title: Steady-state currents through voltage-dependent, dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels in GH3 pituitary cells.
abstract: Ca2+ influx via voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels is known to be elicited during action potentials but possibly also occurs at the resting potential. The steady-state current through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and its role for the electrical activity was, therefore, investigated in pituitary GH3 cells. Applying the recently developed 'nystatin-modification' of the patch-clamp technique, most GH3 cells (18 out of 23 cells) fired spontaneous action potentials from a baseline membrane potential of 43.7 +/- 4.6 mV (mean +/- s.d., n = 23). The frequency of action potentials was stimulated about twofold by Bay K 8644 (100 nM), a Ca(2+)-channel stimulator, and action potentials were completely suppressed by the Ca(2+)-channel blocker PN 200-110 (100 nM). Voltage clamping GH3 cells at fixed potentials for several minutes and with 1 mM Ba2+ as divalent charge carrier, we observed steady-state Ca(2+)-channel currents that were dihydropyridine-sensitive and displayed a U-shaped current-voltage relation. The results strongly suggest that the observed long lasting, dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca(2+)-channel currents provide a steady-state conductivity for Ca2+ at the resting potential and are essential for the generation of action potentials in GH3 pituitary cells.
authors.affiliation: Pharmakologisches Institut der Freien Universität Berlin, F.R.G.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scherübl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hescheler
mesh_terms: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004553:Electric Conductivity / Q000187:drug effects; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D017275:Isradipine; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; D017275:Isradipine