title: The voltage-dependent conductances of rat neocortical layer I neurons.
abstract: Whole cell patch-clamp techniques were used to study voltage-dependent sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), and potassium (K+) conductances in acutely isolated neurons from cortical layer I of adult rats. Layer I cells were identified by means of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) immunocytochemistry. Positive stainings for the Ca2+-binding protein calretinin in a subset of cells, indicated the presence of Cajal-Retzius (C-R) cells. All investigated cells displayed a rather homogeneous profile of voltage-dependent membrane currents. A fast Na+ current activated at about -45 mV, was half-maximal steady-state inactivated at -66.6 mV, and recovery from inactivation followed a two-exponential process (tau1 = 8.4 ms and tau2 = 858.8 ms). Na+ currents declined rapidly with two voltage-dependent time constants, reaching baseline current after some tens of milliseconds. In a subset of cells (< 50%) a constant current level of < 65 pA remained at the end of a 90 ms step. A transient outward current (Ifast) activated approximately -40 mV, declined rapidly with a voltage-insensitive time constant (tau approximately 350 ms) and was relatively insensitive to tetraethylammonium (TEA, 20 mM). Ifast was separated into two components based on their sensitivity to 4-aminopyridine (4-AP): one was blocked by low concentrations (40 microM) and a second by high concentrations (6 mM). After elimination of Ifast by a conditioning prepulse (50 ms to -50 mV), a slow K+ current (I(KV)) could be studied in isolation. I(KV) was only moderately affected by 4-AP (6 mM), while TEA (20 mM) blocked most (> 80%) of the current. I(KV) activated at about -40 mV, declined monoexponentially in a voltage-dependent manner (tau approximately 850 ms at -30 mV), and revealed an incomplete steady-state inactivation. In addition to Ifast and I(KV), indications of a Ca2+-dependent outward current component were found. When Na+ currents, Ifast, and I(KV) were blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1 microM), 4-AP (6 mM) and TEA (20 mM) an inward current carried by Ca2+ was found. Ca2+ currents activated at depolarized potentials at about -30 mV, were completely blocked by 50 microM cadmium (Cd2+), were sensitive to verapamil (approximately 40% block by 10 microM), and were not affected by nickel (50 microM). During current clamp recordings, isolated layer I neurons displayed fast spiking behaviour with short action potentials (approximately 2 ms, measured at half maximal amplitude) of relative small amplitude (approximately 83 mV, measured from the action potential threshold).
authors.affiliation: Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Institut für Physiologie, Magdeburg, Germany. thomas-budde@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Budde
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012964:Sodium / Q000502:physiology; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium