of embryonic rat hippocampal neurons. Ach reversibly depressed, in a dose-dependent way, the high voltage activated (HVA) Ca currents. The effect was antagonized by atropine. Our results suggest that a pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive GTP binding protein (G-protein) is involved in the signal transduction mechanism between the Ach receptor and the HVA Ca channel. Activating rather than depressive effects of Ach were observed on the low voltage-activated component of Ca currents. This effect was also antagonized by atropine but is not mediated by a PTX-sensitive G-protein.

Effects of synthetic omega-conotoxin on the contractile responses of segments of rat ileum, stomach fundus and uterus and guinea pig taenia coli

The effect of synthetic omega-conotoxin (omega-CgTX) on the contractile responses of segments of rat ileum, stomach fundus and uterus and guinea pig taenia coli were investigated. Omega-CgTX (10(-9)-5 x 10(-6) M) did not inhibit the contractile responses of all smooth muscle segments to high KCl and/or ACh. However, unexpectedly, omega-CgTX (3 x 10(-7)-10(-5) M) alone caused dose-dependent contraction of segments of the stomach fundus and uterus. These contractile responses to omega-CgTX alone depended upon the presence and/or the influx of extracellular Ca2+; and they were inhibited by calcium antagonists such as diltiazem, nitrendipine and verapamil, with the exception that the segments of stomach fundus was not inhibited by verapamil. With the segments of uterus, but not those of other tissues, omega-CgTX (10(-7)-5 x 10(-6) M) significantly enhanced the contractile responses to various concentrations of ACh and high KCl. With rat ileum and guinea pig taenia coli segments, omega-CgTX (10(-9)-5 x 10(-6) M) did not induce a contractile response or have an enhancing effect. These findings suggest that omega-CgTX may have a calcium agonist-like effect on smooth muscles such as the stomach fundus and uterus of rats.

Omega-conotoxin blockade distinguishes Ca from Na permeable states in neuronal calcium channels

The blocking properties of the neurotoxic peptide omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTX), on neuronal Ca channels were investigated. In line with previous reports (Feldman et al. 1987; McCleskey et al. 1987), we found that micromolar concentrations of the toxin block selectively and persistently the high-threshold Ca channels of chick sensory neurons. The block by omega-CgTX could be partially relieved in low [Ca2+]o (less than 1 microM) toxin-free solutions, allowing Na ions to flow through open high-threshold Ca channels. Ca currents through these channels, however, remained permanently blocked on returning to normal Ca2+ toxin-free solutions. Also neurons which were preincubated with omega-CgTX in low Ca2+ (5 mM EGTA) failed to show high-threshold Ca currents during washing with normal Ca2+. Thus, appearance of Na currents through Ca channels in CgTX-pretreated cells was neither a consequence of unbinding of the toxin from its receptor site nor due to an interaction of EGTA with bound omega-CgTX. Na currents in CgTX-pretreated cells could be reversibly suppressed by bath applications of verapamil or by further addition of the toxin. At variance with Ca currents, block of Na currents by omega-CgTX was faster and reversible (KD 0.7 microM). Our data are consistent with the idea that neuronal Ca channels are in different conformational states when permeable to Ca2+ or Na+ ions and that omega-CgTX depresses persistently ion permeation primarily in the Ca-permeable state.

Omega-conotoxin binding and effects on calcium channel function in human neuroblastoma and rat pheochromocytoma cell lines

Binding of omega-conotoxin, a peptide toxin specific for some subtypes of voltage-operated calcium channels (VOCCs), was investigated in IMR32 neuroblastoma and PC12 pheochromocytoma cell lines. In both cell types, binding was specific, saturable and of high affinity. Association was rapid and dissociation almost non-existent. Dihydropyridines and verapamil failed to affect toxin binding, while high concentrations of CaCl2 completely antagonized it. Depolarization with high K+ induced a [Ca2+]i rise (revealed by the fura-2 fluorimetric technique) that consisted of an initial (0.5-1 min) peak followed by a prolonged (several minutes) plateau phase. omega-Conotoxin blocked mainly the first phase, while the dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel blocker, nitrendipine, primarily affected the plateau. This result suggests that in the two cell lines investigated, omega-conotoxin acts mainly on a subgroup of VOCCs that is resistant to dihydropyridines.

The effect of omega conotoxin GVIA, a peptide modulator of the N-type voltage sensitive calcium channels, on motor responses produced by activation of efferent and sensory nerves in mammalian smooth muscle

1. The effect of omega-conotoxin (CTX) GVIA, a peptide which blocks neuronal calcium channels, were investigated on nerve-mediated motor responses in a variety of isolated smooth muscle preparations from rats and guinea-pigs. 2. In the rat or guinea-pig isolated vas deferens CTX (1 nM-1 microM) produced a concentration and time-related inhibition of the response to field stimulation, while the responses to KCl, noradrenaline or adenosine triphosphate were unaffected. In the presence of CTX a series of tetrodotoxin-resistant contractions could be elicited by field stimulation by increasing pulse width and/or voltage. 3. In the rat or guinea-pig isolated urinary bladder, CTX produced a concentration and time-dependent inhibition of twitch responses to field stimulation without affecting the response to exogenous acetylcholine. In the rat bladder the maximal effect did not exceed 25% inhibition while a much larger fraction of the response (about 70%) was inhibited in the guinea-pig bladder. The CTX-resistant response was abolished, in both tissues, by tetrodotoxin. 4. The effects of CTX in the rat bladder were also studied with a whole range of frequencies of field stimulation (0.1-50 Hz). Maximal inhibition was observed toward contractions elicited at frequencies of 2-5 Hz. At low frequencies the inhibitory effects of CTX and atropine were almost additive while at high frequencies of stimulation a large component of the atropine-sensitive response was CTX-resistant. 5. In the rat isolated proximal duodenum, field stimulation in the presence of atropine and guanethidine produced a primary relaxation followed by a rebound contraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium currents in embryonic and neonatal mammalian skeletal muscle

The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to study the properties of inward ionic currents found in primary cultures of rat and mouse skeletal myotubes and in freshly dissociated fibers of the flexor digitorum brevis muscle of rats. In each of these cell types, test depolarizations from the holding potential (-80 or -90 mV) elicited three distinct inward currents: a sodium current (INa) and two calcium currents. INa was the dominant inward current: under physiological conditions, the maximum inward INa was estimated to be at least 30-fold larger than either of the calcium currents. The two calcium currents have been termed Ifast and Islow, corresponding to their relative rates of activation. Ifast was activated by test depolarizations to around -40 mV and above, peaked in 10-20 ms, and decayed to baseline in 50-100 ms. Islow was activated by depolarizations to approximately 0 mV and above, peaked in 50-150 ms, and decayed little during a 200-ms test pulse. Ifast was inactivated by brief, moderate depolarizations; for a 1-s change in holding potential, half-inactivation occurred at -55 to -45 mV and complete inactivation occurred at -40 to -30 mV. Similar changes in holding potential had no effect on Islow. Islow was, however, inactivated by brief, strong depolarizations (e.g., 0 mV for 2 s) or maintained, moderate depolarizations (e.g., -40 mV for 60 s). Substitution of barium for calcium had little effect on the magnitude or time course of either Ifast or Islow. The same substitution shifted the activation curve for Islow approximately 10 mV in the hyperpolarizing direction without affecting the activation of Ifast. At low concentrations (50 microM), cadmium preferentially blocked Islow compared with Ifast, while at high concentrations (1 mM), it blocked both Ifast and Islow completely. The dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist (+)-PN 200-110 (1 microM) caused a nearly complete block of Islow without affecting Ifast. At a holding potential of -80 mV, the half-maximal blocking concentration (K0.5) for the block of Islow by (+)-PN 200-110 was 182 nM. At depolarized holding potentials that inactivated Islow by 35-65%, K0.5 decreased to 5.5 nM.

ATP-sensitive K+ channels that are blocked by hypoglycemia-inducing sulfonylureas in insulin-secreting cells are activated by galanin, a hyperglycemia-inducing hormone

The action of the hyperglycemia-inducing hormone galanin, a 29-amino acid peptide named from its N-terminal glycine and C-terminal amidated alanine, was studied in rat insulinoma (RINm5F) cells using electrophysiological and 86Rb+ flux techniques. Galanin hyperpolarizes and reduces spontaneous electrical activity by activating a population of ATP-sensitive K+ channels with a single-channel conductance of 30 pS (at -60 mV). Galanin-induced hyperpolarization and reduction of spike activity are reversed by the hypoglycemia-inducing sulfonylurea glibenclamide. Glibenclamide blocks the galanin-activated ATP-sensitive K+ channel. 86Rb+ efflux from insulinoma cells is stimulated by galanin in a dose-dependent manner. The half-maximum value of activation is found at 1.6 nM. Galanin-induced 86Rb+ efflux is abolished by glibenclamide. The half-maximum value of inhibition is found at 0.3 nM, which is close to the half-maximum value of inhibition of the ATP-dependent K+ channel reported earlier. 86Rb+ efflux studies confirm the electrophysiological demonstration that galanin activates an ATP-dependent K+ channel.

Dominant role of N-type Ca2+ channels in evoked release of norepinephrine from sympathetic neurons

Multiple types of calcium channels have been found in neurons, but uncertainty remains about which ones are involved in stimulus-secretion coupling. Two types of calcium channels in rat sympathetic neurons were described, and their relative importance in controlling norepinephrine release was analyzed. N-type and L-type calcium channels differed in voltage dependence, unitary barium conductance, and pharmacology. Nitrendipine inhibited activity of L-type channels but not N-type channels. Potassium-evoked norepinephrine release was markedly reduced by cadmium and the conesnail peptide toxin omega-Conus geographus toxin VIA, agents that block both N- and L-type channels, but was little affected by nitrendipine at concentrations that strongly reduce calcium influx, as measured by fura-2. Thus N-type calcium channels play a dominant role in the depolarization-evoked release of norepinephrine.

Kinetic and pharmacological properties distinguishing three types of calcium currents in chick sensory neurones

1. Calcium currents in cultured dorsal root ganglion (d.r.g.) cells were studied with the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Using experimental conditions that suppressed Na+ and K+ currents, and 3-10 mM-external Ca2+ or Ba2+, we distinguished three distinct types of calcium currents (L, T and N) on the basis of voltage-dependent kinetics and pharmacology. 2. Component L activates at relatively positive test potentials (t.p. greater than -10 mV) and shows little inactivation during a 200 ms depolarization. It is completely reprimed at a holding potential (h.p.) of -60 mV, and can be isolated by using a more depolarized h.p. (-40 mV) to inactivate the other two types of calcium currents. 3. Component T can be seen in isolation with weak test pulses. It begins activating at potentials more positive than -70 mV and inactivates quickly and completely during a maintained depolarization (time constant, tau approximately 20-50 ms). The current amplitude and the rate of decay increase with stronger depolarizations until both reach a maximum at approximately -40 mV. Inactivation is complete at h.p. greater than -60 mV and is progressively removed between -60 and -95 mV. 4. Component N activates at relatively strong depolarizations (t.p. greater than -20 mV) and decays with time constants ranging from 50 to 110 ms. Inactivation is removed over a very broad range of holding potentials (h.p. between -40 and -110 mV). 5. With 10 mM-EGTA in the pipette solution, substitution of Ba2+ for Ca2+ as the charge carrier does not alter the rates of activation or relaxation of any component. However, T-type channels are approximately equally permeable to Ca2+ and Ba2+, while L-type and N-type channels are both much more permeable to Ba2+. 6. Component N cannot be explained by current-dependent inactivation of L current resulting from recruitment of extra L-type channels at negative holding potentials: raising the external Ba2+ concentration to 110 mM greatly increases the amplitude of L current evoked from h.p. = -30 mV but produces little inactivation. 7. Cadmium ions (20-50 microM) virtually eliminate both N and L currents (greater than 90% block) but leave T relatively unaffected (less than 50% block). 200 microM-Cd2+ blocks all three components. 8. Nickel ions (100 microM) strongly reduce T current but leave N and L current little changed. 9. The dihydropyridine antagonist nifedipine (10 microM) inhibits L current (approximately 60% block) at a holding potential that inactivates half the L-type channels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)