title: Ionic currents and ion channels of lobster olfactory receptor neurons.
abstract: The role of the soma of spiny lobster olfactory receptor cells in generating odor-evoked electrical signals was investigated by studying the ion channels and macroscopic currents of the soma. Four ionic currents; a tetrodotoxin-sensitive Na+ current, a Ca++ current, a Ca(++)-activated K+ current, and a delayed rectifier K+ current, were isolated by application of specific blocking agents. The Na+ and Ca++ currents began to activate at -40 to -30 mV, while the K+ currents began to activate at -30 to -20 mV. The size of the Na+ current was related to the presence of a remnant of a neurite, presumably an axon, and not to the size of the soma. No voltage-dependent inward currents were observed at potentials below those activating the Na+ current, suggesting that receptor potentials spread passively through the soma to generate action potentials in the axon of this cell. Steady-state inactivation of the Na+ current was half-maximal at -40 mV. Recovery from inactivation was a single exponential function that was half-maximal at 1.7 ms at room temperature. The K+ currents were much larger than the inward currents and probably underlie the outward rectification observed in this cell. The delayed rectifier K+ current was reduced by GTP-gamma-S and AIF-4, agents which activate GTP-binding proteins. The channels described were a 215-pS Ca(++)-activated K+ channel, a 9.7-pS delayed rectifier K+ channel, and a 35-pS voltage-independent Cl- channel. The Cl- channel provides a constant leak conductance that may be important in stabilizing the membrane potential of the cell.
authors: Whitney Laboratory, University of Florida, St. Augustine 32086.
authors: T S
authors: TS
authors: McClintock
authors: B W
authors: BW
authors: Ache
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008121:Nephropidae / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D002712:Chlorides; D007473:Ion Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels