title: Ion transfer characteristics of the calcium current in bull-frog atrial myocytes.
abstract: 1. Voltage clamp studies on single cells from bull-frog atrium have been carried out to study the ion transfer characteristics of the calcium current, ICa. In agreement with the preliminary results of Hume & Giles (1983), a TTX-resistant, 'second transient inward current' was recorded consistently. Its average peak size at 0 mV in 2.5 mM [Ca2+]o Ringer solution was approximately -200 pA, and it was blocked by Cd2+ and La3+ but not by tetrodotoxin (TTX, 3 x 10(-6) M). 2. The peak size of this current increases by approximately 4 times when [Ca2+]o is raised from 1.25 to 7.5 mM, indicating that Ca2+ is a major charge carrier. 3. A well-defined reversal potential, Erev, for ICa can be recorded in normal Ringer solution and also when Ba2+ or Sr2+ serve as the charge carriers. When [Ca2+]o is changed the shifts in Erev follow the predictions of a Nernstian Ca2+ electrode. However, all Erev values are well below those predicted from the thermodynamic Nernstian ECa values (see Campbell, Giles, Hume, Noble & Shibata, 1988a). 4. The Ca2+ current exhibits voltage-dependent inactivation, whether the direction of net current flow is inward or outward; however, the rate of inactivation is affected by the species of cation carrying the current. Inactivation is reduced substantially in Ba2+ Ringer solution. 5. Magnesium (5 mM) is not a significant carrier or blocker of ICa in normal [Ca2+]o Ringer solution; however, 5 mM [Mg2+]o can block the current carried by either Sr2+ or Ba2+. In the absence of Mg2+, equimolar substitutions of Sr2+ or Ba2+ for Ca2+ result in larger currents than those carried by Ca2+ in the normal Ringer solution. 6. Sodium appears not to be a significant charge carrier in the presence of normal [Ca2+]o. However, after free [Ca2+]o has been reduced to extremely low levels (less than 10(-6) M) Na+ can carry a significant fraction of 'ICa'. Thus, it appears that the high selectivity of ICa for Ca2+ ions depends upon the presence of Ca2+. 7. 'Slow tails' are frequently recorded after repolarizing clamp steps back to the holding potential. These 'slow tails' are prominent in normal [Na+]o, [Ca2+]o and [Sr2+]o Ringer solution; however, they are markedly reduced in [Ba2+]o, in Na+-free and Ca2+-free Ringer solutions. Experimental and theoretical work suggests these slow tails may be generated by an electrogenic Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (see Campbell, Giles, Robinson & Shibata, 1988b).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physiology, University of Calgary, School of Medicine, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Shibata
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000494:pharmacology; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007811:Lanthanum / Q000494:pharmacology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011892:Rana catesbeiana; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D007811:Lanthanum; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium