title: Membrane currents in the oocyte of the toad Bufo arenarum.
abstract: The amphibian oocyte cell model is widely used for heterologous expression of ionic channels and receptors. Little is known, however, about the physiology of oocyte cell models other than Xenopus laevis. In this study, the two-electrode voltage clamp technique was used to assess the most common electrical patterns of oocytes of the South American toad Bufo arenarum. Basal membrane resistance, resting potential, and ionic currents were determined in this cell model. The oocyte transmembrane resistance was 0.35 M(Omega), and the resting potential in normal saline was about -33 mV with a range between -20 mV and -50 mV. This is, to our knowledge, the first attempt to begin an understanding of the ion transport mechanisms of Bufo arenarum oocytes. This cell model may provide a viable alternative to the expression of ion channels, in particular those endogenously observed in Xenopus laevis oocytes.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Alfredo Lanari, Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina. kotsias@mail.retina.ar
authors.forename: Basilio A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kotsias
authors.forename: Alicia E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Damiano
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Godoy
authors.forename: Yanina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Assef
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ibarra
authors.forename: Horacio F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Cantiello
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D002022:Bufo arenarum / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels