The effect of noradrenaline on the ion permeability of isolated mammalian hepatocytes, studied by intracellular recording

Ca(2+) -permeable channels in the hepatocyte plasma membrane and their roles in hepatocyte physiology

Hepatocytes are highly differentiated and spatially polarised cells which conduct a wide range of functions, including intermediary metabolism, protein synthesis and secretion, and the synthesis, transport and secretion of bile acids. Changes in the concentrations of Ca(2+) in the cytoplasmic space, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, and other intracellular organelles make an essential contribution to the regulation of these hepatocyte functions. While not yet fully understood, the spatial and temporal parameters of the cytoplasmic Ca(2+) signals and the entry of Ca(2+) through Ca(2+)-permeable channels in the plasma membrane are critical to the regulation by Ca(2+) of hepatocyte function. Ca(2+) entry across the hepatocyte plasma membrane has been studied in hepatocytes in situ, in isolated hepatocytes and in liver cell lines. The types of Ca(2+)-permeable channels identified are store-operated, ligand-gated, receptor-activated and stretch-activated channels, and these may vary depending on the animal species studied. Rat liver cell store-operated Ca(2+) channels (SOCs) have a high selectivity for Ca(2+) and characteristics similar to those of the Ca(2+) release activated Ca(2+) channels in lymphocytes and mast cells. Liver cell SOCs are activated by a decrease in Ca(2+) in a sub-region of the ER enriched in type1 IP(3) receptors. Activation requires stromal interaction molecule type 1 (STIM1), and G(i2alpha,) F-actin and PLCgamma1 as facilitatory proteins. P(2x) purinergic channels are the only ligand-gated Ca(2+)-permeable channels in the liver cell membrane identified so far. Several types of receptor-activated Ca(2+) channels have been identified, and some partially characterised. It is likely that TRP (transient receptor potential) polypeptides, which can form Ca(2+)- and Na(+)-permeable channels, comprise many hepatocyte receptor-activated Ca(2+)-permeable channels. A number of TRP proteins have been detected in hepatocytes and in liver cell lines. Further experiments are required to characterise the receptor-activated Ca(2+) permeable channels more fully, and to determine the molecular nature, mechanisms of activation, and precise physiological functions of each of the different hepatocyte plasma membrane Ca(2+) permeable channels.

ATP-activated cation currents in single guinea-pig hepatocytes

1. Responses of single guinea-pig liver cells to the application of external ATP were studied using the whole-cell voltage clamp technique. 2. When the cells were loaded with 5 mM EGTA in the absence of K+ and Cl- in both internal and external solutions, application of ATP (0.03-100 microM) elicited a large cation-selective inward current at negative holding potentials. The current densities at the peak of the response to 100 microM ATP were 4.5 +/- 0.5 pA pF-1 (mean +/- s.e.m., n = 18) in the presence of Na+ and Ca2+ in the external medium and 3.3 +/- 0.7 pA pF-1 (n = 6) with Ca2+ as the major permeant ion. 3. Divalent cations, when added during the response to ATP in the presence of Na+ and Ca2+, exerted different effects: CdSO4 (2 mM) totally and NiSO4 (2 mM) partially blocked the inward current whereas MnSO4 (2 mM) did not block it. The ATP-activated conductance was permeable to all the divalent cations tested in this study, i.e. Ca2+, Cd2+, Ni2+, Mn2+ and Mg2+. No response to ATP was observed in the absence of external cations. 4. The activation of the inward current was not maintained in the continuous presence of ATP. The effect of Ca2+ ions on the desensitization of the response was studied in different external solutions. The decline in the amplitude of the inward current after the peak was fitted with a single exponential with a time constant of about 2 s for pure Ca2+, Cd2+ or Ni2+ currents, 3 s for Mg2+ or Mn2+ and 4 s in the presence of both Na+ and Ca2+. 5. Under more physiological conditions, the entry of Ca2+ evoked after the stimulation of P2X purinoceptors was associated with an increase in fluo-3 fluorescence and a marked reduction in the delay before the mobilization of internal Ca2+ stores following the activation of P2Y purinoceptors.

Regulation of Ca2+ release by InsP3 in single guinea pig hepatocytes and rat Purkinje neurons

The repetitive spiking of free cytosolic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) during hormonal activation of hepatocytes depends on the activation and subsequent inactivation of InsP3-evoked Ca2+ release. The kinetics of both processes were studied with flash photolytic release of InsP3 and time resolved measurements of [Ca2+]i in single cells. InsP3 evoked Ca2+ flux into the cytosol was measured as d[Ca2+]i/dt, and the kinetics of Ca2+ release compared between hepatocytes and cerebellar Purkinje neurons. In hepatocytes release occurs at InsP3 concentrations greater than 0.1-0.2 microM. A comparison with photolytic release of metabolically stable 5-thio-InsP3 suggests that metabolism of InsP3 is important in determining the minimal concentration needed to produce Ca2+ release. A distinct latency or delay of several hundred milliseconds after release of low InsP3 concentrations decreased to a minimum of 20-30 ms at high concentrations and is reduced to zero by prior increase of [Ca2+]i, suggesting a cooperative action of Ca2+ in InsP3 receptor activation. InsP3-evoked flux and peak [Ca2+]i increased with InsP3 concentration up to 5-10 microM, with large variation from cell to cell at each InsP3 concentration. The duration of InsP3-evoked flux, measured as 10-90% risetime, showed a good reciprocal correlation with d[Ca2+]i/dt and much less cell to cell variation than the dependence of flux on InsP3 concentration, suggesting that the rate of termination of the Ca2+ flux depends on the free Ca2+ flux itself. Comparing this data between hepatocytes and Purkinje neurons shows a similar reciprocal correlation for both, in hepatocytes in the range of low Ca2+ flux, up to 50 microM. s-1 and in Purkinje neurons at high flux up to 1,400 microM. s-1. Experiments in which [Ca2+]i was controlled at resting or elevated levels support a mechanism in which InsP3-evoked Ca2+ flux is inhibited by Ca2+ inactivation of closed receptor/channels due to Ca2+ accumulation local to the release sites. Hepatocytes have a much smaller, more prolonged InsP3-evoked Ca2+ flux than Purkinje neurons. Evidence suggests that these differences in kinetics can be explained by the much lower InsP3 receptor density in hepatocytes than Purkinje neurons, rather than differences in receptor isoform, and, more generally, that high InsP3 receptor density promotes fast rising, rapidly inactivating InsP3-evoked [Ca2+]i transients.

Electrogenic arginine transport mediates stimulus-secretion coupling in mouse pancreatic beta-cells

1. We have investigated the mechanism by which L-arginine stimulates membrane depolarization, an increase of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells. 2. L-Arginine failed to affect beta-cell metabolism, as monitored by NAD(P)H autofluorescence. 3. L-Arginine produced a dose-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i, which was dependent on membrane depolarization and extracellular calcium. 4. The cationic amino acids L-ornithine, L-lysine, L-homoarginine (which is not metabolized) and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) produced [Ca2+]i responses similar to that produced by L-arginine. The neutral nitric oxide synthase inhibitors NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) and N omega-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NAME) also increased [Ca2+]i. D-Arginine was ineffective. 5. L-Arginine did not affect whole-cell Ca2+ currents or ATP-sensitive K+ currents, but produced an inward current that was carried by the amino acid. 6. The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated the presence of messenger RNA for the murine cationic amino acid transporters mCAT2A and mCAT2B within the beta-cell. 7. L-Arginine did not affect beta-cell exocytosis as assayed by changes in cell capacitance. 8. Our data suggest that L-arginine elevates [Ca2+]i and stimulates insulin secretion as a consequence of its electrogenic transport into the beta-cell. This uptake is mediated by the mCAT2A transporter.

cAMP- and swelling-activated chloride conductance in rat hepatocytes

An outwardly rectifying Cl- conductance was identified in primary isolated rat hepatocytes, and the whole cell patch-clamp technique was used to characterize its properties and mechanisms of activation. With symmetrical Cl(-)-containing solutions on both sides and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP; 100 microM) in the pipette solution, a large outwardly rectifying conductance (1,014 +/- 153 pS/pF, n = 20) developed in all cells within 3 min. This cAMP-activated conductance was highly anion selective and slowly inactivated at voltages > 80 mV. It was completely inhibited by the anion channel blocker 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (200 microM, n = 6) and partially inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (150 microM, n = 7). It displayed a halide selectivity of I- > Br- > Cl-. In the absence of cAMP, a functionally similar conductance was activated by cell swelling. Reduction of bath osmolality from 300 to 250 mosmol/kg increased membrane conductance from 64 +/- 16.4 to 487 +/- 23 pS/pF (n = 4). This swelling-activated conductance was also highly anion selective and had identical halide selectivity and blocker sensitivity as the cAMP-activated conductance. Although cell swelling was not necessary for cAMP activation, cell shrinkage with hyperosmotic bath (350 mosmol/kg), either before or after exposure to cAMP, inhibited the cAMP-activated conductance. By the determination of conductance as a function of bath osmolality in the presence and absence of cAMP, it was observed that cAMP shifted the osmotic set point for conductance activation without changing either the maximum or minimum conductance. In conclusion, both cAMP and cell swelling activate a large outwardly rectifying Cl- conductance in rat hepatocytes. Its ionic selectivity and sensitivity to channel blockers are identical to those seen for swelling-activated Cl- conductances in many cell types. The conductive properties are not those of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-mediated Cl- conductance. cAMP appears to activate this conductance by altering the volume set point of a swelling-activated channel.

Discrimination between subtypes of apamin-sensitive Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels by gallamine and a novel bis-quaternary quinolinium cyclophane, UCL 1530

1. Gallamine, dequalinium and a novel bis-quaternary cyclophane, UCL 1530 (8,19-diaza-3(1,4),5(1,4)-dibenzena-1 (1,4),7(1,4)-diquinolina-cyclononadecanephanedium) were tested for their ability to block actions mediated by the small conductance, apamin-sensitive Ca(2+)-activated K+ (SKCa) channels in rat cultured sympathetic neurones and guinea-pig isolated hepatocytes. 2. SKCa channel block was assessed in sympathetic neurones by the reduction in the slow afterhyperpolarization (AHP) that follows an action potential, and in hepatocytes by the inhibition of the SKCa mediated net loss of K+ that results from the application of angiotensin II. 3. The order of potency for inhibition of the AHP in sympathetic neurones was UCL 1530 > dequalinium > gallamine, with IC50 values of 0.08 +/- 0.02, 0.60 +/- 0.05 and 68.0 +/- 8.4 microM respectively, giving an equi-effective molar ratio between gallamine and UCL 1530 of 850. 4. The same three compounds inhibited angiotensin II-evoked K+ loss from guinea-pig hepatocytes in the order dequalinium > UCL 1530 > gallamine, with an equi-effective molar ratio for gallamine to UCL 1530 of 5.8, 150 fold less than in sympathetic neurones. 5. Dequalinium and UCL 1530 were as effective on guinea-pig as on rat sympathetic neurones. 6. UCL 1530 at 1 microM had no effect on the voltage-activated Ca2+ current in rat sympathetic neurones, but inhibited the hyperpolarization produced by direct elevation of cytosolic Ca2+. 7. Direct activation of SKCa channels by raising cytosolic Ca2+ in hepatocytes evoked an outward current which was reduced by the three blockers, with dequalinium being the most potent. 8. These results provide evidence that the SKCa channels present in guinea-pig hepatocytes and rat cultured sympathetic neurones are different, and that this is not attributable to species variation. UCL 1530 and gallamine should be useful tools for the investigation of subtypes of apamin-sensitive K+ channels.

Activation of the plasma membrane chloride channel by protein kinase C in isolated guinea-pig hepatocytes

1. To assess the nature of the underlying mechanism of noradrenaline-induced increase of Cl- conductances in hepatocytes, macroscopic and unitary currents through noradrenaline-induced Cl- channels were examined in enzymatically isolated guinea-pig hepatocytes using whole-cell, cell-attached and excised inside-out configurations of the patch-clamp technique. 2. When K+ conductances were blocked and the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was set at 0.1 microM, bath application of noradrenaline activated the time-independent membrane currents under whole-cell voltage-clamp conditions. The current was similarly activated by phorbol ester (PMA), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC), while a specific protein kinase C inhibitor, H-9, reversed PMA activation of the current. The inactive phorbol ester, 4 alpha-phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate (alpha PMA), failed to activate the channel. 3. The reversal potential of the PMA-activated current shifted by approximately 60 mV per 10-fold change in the external Cl- concentration, indicating that the current was Cl- selective. Bath application of 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS) partially inhibited both the noradrenaline- and PMA-induced currents. 4. In single channel recordings from cell-attached patches, bath application of noradrenaline or PMA induced unitary current activity, the averaged slope conductance of which was 10.1 +/- 1.5 pS (mean +/- S.D.; n = 12) in the noradrenaline-induced current and 9.7 +/- 1.3 pS (n = 7) in the PMA-induced current. The open time distribution was moderately well fitted by a single exponential function with mean open lifetime of 88.5 +/- 10.6 ms (n = 10), while at least two exponentials were required to fit the closed time distributions with a time constant for the fast component of 24.4 +/- 5.8 ms (n = 10) and for the slow component of 316.9 +/- 49.2 ms (n = 10). 5. Bath application of purified PKC to excised inside-out patches activated the channel. The PKC selective inhibitor, PKC(19-36), and DIDS inhibited the PKC-activated channel. 6. These results suggest that PKC can phosphorylate the channel protein or a related structure leading to the activation of Cl- channels in guinea-pig hepatocytes.

Hormone-regulated Ca2+ channel in rat hepatocytes revealed by whole cell patch clamp

An inward current responsible for hormone regulated Ca2+ entry has been identified in cultured rat hepatocytes using whole cell patch clamp. Addition of 20 nM vasopressin or of 100 microM ATP induced the inward current, which could be observed more clearly after blocking an outward K+ current. This large outward K+ current, which appeared after addition of vasopressin or ATP, could be blocked either by replacing K+ with Cs+ in the external medium and in the pipette solution, or by simply including 0.5 microM apamin in the K(+)-containing external medium. The outward current appears to be carried by a Ca2+ activated K+ channel. In the presence of apamin, hepatocytes pretreated with vasopressin in a Ca(2+)-free media reveal an inward current on addition of external Ca2+ (5 mM). The current could also be elicited by addition of vasopressin when cells are preincubated in the presence of 5 mM external Ca2+. No current is seen on addition of Ca2+ in the absence of vasopressin. Initially, the inward current was ca 200-300 pA at -60 mV, but it declined rapidly over 3 min to ca 20 pA. The current approached zero, as an asymptote at positive potential, and appeared to be somewhat inwardly rectifying. Additions of 5 mM Mn2+ or 5 mM Ba2+ in place of Ca2+ produced little or no current. An inhibitor of ER Ca(2+)-ATPase, thapsigargin, could also trigger the cascade of events leading to plasma membrane conductance of Ca2+. The data suggest that hormone-stimulated Ca2+ entry into hepatocytes is mediated by a Ca(2+)-release activated channel highly specific for Ca2+. This is the first demonstration of such a channel in hepatocytes, though similar ones have been described in mast cells, in vascular endothelial cells and T-lymphocytes.

Kinetics of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration after photolytic release of 1-D-myo-inositol 1,4-bisphosphate 5-phosphorothioate from a caged derivative in guinea pig hepatocytes

The influence of 1-D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) breakdown by InsP3 5-phosphatase in determining the time course of Ca2+ release from intracellular stores was investigated with flash photolytic release of a stable InsP3 derivative, 5-thio-InsP3, from a photolabile caged precursor. The potency and Ca(2+)-releasing properties of the biologically active D isomers of 5-thio-InsP3 and InsP3 itself were compared by photolytic release in guinea pig hepatocytes. After a light flash, cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) showed an initial delay before rising quickly to a peak and declining more slowly to resting levels, with time course and amplitude generally similar to those seen with photolytic release of InsP3. Differences were a three- to eightfold lower potency of 5-thio-InsP3 in producing Ca2+ release, much longer delays between photolytic release and Ca2+ efflux with low concentrations of 5-thio-InsP3 than with InsP3, and persistent reactivation of Ca2+ release, producing periodic fluctuations of cytosolic [Ca2+]i with high concentrations of 5-thio-InsP3 but not InsP3 itself. The lower potency of 5-thio-InsP3 may be a result of a lower affinity for closed receptor/channels or a lower open probability of liganded receptor/channels. The longer delays with 5-thio-InsP3 at low concentration suggest that metabolism of InsP3 by 5-phosphatase may reduce the concentration sufficiently to prevent receptor activation and may have a similar effect on InsP3 concentration during hormonal activation. The maximal rate of rise of [Ca2+]i, the duration of the period of high Ca2+ efflux, and the initial decline of [Ca2+]i are similar with5-thio-lnsP3 and lnsP3, indicating that lnsP3 breakdown is not important in terminating Ca2+ release. The second activation ofInsP3 receptors with 5-thio-lnsP3 and particularly the sustained periodic fluctuations of [Ca2+]i indicate persistence of 5-thio-lnsP3,suggesting that InsP3 breakdown prevents reactivation of InsP3 receptors. The photochemical properties of 1-(2-nitrophenyl)-ethyl caged 5-thio-lnsP3 are photolytic quantum yield = 0.57 (cf. 0.65 for caged InsP3) and rate of photolysis = 87 s-I (half-life approximately 8 ms; cf. 3 ms for caged lnsP3; pH7.1; ionic strength, 0.2 M; 21 OC). Caged 5-thio-lnsP3 at concentrations up to 360 pM did not activate lnsP3 receptors to produce Ca2+ release or block Ca2+ release by free 5-thio-lnsP3.

Oscillations of cytosolic free calcium concentration in the presence of intracellular antibodies to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in voltage-clamped guinea-pig hepatocytes

In liver cells, the stimulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors by noradrenaline induces the production of Ins(1,4,5)P3 through the degradation of membrane polyphosphoinositides [PtdIns(4,5)P2]. InsP3 evokes in turn the release of Ca2+ from internal stores. Our results show that the internal perfusion of single guinea-pig hepatocytes with monoclonal anti-PtdInsP2 antibody blocks the rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ concn. ([Ca2+]i) evoked by noradrenaline, an InsP3-dependent agonist, but not by the monohydroxylated bile acid taurolithocholate 3-sulphate, which is known to permeabilize the endoplasmic reticulum. In these conditions, the bile acid elicited either fast or slow fluctuations of [Ca2+]i independently of any InsP3 production. The responses to the bile acid were also observed in the absence of external Ca2+. The presence of intracellular anti-PtdInsP2 antibody does not affect the response to a photolytic release of InsP3 (1.5 microM final concn.) from a caged precursor.

Beta-adrenergic effects on cellular Na, Mg, Ca, K and Cl in vascular smooth muscle: electron probe analysis of rabbit pulmonary artery

The effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation on the cellular content and subcellular distribution of Na, Mg, Ca, K and Cl were determined by electron probe X-ray microanalysis of muscles stimulated with 5-hydroxytryptamine. Isoproterenol caused a significant decrease in cytoplasmic and mitochondrial Na and Cl, and an increase in cytoplasmic Mg. Isoproterenol also significantly decreased total cytoplasmic Ca measured with small diameter probes, without affecting cellular Ca measured with large probes that included the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The decrease in cytoplasmic Na and the effects on cytoplasmic and cellular Ca are consistent with, respectively, beta-adrenergic stimulation of the Na-pump and of Ca-uptake into the SR, but the beta-adrenergic increase in cytoplasmic Mg also raises the possibility of stimulated Na/Mg exchange.

Properties of a cell volume-sensitive potassium conductance in isolated guinea-pig and rat hepatocytes

1. Whole-cell voltage clamp and intracellular recording techniques were used to study the increase in K+ conductance that accompanies swelling in isolated guinea-pig and rat hepatocytes in short-term culture at 37 degrees C. 2. Swelling was induced (i) by the application of pressure (15 cmH2O) to the shank of the patch pipette, (ii) by exposing the cells to hypotonic solutions and (iii) as a consequence of leakage of electrolyte from an intracellular microelectrode. 3. Applying pressure to the patch pipette caused a large outward current (approximately 600 pA) to develop in guinea-pig hepatocytes voltage clamped to 0 mV. This current reversed direction at -86 mV, close to the reversal potential for K+, EK (-93 mV), and is attributable to the activation of a K+ conductance. 4. Spectral analysis of current noise during this response suggested a single-channel conductance of 7 pS, though this may well be an underestimate. The power spectrum could be fitted by the sum of two Lorentzian components, with half-power frequencies of 7 and 152 Hz. Seventy per cent of the variance was associated with the lower frequency component. 5. The steady-state current-voltage relationship for guinea-pig hepatocytes, as determined by whole-cell recording, was linear over the range -70 to +40 mV both before and during the increase in K+ conductance induced by swelling. 6. Confirming earlier work, intracellular recording using microelectrodes filled with 1 M-potassium citrate sometimes resulted in a slow hyperpolarization and a large rise in input conductance. These changes are also attributable to an increase in K+ conductance as the cell swelled because of leakage from the electrode. 7. Application of hypotonic external solutions during intracellular recording caused hyperpolarization and an increase in conductance. Conversely, hypertonic solution evoked depolarization and a fall in conductance in partly swollen cells. 8. The volume-activated K+ conductance was reversibly blocked by cetiedil, which caused half-maximal inhibition at 2.3 microM. Bepridil, quinine and barium were also effective, with IC50s (concentrations giving 50% maximal inhibition) of 2.7, 12 and 67 microM respectively. 9. Much greater concentrations of cetiedil and bepridil (IC50 approximately 1 mM and 77 microM respectively) were required to inhibit the loss of K+ which follows the application of angiotensin II (100 nM) to guinea-pig hepatocytes, and which occurs via Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels. Our evidence suggests that the activation of K+ channels by cell swelling is Ca2+ independent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Regulation of plasma membrane permeability to calcium in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes

Experiments were designed to characterize the hormone sensitive transport of Ca2+ from the external media into rat hepatocytes maintained in culture. In the absence of added vasopressin, hepatocytes were nearly impermeable to Ca2+, whereas a significant and rapid influx of Ca2+ could be detected when external Ca2+ was added to hepatocytes after the addition of 20 nM vasopressin. The transport was measured as the initial rate of increase of free intracellular Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i) after Ca2+ addition to the external media. Most data were obtained from the majority of cells on a coverslip immersed in a spectrophotometric cuvette, but selected data were obtained by measuring Ca2+ changes in single cells. Ca2+ influx measured using a large number of cells was similar to data obtained using single cells. The Vmax of Ca2+ influx was 140 nM/s. Ca2+ transport was competitive with H+ so that the Km was 17.4 mM at pH 6.8, 3.7 mM at pH 7.4 and 1.8 mM at pH 7.8. Ca2+ influx was insensitive to external K+ (1 to 70 mM) and to the presence of 5 nM valinomycin, suggesting that it was independent of the electrical potential gradient across the plasma membrane. Transport also appeared to be insensitive to the activity of protein kinase C, which was varied by addition of the activator, 12-myristate 13-acetate phorbol ester, and by addition of the kinase inhibitor, staurosporine. Stimulation of transport following vasopressin addition exhibited a delay with a t1/2 of approximately 30 s. A vasopressin antagonist blocked the activation of transport, if added prior to vasopressin. However, experiments designed to determine the effect of hormone occupancy per se on transport activity indicated that continued hormone occupancy was not required. When the external medium was nominally Ca2+ free and an antagonist was added 1 min after vasopressin, Ca2+ entry, even 8 min after antagonist addition, was rapid. Conversely, preincubation with vasopressin antagonist in medium containing 0.5 mM Ca2+ dramatically lowered plasma membrane Ca2+ permeability. The ER Ca2+ pool emptied by vasopressin was refilled in the presence of vasopressin antagonist plus 0.5 mM Ca2+, but did not refill when the medium contained no added Ca2+. Under the conditions of these experiments, the Ca2+ levels of the ER hormone-sensitive Ca2+ pool were estimated as well as intracellular concentrations of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate. The Ca2+ levels of the endoplasmic reticulum correlated inversely with plasma membrane Ca2+ permeability, whereas cellular concentrations of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate did not correlate with Ca2+ permeability.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Kinetics of the conductance evoked by noradrenaline, inositol trisphosphate or Ca2+ in guinea-pig isolated hepatocytes

1. Guinea-pig hepatocytes respond to noradrenaline (NA, 5-10 microM) with a large membrane conductance increase to K+ and Cl-. The response has a long initial delay (range 2-30 s). Following the delay, the K+ conductance (studied in Cl(-)-free solutions) rises quickly to a peak in 1-2 s and is maintained in the continued presence of NA, though often with superimposed oscillations of conductance. The roles of intracellular Ca2+ and D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) in this complex response have been investigated by rapid photolytic release of intracellular Ca2+ (from Nitr5-Ca2+ buffers) or InsP3 from 'caged' InsP3. 2. A rapid increase of intracellular [Ca2+] produced an immediate membrane conductance increase which rose approximately exponentially to a new steady level, consistent with a direct activation of Ca2(+)-dependent ion channels. 3. Following a pulse of InsP3, conductance rose after a brief delay (range 70-1500 ms) which was shortest at high [InsP3] or if the initial cytosolic [Ca2+] had been raised above normal levels. The maximum conductance produced by InsP3 was similar in each cell to the peak recorded with NA and could be evoked by InsP3 concentrations of 0.5-1 microM. 4. The rates of rise of conductance increased with InsP3 concentration in the range 0.25-12.5 microM (range 10-90%, rise times 90-1000 ms), indicating that InsP3-evoked Ca2(+)-efflux from stores increases with InsP3 concentration in this range. 5. Photochemically released InsP3 and Ca2+ activate at physiological concentrations the same membrane conductances as NA. The results indicate that the long initial delay in NA action occurs prior to or during generation of InsP3. The mechanism of the delay and the subsequent apparently all-or-none conductance increase during NA action are discussed in terms of the high co-operativity in InsP3 and Ca2+ actions and an additional positive feedback step. 6. Evidence was found of a negative interaction between [Ca2+] and InsP3-evoked Ca2+ release. The time course of the recovery of InsP3-evoked Ca2+ release following a rise of cytosolic [Ca2+] suggests that this interaction may be important in regulating oscillatory responses of [Ca2+] during hormonal stimulation of guinea-pig hepatocytes.

A quantitative assessment of the use of 36Cl- distribution to measure plasma membrane potential in isolated hepatocytes

The plasma membrane potential of isolated rat hepatocytes was clamped at different values between 0 and -68 mV by addition of valinomycin in the presence of different extracellular concentrations of K+, and measured by the distribution of 86Rb+ between cells and medium. 36Cl- distribution came to steady state in 10-15 min. This steady-state distribution was compared to the plasma membrane potential over a range of values. 36Cl- distribution provided an accurate measurement of plasma membrane potential between -4 and -40 mV. At higher potentials intracellular chloride concentration is less than 20% of the extracellular concentration and errors due to uncertainties in the measurement of intracellular volume and of the contamination of cell pellets by extracellular medium precluded accurate determination of membrane potential: thus in our experiments 36Cl- underestimated the plasma membrane potential at -68 mV by 8 mV.

Electrophysiological properties of isolated rat liver cells

The electrophysiological properties of isolated rat liver cells were studied using the patch clamp method in whole-cell configuration. The membrane potential in isolated hepatocytes was -42 +/- 7 mV (n = 20). The input resistance (Rin) and the time constant (tau m) were 51 +/- 17 M (the range of 34 to 180 M omega) (n = 20) and 4.2 +/- 1.0 msec (the range of 3 to 16.5 ms) (n = 20). Assuming that the specific membrane capacitance is 1 microF/cm2, the membrane resistance and membrane capacitance were 42. +/- 9.0 K omega cm2 and 87 +/- 27 pF. These values indicate that isolated rat hepatocytes are not abnormally permeable or leaky. The current-voltage relationship was linear with no rectification. The depolarizing pulse from the resting potential did not induce fast or slow inward currents even when norepinephrine or high Ca2 (3.6 mM) were applied. This indicates that there is no voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channel in the isolated hepatocytes.

Properties of membrane ion conductances evoked by hormonal stimulation of guinea-pig and rabbit isolated hepatocytes

Membrane conductance changes evoked in isolated guinea-pig or rabbit hepatocytes by hormonal stimulation were studied with the whole-cell patch clamp technique. In Cl-containing solutions, noradrenaline (NA), ATP or angiotensin II (AII) evoked an increase of conductance to both K (GK) and Cl (GCl) ions. Activation of GK occurred after a delay of several seconds and was sustained in the presence of hormone. Activation of GCl was transient, lasting several seconds, and arose either at the same time or shortly after the increase in GK. Conductances showed an initial rapid rise and slow oscillatory changes during maintained hormone application. The NA-induced current reversed at -19 mV in Cl solutions, between the equilibrium potentials for chloride (ECl = 0 mV) and potassium ions (EK = -85 mV), and at -75 mV, near EK, in Cl-free solution. In both conditions whole-cell current-voltage curves were linear in the range -100 mV to +40 mV. The conductance increase produced by NA to Cl- ions was about 50 nS, that to K+ ions was 6 nS. The potassium conductance increase was abolished by the polypeptide toxin apamin (50 nM). An increase in membrane current noise was associated with NA-evoked outward K+ current and blocked by apamin. Spectral analysis gave estimates of the elementary K channel conductance of 1.7 pS. Power spectra were fitted by two Lorentzian components, with average half-power frequencies of 2 and 190 Hz. These results are discussed in relation to the single-channel properties and indicate that the open probability of K channels during the NA response is high. In Cl solutions, with apamin to block the K conductance, no increase in current noise was detected during the large Cl conductance evoked by NA. This suggests either that Cl channels are of very low unitary conductance (less than 1 pS) or that Cl transport is due to a membrane carrier. The complex time-course of hormonally evoked conductances is not due to the properties of ion conductances per se but probably to underlying changes of intracellular second-messenger concentration.

The properties of calcium-activated potassium ion channels in guinea-pig isolated hepatocytes

1. Unitary currents due to calcium-activated potassium ion channels were studied in inside-out or outside-out excised membrane patches from guinea-pig hepatocytes. 2. Potassium ion channels were identified which were activated by internal calcium ions and blocked by external apamin (50 nM) or (+)-tubocurarine (10 microM). These properties are characteristic of the whole-cell potassium conductance increase evoked in guinea-pig hepatocytes by hormonal stimulation. 3. The single-channel conductance was 20 pS in inside-out or outside-out patches with external and internal K+ ion concentrations of 150 and 135 mM respectively and gluconate anion. Reducing external K+ concentration to 5 mM reduced the unitary conductance for outward current to 6 pS. 4. The calcium sensitivity was investigated with buffered internal Ca2+ ion concentrations in the range 0.3-2.2 microM. Tubocurarine-sensitive channels had an open probability of less than 0.05 at 0.3 microM-internal Ca2+. This increased steeply to a maximum of 0.85 at concentrations of 1.1 microM-Ca2+ or higher. 5. In patches with a single channel active, analysis of open and closed intervals showed that openings occurred in bursts. The increase of open probability at high internal Ca2+ concentration was associated with prolonged bursts of channel opening. 6. Comparison of these results with data from whole-cell conductance changes and with published levels of intracellular Ca2+ ion concentration (Woods, Cuthbertson & Cobbold, 1987) suggests that a large proportion, more than 40%, of potassium ion channels in guinea-pig hepatocytes are activated by hormonal stimulation.

Oscillations of free cytosolic calcium evoked by cholinergic and catecholaminergic agonists in rat parotid acinar cells

1. In single, dissociated, rat parotid acinar cells the muscarinic agonist carbachol evokes a rapid rise in cytosolic free calcium [( Ca2+]i), from near 100 nM to peak levels of up to 1 microM. In the continued presence of the agonist the response decays to a lower, maintained, level. 2. In most cells, at 22 degrees C, oscillations, with a mean frequency of 0.19 Hz, are superimposed upon this elevation of [Ca2+]i. In voltage-clamped cells oscillations of current occur in phase with the oscillations of [Ca2+]i. 3. The oscillations occur in voltage-clamped cells, and in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, indicating that neither voltage-gated processes, or an influx of Ca2+ is involved. 4. Oscillation frequency is independent of carbachol concentration, in the range 100 nM to 250 microM, and furthermore, shows no relationship to the mean level of [Ca2+]i during the oscillations. 5. Stimulation with the alpha-adrenergic agonist noradrenaline, in the presence of the beta-blocker propanolol, evokes oscillations having the same frequency as those evoked by carbachol. 6. The oscillations show a strong temperature dependence, the frequency increasing with a Q10 of 2.8. In contrast, the amplitude of the oscillations drops from a mean of 33% of the response amplitude at 22 degrees C, and below, to 6% at 33 degrees C. Above the latter temperature oscillations are not resolvable. 7. The phorbol esters, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate and 12,13-phorbol dibutyrate (1 microM), do not affect the response to carbachol at 22 degrees C, at which temperature the oscillations are of maximum amplitude. Diacylglycerol is, therefore, unlikely to be involved in oscillation generation in these cells. 8. These observations are consistent with a model in which a negative feed-back loop links [Ca2+]i to the mechanisms of Ca2+ elevation, possibly to the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive Ca2+ release mechanism of the endoplasmic reticulum. If the feed-back path involved an enzymatic step, the slowing of this step at lowered temperatures could give rise to oscillations. At body temperature such a mechanism would act to ensure that [Ca2+]i was elevated in a regulated and dose-dependent manner.