title: Multiple calcium currents in a thyroid C-cell line: biophysical properties and pharmacology.
abstract: The whole cell version of the patch-clamp technique was used to characterize voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in the calcitonin-secreting rat thyroid C-cell line 6-23 (clone 6). Three types of Ca2+ channels could be distinguished based on differences in voltage dependence, kinetics, and pharmacological sensitivity. T-type current was half-maximal at -31 mV, showed steady-state voltage-dependent inactivation that was half-maximal at -57 mV, inactivated with a voltage-dependent time constant that reached a minimum of 20 ms at potentials positive to -20 mV, and deactivated with a single time constant of approximately 2 ms at -80 mV. Reactivation of inactivated channels occurred with a time constant of 1.26 s at -90 mV. T current was selectively blocked by Ni2+ at concentrations between 5 and 50 microM. La3+ and Y3+ blocked the T current at 10- to 20-fold lower concentrations. Dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type current was half-maximal at a test potential of -3 mV and was approximately doubled in size when Ba2+ replaced Ca2+ as the charge carrier. Unlike L-type Ca2+ current in many cells, this current in C-cells displayed little Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation. N-type current was composed of inactivating and sustained components that were inhibited by omega-conotoxin. The inactivating component was half-maximal at +9 mV and could be fitted by two exponentials with time constants of 22 and 142 ms. A slow inactivation of N current with a time constant of 24.9 s was observed upon switching the holding potential from -80 to -40 mV. These results demonstrate that, similar to other neural crest derived cells, thyroid C-cells express multiple Ca2+ channels, including one previously observed only in neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus 43210-1239.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Biagi
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Enyeart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms; D020960:omega-Conotoxins
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D020960:omega-Conotoxins; C053423:Conus magus toxin; D001464:Barium; D009553:Nimodipine; D002118:Calcium