Electrical activity and calcium channels in neuroendocrine cells.
Similar to neuronal cells, neuroendocrine cells express voltage-dependent ion channels and fire action potentials. Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels couples changes in membrane potential to Ca(2+)-dependent cellular processes, such as hormone release. Using the patch-clamp technique, we studied the spontaneous electrical activity as well as voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in cholecystokinin-producing pancreatic cells (RIN 1056E cell line), in prolactin-secreting pituitary cells (GH3 cell line), and in calcitonin-secreting cells of the thyroid (rMTC 44-2 cell line). All three cell types displayed spontaneous electrical activity, that is, they spontaneously produced action potentials. RIN 1056E cells, GH3 cells, and rMTC cells exhibited (various types of) voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels that were regulated by various neurotransmitters and hormones, such as somatostatin.
Scherübl
H
H
Klinikum Benjamin Franklin, Abteilung Innere Medizin/Gastroenterologie, FU Berlin, Germany.
Hescheler
J
J
Bychkov
R
R
Cuber
J C
JC
John
M
M
Riecken
E O
EO
Wiedenmann
B
B
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D007340:Insulinoma; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D015220:Calcium Channels; D013004:Somatostatin; D002118:Calcium