The inward rectifier and two levels of the membrane potential in human term placental cells.
Whole-cell variations of patch-clamp techniques were applied to human term placental cells. The inward rectifier K currents were recorded. The current-voltage relationship in some cells crossed the voltage axis at two different potentials. Such cells showed two stable levels of the membrane potential. The current-clamp method could switch the membrane potentials between those two levels. The present results provide evidence that the inward rectifier K conductance could set two changeable levels of the membrane potential in some human term placental cells.
Yamamoto
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Ste-Justine Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors
D015221:Potassium Channels