title: Reconstruction of ionic currents in a molluscan photoreceptor.
abstract: Two-microelectrode voltage-clamp measurements were made to determine the kinetics and voltage dependence of ionic currents across the soma membrane of the Hermissenda type B photoreceptor. The voltage-dependent outward potassium currents, IA and ICa(2+)-K+, the inward voltage-dependent calcium current, ICa2+ and the light-induced current, IIgt, were then described with Hodgkin-Huxley-type equations. The fast-activating and inactivating potassium current, IA, was described by the equation; IA(t) = gA(max)(ma infinity[1-exp(-t/tau ma)])3 x (ha infinity [1-exp(-t/tau ha)] + exp(-t/tau ha)) (Vm-EK), where the parameters ma infinity, ha infinity, tau ma, and tau ha are functions of membrane potential, Vm, and ma infinity and ha infinity are steady-state activation and inactivation parameters. Similarly, the calcium-dependent outward potassium current, ICa(2+)-K+, was described by the equation, ICa(2+)-K+ (t) = gc(max)(mc infinity(VC)(1-exp[-t/tau mc (VC)]))pc (hc infinity(VC) [1-exp(-t/tau hc)] + exp(-t/tau hc(VC)])pc(VC-EK). In high external potassium, ICa(2+)-K+ could be measured in approximate isolation from other currents as a voltage-dependent inward tail current following a depolarizing command pulse from a holding potential of -60 mV. A voltage-dependent inward calcium current across the type B soma membrane, ICa2+, activated rapidly, showed little inactivation, and was described by the equation: ICa2+ = gCa(max) [1 + exp](-Vm-5)/7]-1 (Vm-ECa), where gCa(max) was 0.5 microS. The light-induced current with both fast and slow phases was described by: IIgt(t) = IIgt1 + IIgt2 + IIgt3, IIgti = gIgti [1-exp(- ton/tau mi)] exp(-ton/tau hi)(Vm-EIgti) (i = 1, 2). For i = 3, /Igt(t) = gigt3m33h3(Vm - Eigt3)exp(-ton/Ton) x exp(-tfoff/t Off). Based on these reconstructions of ionic currents, learning-induced enhancement of the long lasting depolarization (LLD) of the photoreceptor'slight response was shown to arise from progressive inactivation of /A, lca2+ -K+, and lCa2+.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Technology, School of High Tecnology for Human Welfare, Tokai University, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakakibara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeno
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usui
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Collin
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Alkon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004594:Electrophysiology; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000528:radiation effects; D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000528:radiation effects; D008959:Models, Neurological; D008974:Mollusca / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium