Voltage- and gamma-aminobutyric acid-activated membrane currents in the human medulloblastoma cell line MHH-MED-3.
The whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to characterize voltage- and neurotransmitter-activated currents in the medulloblastoma cell line MHH-MED-3 and cells from tissue slices and primary cultures of two medulloblastoma biopsies. These preparations revealed similar electrophysiological properties. All tested cells displayed 4-aminopyridine-sensitive delayed rectifying K(+) currents, gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptor-mediated Cl(-) currents and most of them inward rectifier K(+) currents. Transient inward currents were mainly carried by low-voltage activated T-type Ca(2+) channels in MHH-MED-3 cells, and tetrodotoxin-sensitive Na(+) channels in cells from the primary culture. From these characteristics we conclude that medulloblastoma cells share physiological features with developing cerebellar granule cells at an immature stage.
Codina
C
C
Institute of Pathology (Neuropathology), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Bachstrasse 18, D-07740, Jena, Germany.
Kraft
R
R
Pietsch
T
T
Prinz
M
M
Steinhäuser
C
C
Cervós-Navarro
J
J
Patt
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007473:Ion Channels; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid