Calcium entry leads to inactivation of calcium channel in Paramecium

Calcium current inactivation in identified neurones of Helix aspersa

1. A two-electrode voltage clamp method was used to study Ca inward currents in identified Helix aspersa neurones bathed in 25 mM-Ca, Na-free saline with TEA and 4-AP. 2. Inward currents were blocked by CdCl2. In Cd delayed outward currents appeared at +30 mV. When two identical depolarizations were separated by a gap inward current turned off to the same level during the two pulses up to +20 mV; above this potential the records cross over. 3. The turn-off of inward current at potentials up to +20 mV was not affected by 0.2 mM-quinine, which reduced outward currents at more depolarized potentials. Inward currents declined exponentially over the first 100 msec with a time constant around 60 msec at 0 mV. Double-pulse experiments gave the same time course of turn-off. 4. When Ca inward current was reduced by lowering [Ca]o or by partial block by Cd the rate and extent of turn-off was reduced. 5. The inactivation curve (obtained using a double pulse with gap method) was U-shaped. The curve was not significantly changed by addition of quinine (0.2 mM) or by changing test pulse size. 6. Recovery of inward currents after a depolarizing prepulse was a double-exponential process, with time constants of 120 msec and 9.4 sec at 10--11 degrees C. 7. Our results are discussed in terms of possible Ca-dependent Ca inactivation and in terms of the possibility of development of an outward Ca-dependent K current.

Mutational alteration of membrane phospholipid composition and voltage-sensitive ion channel function in paramecium

A behavioral mutant of Paramecium tetraurelia (baA) has been isolated that has an abnormal response when placed in solutions containing Ba2+. This mutant is shown here to have a dramatic alteration of the sphingolipid and phosphonolipid composition of its ciliary membrane. This biochemical defect is present in independently isolated alleles at baA locus and segregates in crosses with the behavioral phenotype. Electrophysiologically, the mutation reduces significantly conductance of both voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels and voltage-sensitive K+ channels. When the mutant is grown in sterol-supplemented medium, its behavior, electrophysiological properties, and lipid composition are hardly distinguishable from wild type grown under similar conditions. This mutant then, provides strong evidence that membrane lipids significantly influence the function of the membrane molecules responsible for the generation of action potentials.

Slow channel kinetics in heart muscle

The cardiac slow inward current (Isi) is mediated by a specific conductance system, the slow channel. It is highly selective for Ca and other bivalent cations as for instance Sr, whilst Na permeability is extremely small. The kinetics of activation, inactivation and recovery from inactivation are voltage- and temperature-sensitive. In contrasts to the Hodgkin-Huxley model, development and removal of inactivation operate with different time constants, at least in the ventricular myocardium of cats. Moreover, both processes exhibit a different pharmacological susceptibility. Thus a second inactivation variable having smaller rate constants than the inactivation variable if has to be introduced, which simultaneously suggests the existence of slow inactivation in cardiac slow channels.

Neurotransmitters decrease the calcium conductance activated by depolarization of embryonic chick sensory neurones

Several neurotransmitters including noradrenaline (NA), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serotonin (5-HT), and also certain peptides, decrease the duration of the Na+-Ca2+ action potential recorded in cell bodies of embryonic chick dorsal root ganglion neurones maintained in cell culture. To determine if these agents decreased action potential duration by affecting Ca2+ channels (inward current) or K+ channels (outward current) membrane currents were recorded in voltage-clamped sensory neurone somata. 1. Depolarization produced a prominent inward Na+ current and a smaller and slower inward Ca2+ current (ICa). The inactivation of ICa was not simply dependent on membrane potential but apparently required prior entry of Ca2+. Two components of outward current, voltage-activated and Ca2+-activated, were evident in most cells. 2. The effect of NA, and also of GABA and 5-HT, was shown to result from a direct effect on ICa because: NA decreased the TTX-resistant tail current recorded at EK and also the inward current recorded in the presence of 125 mM-TEA and TTX (in which Na+ and K+ currents were blocked). 3. The decrease in ICa is most likely due to an effect on the number of available Ca2+ channels and/or the single Ca2+ channel conductance rather than to a shift in either the kinetics of channel activation or the Ca2+ equilibrium potential. 4. No effect of the several transmitters on the voltage-dependent Na+ and K+ currents was observed. 5. Implications of ICa modulation for the phenomenon of presynaptic inhibition are discussed.

Observations on the staircase phenomenon in guinea pig atrium

The staircase phenomenon, occurring after a change in frequency was studied in isolated trabeculae from guinea pig atrium. The effects on tension, action potential form and function as well as ionic currents were investigated. 1. In the ascending part of the frequency-force relationship a sudden change to a new driving frequency resulted in a staircase response which consisted of two exponential phases (tau 1 = 1-2 s; tau 2 = 20-30 s). 2. The build-up or decline of twitch tension in response to either an increase or reduction of [Ca2+]0 followed a similar composed time course. 3. After a reduction in stimulation frequency the action potentials changed time dependently: In the first response the peak of the overshoot was reached faster and the plateau phase was shortened; afterwards these parameters remained constant while the repolarization phase continually shortened during the following 5-10 action potentials. 4. In voltage clamp experiments an analogous reduction in the frequency of depolarizing voltage clamp pulses induced an immediate increase of the slow inward current (Isi). In the following 10 pulses the increased Isi remained constant, while the late outward current continually increased. 5. The time course of recovery of the Isi-system was found to be slow in atrial trabeculae (tau = 300-500 ms at -70 mV). Thus the increase in Isi, observed after a reduction in frequency, could be explained by a more complete recovery of the Isi-system during the interval between two stimuli. 6. the increase in Isi during these recovery experiments was accompanied by an accelerated inactivation. 7. It is concluded that after a reduction in stimulation rate the faster development of the overshoot and the shortening of the plateau phase are due to an augmentation and a faster inactivation of the Isi, respectively. The shortening of the late repolarization phase which developed during successive action potentials is most probably related to the observed increase in late outward current.

Effects of divalent cations on beta-cell electrical activity

The effects of various divalent cations, added to the external medium, upon beta-cell action potential were studied using intracellular microelectrodes. Changes of spike peak potential, as a function of external cation concentration, indicate that Sr2+ or Ba2+ may substitute for Ca2+ as a charge carrier. Complete blockage by Mn2+ of electrical activity elicited by Sr2+, Ba2+, or Ca2+ suggests that these cations penetrate the membrane though the same Ca2+ channel. The increase of maximum rate of depolarization, dV(d)/dtmax, and decrease of maximum rate of repolarization, dV(r)/dtmax, when Sr2+ is substituted for Ca2+ suggest that Sr2+ penetrates more readily the Ca2+ channel but is less effective than Ca2+ in activating K permeability. Reversal of these effects by addition of equimolar Ca2+ to Sr2+ indicates that Ca2+ has a greater affinity than Sr2+ for the receptor site. The blockage of electrical activity by Ba2+ at a depolarized membrane level suggests that Ba2+ markedly reduces all K+ permeabilities. Analysis of dV(d)/dtmax at various Ca2+ concentrations, in the presence of nonpermeant divalent cations (Co2+, Mn2+, and Mg2+), shown that these cations bind competitively at the same receptor site with differing dissociation constants, For all of these divalent cations, the order of binding would be Co2+ greater than Mn2+ greater than Ca2+ greater than Sr2+, Mg2+.

Calcium-mediated inactivation of the calcium conductance in caesium-loaded giant neurones of Aplysia californica

1. The intracellular potassium in giant neurones of Aplysia californica was replaced with caesium by a method utilizing the ionophore nystatin. Because caesium ions have low permeability through potassium channels outward currents during voltage-clamp depolarization were strongly curtailed after the caesium loading procedure and the subsequent wash-out of the ionophore. 2. The calcium current elicited by a test voltage-clamp depolarization (pulse 2) was depressed following the entry of calcium elicited by a prior depolarization (pulse 1). 3. The percentage depression of the test current was a linear function of the pulse 1 current-time integral, and thus appears to be related linearly to the amount of calcium carried into the cell during pulse 1. This linear relation was maintained when calcium entry was varied by changes in external calcium concentration, by altered pulse 1 amplitude and altered pulse 1 duration. Depression was substantially reduced by injection of EGTA, and by substitution of barium for extracellular calcium. 4. The calcium current was unaffected by prior hyperpolarization of the membrane or by prior depolarizations to about ECa. Depression of the current was not altered by addition of extracellular 50 mM-TEA or by a strong hyperpolarization between the conditioning and test pulses. 5. The rate relaxation of the inward current during a given depolarization depended on the rate of entry and accumulation of free calcium. Relaxation under a given command potential became slower when calcium was partially replaced with magnesium so as to produce a smaller calcium current, or when accumulation of intracellular free calcium was retarded by injected EGTA or by barium substitution for extracellular calcium. 6 Evidence is considered that accumulation of calcium ions at the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane leads to inactivation through an action upon the calcium conductance. Reduced driving force and intracellular surface-charge neutralization do not adequately account for the observed depression of the calcium current resulting from intracellular accumulation of calcium ions.

Calcium depletion in frog muscle tubules: the decline of calcium current under maintained depolarization

1. Ca2+ currents in frog skeletal muscle fibres were studied with a voltage-clamp technique. Under membrane depolarization maintained for several seconds, Ca2+ current was found to decline with time constants of 0.2-2 sec when [Ca2+]o = 10 mM. 2. Ca2+ currents are diminished by nifedipine, D-600, tetracaine and Ni2+. 3. When peak current is diminished by making the membrane potential positive, by block with drugs or by substituting the relatively less permeant Mn2+ for Ca2+ then the rate of decline is diminished also. When peak current is increased by recording at relatively negative membrane potentials or by substituting for Ca2+ the more permeant ions Ba2+ or Sr2+, then the rate of decline is increased in proportion. Evidently, the size of the current determines the rate of decline. 4. Decline of current is greatly slowed in isotonic Ca2+ saline or when the [Ca2+]o is buffered by the organic anion malate. These findings indicate that the decline of current arises from Ca2+ depletion in an extracellular compartment, most probably the transverse tubules. On this basis, an analysis of Ca2+ current decline and recovery leads to the following conclusions. 5. Ca2+ current flows almost entirely across the membranes of the transverse tubules. 6. After allowing for the tortuosity of the tubular network, the apparent diffusion coefficient for Ca2+ in the transverse tubules is about 2.6 X 10(-6) cm2/sec, three times less than the diffusion coefficient for K+ in the transverse tubules and about three times less than the diffusion coefficient for Ca2+ in free solution. 7. The transverse tubule lumen does not appear to have a large Ca2+-buffering capacity in the millimolar range. At [Ca2+]o = 10 mM, the tubule lumen binds less than 0.6 dissociable Ca2+ ions for every free ion.

Gating of a muscle K+ channel and its dependence on the permeating ion species

In excitable cells, ions permeate the cell membrane through ionic channels, some of which open and close in response to changes in the potential difference across the membrane. It has been supposed that this opening and closing (or gating) process is largely independent of the permeating ion. However, we show here that the gating of the resting potassium permeability of frog skeletal muscle depends on the species of ion which carries current across the membrane. The potassium permeability investigated allows K+ to move in across the membrane more easily than out. This property is known as inward or anomalous rectification and is shared by cell membranes of skeletal muscle, egg and certain other cells. In both egg cells and skeletal muscle fibres, the group IIIB metal ion Tl+, which can replace K+ in several other systems in experimental conditions, also permeates the inward rectifier. Indeed, Tl+ is more permeant than K+ (refs 8, 9). However, when Tl+ carries current inwards across the membrane, the inward rectifier inactivates over a brief period when the membrane is hyperpolarized, whereas when K+ carries current, the permeability increases with time under hyperpolarization.

Voltage-dependent inactivation of a calcium channel

The inactivation of Ca currents in unfertilized eggs of the marine polychaete Neanthes arenaceodentata was investigated by using a voltage clamp technique. These Ca currents do not appear to be masked by other currents in the voltage range studied. Inactivation increased monotonically with increasing depolarization and occurred at potentials more negative than the inward Ca current. Currents elicited by depolarization at different Ca concentrations had approximately the same time course of inactivation, even though the size of the currents varied by almost an order of magnitude. There was complete inactivation in solutions containing Ca, Sr, or Ba (all permeant) for depolarizations beyond -30 mV absolute; the time course of the inactivation process was similar for all three permeant ions. Increasing depolarizations toward the expected equilibrium potential for Ca, Ba, or Sr did not produce any lessening of the inactivation. Thus, it appears that the inactivation seen in Neanthes eggs is a purely voltage-dependent phenomenon.

Calcium current-dependent and voltage-dependent inactivation of calcium channels in Helix aspersa

1. Inactivation of the Ca channels has been examined in isolated nerve cell bodies of Helix aspersa using the suction pipette method for voltage clamp and internal perfusion.2. Satisfactory suppression of outward currents was essential. This was achieved over most of the voltage range by substitution of Cs ion for K ion and by the use of TEA intra- and extracellularly and 4-AP extracellularly. A small time- and voltage-dependent non-specific current remained at potentials above +60 mV.3. In these solutions, Ca current approaches E(Ca) but cannot be detected in the outward direction. The Ca channel appears to be impermeable to Cs and Tris ions.4. Inactivation of Ca currents occurs as a bi-exponential process. The faster rate is 10-20 times the slower rate and is about one twentieth the rate of activation. The development of inactivation during a single voltage-clamp step and the onset of inactivation produced by prepulses followed after brief intervals by a test pulse, have roughly similar time courses.5. The rates of inactivation increase monotonically at potentials more positive than about -25 mV. The amount of steady-state inactivation increases with membrane depolarizations to potentials of about +50 mV. At more positive potentials, steady-state inactivation is reduced.6. Intracellular EGTA slows the faster rate of inactivation of I(Ca) and reduces the amount of steady-state inactivation measured with a standard two pulse protocol. The effect is specifically related to Ca chelation and hydrogen ions are not involved. This component of inactivation is referred to as Ca current-dependent inactivation and is consistent with observations that increased Ca(i) inactivates the Ca channel. The process does not depend upon current flow alone since Ba currents of comparable or greater magnitude have smaller initial rates of inactivation. Furthermore, application of Ba ion intracellularly in large concentrations has no effect on steady-state inactivation.7. The bi-exponential inactivation process that persists in the presence of EGTA(i) is similar to that occurring when extracellular Ba ion carries current through the Ca channel. Steady-state inactivation also persists and is similar in the two cases. Therefore it is concluded that inactivation is voltage-dependent as well as Ca current-dependent.8. Diffusion models that included reasonable values for the effect of binding on diffusion, even when combined with declining influxes, did not account for this ;mixed' form of calcium- and voltage-dependent inactivation. A compartmental model in which the particular kinetic model of voltage-dependent inactivation was not critical described the Ca current-dependent inactivation.

Inward rectification in frog skeletal muscle fibres and its dependence on membrane potential and external potassium

1. Experiments were carried out using a voltage-clamp technique to investigate the dependence of inward rectification on membrane potential and on the equilibrium potential for K+, changed either by changing [K]o or changing [K]i. 2. The relationship between gK, the potassium chord conductance, and membrane potential depended on membrane potential and [K]o, but not on [K]i. 3. Under hyperpolarization, K currents increased with time, but instantaneous current-voltage relations also showed inward rectification. The time constants for activation fell with hyperpolarization, e -fold for an 18 mV change in membrane potential. 4. The time constants for activation depended on [K]o but not on [K]i. 5. Under depolarization, the activation of K currents was partly reversed, but between activation and membrane potential, determined from two-pulse experiments, also appeared to depend on [K]o but not on [K]i. 5. Under depolarization, the activation of K currents was partly reversed, but between activation and membrane potential, determined from two-pulse experiments, also appeared to depend on [K]o but not on [K]i. 6. The rate of activation of K currents under hyperpolarization had a Q10 of 2.64 +/- 0.08 (n = 5). Currents, measured per unit length, increased with temperature, with a Q10 of 1.66 +/- 0.11 (n = 5).

Calcium-mediated inactivation of calcium current in Paramecium

1. The Ca current seen in response to depolarization was investigated in Paramecium caudatum under voltage clamp. Inactivation of the current was measured with the double pulse method; a fixed test pulse of an amplitude sufficient to evoke maximal inward current was preceded by a conditioning pulse of variable amplitude (0-120 mV).2. The amplitude of the current recorded during the test pulse was related to the potential of the conditioning pulse. Reduction of test pulse current was taken as an index of Ca current inactivation. The current recorded during a test pulse showed a progressive decrease to a minimum as the potential of the conditioning pulse approached +10 to +30 mV. Further increase in conditioning pulse amplitude was accompanied by a progressive restoration of the test pulse current. Conditioning pulses near the calcium equilibrium potential had only a slight inactivating effect on the test pulse current.3. Injection of a mixture of Cs and TEA which blocked late outward current had essentially no effect on the inward current or its inactivation.4. Elevation of external Ca from 0.5 to 5 mM was accompanied by increased inactivation of the test pulse current. The enhanced inactivation of the test pulse current was approximately proportional to the increase in current recorded during the conditioning pulse.5. Following injection of the Ca chelating agent, EGTA, the inactivation of the test pulse current was diminished; in addition, the transient inward current relaxed slightly more slowly, and the transient was followed by a steady net inward current.6. The time course of recovery from inactivation in the double pulse experiment approximated a single exponential having a time constant of 80-110 msec. Injection of EGTA shortened the time constant by as much as 50%.7. It is concluded that interference with the entry of Ca or enhanced removal of intracellular free Ca(2+) interferes with the process of Ca current inactivation, while enhanced entry of Ca promotes the process of inactivation. While the mechanism of inactivation is unknown, arguments are presented that the accumulation of intracellular Ca influences the Ca channel conductance.

Divalent ion currents and the delayed potassium conductance in an Aplysia neurone

1. In Na- and Ca-free external solutions, Sr or Ba (but not Mg) could act as carriers of inward current during action potentials in the neurone, R15 of the Aplysia abdominal ganglion. These action potentials exhibited a prolonged plateau phase, the duration of which was dependent on the concentration and species of divalent cation and activity of the neurone. 2. Depolarization of the soma membrane in Na-free Ba solution generated a prolonged, 'late' inward current the amplitude of which was dependent on the external Ba concentration. The Ba current was insensitive to tetrodotoxin but could be blocked by Mn2+ and Co2+ ions. 3. The peak current-voltage relation and threshold for activation of the late inward current was shifted to more negative potentials on replacement of Ca with Ba. The zero-current (reversal) potentials for both Sr and Ba were more negative than for Ca, indicating that the 'Ca' channel is less permeable to Sr2+ or Ba2+ ions than to Ca2+ ions. 4. Inactivation of the 'Ca' channel is slower in Ba than in Ca solution. The time course of Ba currents during a maintained depolarization of 2 sec could be reasonably described by the expression, I'Ba(t) = I'Ba (infinity) [1-exp(-t/tau M)]2exp(-t/tau H). 5. Time constants for activation (tau M) and inactivation (tau H) were voltage-dependent. In the range -10 to +30 mV, tau M varied from 15 to 5 msec and tau H from 2.0 to 0.5 sec (12 degrees C). Steady-state Ba conductance (corrected for inactivation) was voltage-dependent, increasing sigmoidally with depolarization to a maximum of approximately 12 microS at potentials beyond +15 mV. 6. Steady-state inactivation of Ba conductance (hBa(infinity)) varied with holding potential (VH). Conditioning holding potentials more negative than the resting potential (-40 to -50 mV) produced depression of Ba currents. Complete inactivation of Ba currents occurred at holding potentials more positive than 0 mV or with repetitive activation at frequencies greater than 1 Hz. 7. The divalent ions, Ba2+ and Sr2+, reversible depressed the total delayed K+ current at a rate dependent on the frequency of activation. Ba and Sr shifted the delayed K+ current-voltage curve to more positive voltages and depressed the delayed outward current at all membrane potentials. 8. Comparison of the effect of Ba on delayed K+ currents with those obtained in the presence of Mn2+ ions indicated that Ba2+ ions depress both the voltage-dependent and Ca-dependent components of the delayed K+ current. However, the mechanism by which Ba acts to inhibit the two components of the delayed K+ current appears to be different.

Studies on the size, location and turnover of calcium pools accessible to growing Tetrahymena cells

Tetrahymena pyriformis cells in the logarithmic phase of growth accumulate 2.5--3.75 times as much calcium per unit volume as is present in the growth medium. It appears that most of this calcium is stored in a non-ionic form, with approximately 30% existing in the cilia, near its site of action in effecting ciliary reversal. The exchange of extracellular 45Ca2+ with the major internal pools is extremely rapid, exhibiting a t1/2 of less than 0.5 h. Sites located on the cilia are responsible for 35--50% of Ca2+ influx, with the remainder entering through other positions on the cell surface.

Presynaptic inhibition in Aplysia involves a decrease in the Ca2+ current of the presynaptic neuron

By voltage clamping presynaptic cell L10 and using pharmacologic separation techniques, we have analyzed the specific ionic currents in the presynaptic cell that correlate with presynaptic inhibition while assaying transmitter release with intracellular recordings from postsynaptic cells. We have found that presynaptic inhibition can be elicited in conditions in which the Na+ and the various K+ channels are pharmacologically blocked and depolarizing current pulses produce only an inward Ca2+ current. Both inward currents and tail currents at and above the K+ reversal potential were always less inward during presynaptic inhibition. The changes in conductance associated with presynaptic inhibition were voltage sensitive and paralleled the voltage sensitivity of the Ca2+ channel. We therefore conclude that presynaptic inhibition is caused by a direct transmitter-mediated decreased of presynaptic Ca2+-channel conductance.

Intracellular calcium accumulation during depolarization in a molluscan neurone

1. The bursting pacemaker neurone R-15 of Aplysia was injected with the Ca2+ sensitive dye arsenzo III. Changes in absorbance were measured with a differential spectrophotometer to monitor changes in free intracellular Ca2+ during membrane depolarization under voltage clamp conditions. 2. Dye absorbance increased linearly for depolarizing pulse durations up to 100 msec and approximately linearly between 100 and 300 msec, but for longer durations the absorbance change decreased. 3. The absorbance change vs. voltage relation increased steeply between -20 and 0 mV (e-fold per 8.5 mV), peaked at +36 mV and declined non-linearly to an estimated null or suppression potential of about +139 mV. 4. TTX (5 x 10(-5 M) had no effect on the change in dye absorbance produced by brief or long duration stimuli whereas Ca2+ free ASW abolished all changes in dye absorbance. 5. The absorbance change saturated with increasing external Ca2+ concentrations. The relation between dye absorbance and external Ca2+ concentration was hyperbolic and for a small range of external Ca2+ concentration and membrane potentials could be fitted by a Michaelis--Menten expression where the dissociation constant and the maximum absorbance change are voltage dependent. 6. The absorbance change was reduced by external divalent ions which block the Ca2+ channel (e.g. Cd2+ and Ni2+). The suppression of dye absorbance was increased by membrane depolarization and suggests that there is a voltage dependent site within the Ca2+ channel which binds divalent ions. 7. The decline of the absorbance--voltage relation from its peak to the suppression potential showed a greater nonlinearity when longer duration voltage clamp pulses were used. The non-linearity can be explained if the accumulation of Ca2+ ions next to the inner surface of the membrane during depolarization reduces the driving force on Ca2+ ions and thus decreases Ca2+ ion influx. 8. The suppression potential estimated from the absorbance--voltage relation increased 29 mV per tenfold change in the external Ca2+ concentration and thus can be used to estimate the Ca2+ equilibrium potential. 9. The change in dye absorbance produced by brief depolarizing voltage clamp steps was inactivated at positive holding potentials (50% inactivation at about -14 mV). Our results suggest that the slow decrease in dye absorbance during prolonged depolarization is caused by inactivation of the Ca2+ channel.

Voltage sensitive calcium entry in frog motoneurones

1. The electrical properties of motoneurone membrane were investigated in the isolated and hemisected spinal cord of frogs, using intracellular recording techniques. 2. TTX (1 x 10(-6) g/ml.) blocked action potentials produced either by intracellular depolarizing current pulses or ventral root stimuli. Voltage--current relations from these cells showed a diminishing slope for depolarizing current pulses of increasing intensity. 3. If TEA (5--10 mM) was added to the media containing TTX, intracellular depolarizing pulses elicited prolonged regenerative depolarizations characterized by a peak of variable amplitude and a repolarizing phase preceded by a prolonged plateau of variable duration. 4. During the plateau of the response, the membrane conductance was increased above its resting value. 5. The response was shortened during repetitive stimulation and could be curtailed by applying a hyperpolarizing pulse during the plateau. 6. The response depended on the presence of external Ca2+ and increased in size and duration with increasing Ca2+ concentration. Sr2+ substituted effectively for Ca2+. Sr2+-dependent responses were considerably longer than the Ca2+-dependent ones. Ca2+ or Sr2+ dependent responses persisted in Na+-free media containing isotonic TEA, and were abolished by addition of Co2+. 7. Ca2+ or Sr2+-dependent regenerative responses were followed by a hyperpolarization which could last several seconds. The current responsible for this after-hyperpolarization was TTX and TEA resistant. 8. It is concluded that the TTX-resistant regenerative response is probably generated in the soma-dendritic membrane, and is due to influx of Ca2+ or Sr2+ through voltage sensitive channels different to those through which Na+ permeates during generation of 'normal' action potentials. In addition it is shown that the hyperpolarization following 'Ca spikes', and which might be due to an increase in K+ conductance can also be triggered by Sr2+.

Voltage, temperature and ionic dependence of the slow outward current in Aplysia burst-firing neurones

1. The slow outward current in Aplysia burst-firing neurones was studied under voltage-clamp conditions. This current, designated Iso, was measured as the incremental outward tail current following small depolarizing commands. 2. Iso was shown to be a pure K+ current, probably activated by the influx of Ca2+ during the depolarizing command (Johnston, 1976). For small depolarizations, the peak conductance was about 10(-7) mhos. 3. The rate of decay of Iso could be fit by a single exponential and was voltage-dependent, increasing with depolarization. 4. The decay rate of Iso was also temperature-dependent, with a Q10 of about 3. The peak conductance, however, was much less temperature-sensitive, with a Q10 of about 1.5. 5. The voltage dependence of decay rate suggested either the presence of a voltage-dependent Ca2+ pump or that the change in intracellular calcium concentration was not the rate-limiting step in the decay of Iso.

Presynaptic membrane potential affects transmitter release in an identified neuron in Aplysia by modulating the Ca2+ and K+ currents

We have examined the relationships between the modulation of transmitter release and of specific ionic currents by membrane potential in the cholinergic interneuron L10 of the abdominal ganglion of Aplysia californica. The presynaptic cell body was voltage-clamped under various pharmacological conditions and transmitter release from the terminals was assayed simultaneously by recording the synaptic potentials in the postsynaptic cell. When cell L10 was voltage-clamped from a holding potential of -60 mV in the presence of tetrodotoxin, graded transmitter release was evoked by depolarizing command pulses in the membrane voltage range (-35 mV to + 10 mV) in which the Ca(2+) current was also increasing. Depolarizing the holding potential of L10 results in increased transmitter output. Two ionic mechanisms contribute to this form of plasticity. First, depolarization inactivates some K(+) channels so that depolarizing command pulses recruit a smaller K(+) current. In unclamped cells the decreased K(+) conductance causes spike-broadening and increased influx of Ca(2+) during each spike. Second, small depolarizations around resting potential (-55 mV to -35 mV) activate a steady-state Ca(2+) current that also contributes to the modulation of transmitter release, because, even with most presynaptic K(+) currents blocked pharmacologically, depolarizing the holding potential still increases transmitter release. In contrast to the steady-state Ca(2+) current, the transient inward Ca(2+) current evoked by depolarizing clamp steps is relatively unchanged from various holding potentials.

Biophysics of flagellar motility

One feature characterizing the transition from prokaryote to eukaryote is the ‘sudden’ appearance of centrioles and their highly structured products, the typical eukaryotic flagella and cilia. These mechanochemical systems appear as fully developed machines, containing some 200 diffierent proteins (Lucket al.1978) arranged in a remarkably complex organization which has undergone little modification since the advent of the first eukaryotic cells. It is now well established (see, for example, Satir, 1974) that ciliary and flagellar motility is based on a sliding filament mechanism that superficially resembles the far more extensively studied sliding filament system of striated skeletal muscle.The flagellar system, however, appears to be much more complex than the muscle system, because it does not ‘merely’ shorten and generate force, but develops propagating waves and exerts its effects via hydrodynamic interactions with a viscous medium.