In situ recordings of presumed folliculo-stellate cells in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland of Xenopus laevis.
In situ whole cell voltage clamp recordings of presumed folliculo-stellate cells were made in the intermediate lobe of the clawed toad Xenopus laevis. Lucifer Yellow fillings revealed, in addition to the small, spherical melanotropes, a population of larger cells with many processes that were, to a limited extent, dye-coupled and are assumed to be folliculo-stellate cells. The presumed folliculo-stellate cells differed strongly from the melanotropes in electrophysiological properties. The cells had a membrane resistance of < 600 M omega (at -100 to -80 mV) and a membrane potential of ca. -90 mV, close to the equilibrium potential for K+. At potentials of > or = -20 mV, most of the cells displayed a rapidly activating and slowly inactivating outward K+ current. In all cells, hyperpolarizing pulses to < or = -100 mV activated an inward rectifying K+ current.
Borst
J G
JG
Research Institute of Neurosciences, Faculteit Biologie, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Lodder
J C
JC
Roubos
E W
EW
Kits
K S
KS
D000818:Animals; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007546:Isoquinolines; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007546:Isoquinolines; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; C017475:lucifer yellow