title: Characteristics of multiple voltage-activated K+ currents in acutely dissociated chick ciliary ganglion neurones.
abstract: 1. The properties of voltage-activated K+ currents were examined using whole-cell recording techniques in acutely isolated chick ciliary ganglion neurones. 2. Application of depolarizing voltage pulses from a holding potential of -60 mV evoked sustained outward currents that inactivated with time constants of hundreds of milliseconds (IDR). Bath application of 10 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA) caused a 70-90% reduction of IDR. Application of depolarizing voltage steps from a holding potential of -120 mV revealed a second class of TEA-resistant outward currents. These currents activated quickly but inactivated completely within tens of milliseconds (IA). IA activated at more negative command potentials than IDR. However, IDR exhibited a steeper voltage dependence of activation than IA. 3. The midpoint of the steady-state inactivation curve of IA was between -95 and -110 mV. By contrast the midpoint of the steady-state inactivation curve of IDR was between -80 and -90 mV. It was not possible to produce a complete inactivation of IDR using prepulses of up to 2 s duration. 4. The time course of IA inactivation could only be fitted with double-exponential curves with time constants of 5-18 ms and 30-60 ms at membrane potentials positive to -30 mV. The inactivation of IA was slower at more positive membrane potentials because of a greater contribution of the long time constant. The individual time constants were not markedly voltage dependent. 5. Bath application of 5 mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) caused a 70-100% block of IA whereas 1 mM 4-AP was ineffective. Bath application of 560 nM alpha-dendrotoxin (DTX) produced a 50-70% reduction of IA, but application of 280 nM DTX had no effect on IA. 6. Application of 1 mM 4-AP produced a reversible 55-80% block of IDR measured at the end of a 500 ms depolarizing pulse. The 4-AP-sensitive components of IDR activated rapidly and exhibited a gradual inactivation with continued depolarization. The 4-AP-resistant components of IDR activated much more slowly and showed very little tendency to inactivate. Significant blockade of IDR was produced by 10 microM 4-AP. 7. The decay of IDR tail currents could only be fitted with double exponential curves with time constants of 3-6 and 40-60 ms, respectively. The fast and slow components of the tail currents behaved independently with respect to the duration of the depolarizing voltage step. 8. Application of 1 mM 4-AP eliminated the fast, but not the slow component of IDR tail currents.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science B-221, Florida State University, Tallahassee 32306.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wisgirda
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Dryer
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005726:Ganglia, Parasympathetic / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004546:Elapid Venoms; D009498:Neurotoxins; D015221:Potassium Channels; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; C020273:dendrotoxin; D015761:4-Aminopyridine