Single-channel currents activated by low intracellular pH in cultured hippocampal neurons of rat.
Patch clamp technique was applied to the plasma membrane of cultured hippocampal neurons of rat. Elementary currents of a cation-selective channel were elicited by low intracellular pH (pHi 3.5-4.5). Channel activity starts with 1-2 min delay from the application of low pHi, and persists upon restoration of physiological pH conditions. The channel has a conductance of approx. 110 pS in symmetrical 300 mM NaCl, and is strongly selective for cations over anions. The channel is active over the whole voltage range tested (from +75 mV to -75 mV). Mean open time is function of voltage, increasing with depolarization. Low pH applied extracellularly did not activate the channel.
Istituto Biologia Cellulare, Università di Perugia, Italy.
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Franciolini
D000818:Animals; D002412:Cations; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
D002412:Cations; D007473:Ion Channels; D012965:Sodium Chloride