Voltage-dependent calcium channels in glial cells.
The electrophysiological properties of glial cells were examined in primary culture in the presence of tetraethylammonium and Ba2+, a treatment that reduces K+ permeability of the membrane and enhances currents through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Under these conditions, glial cells showed both spontaneous action potentials and action potentials evoked by the injections of current. These responses appear to represent entry of Ba2+ through Ca2+ channels because they were resistant to tetrodotoxin but were blocked by Mn2+ or Cd2+.
D000200:Action Potentials; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
D007473:Ion Channels; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D002104:Cadmium; D001464:Barium; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D002118:Calcium