Patch clamp study of mouse glomus cells using a whole carotid body.
Some electrophysiological characteristics of mouse glomus cells (DBA/2J strain) were investigated using an undissociated carotid body. The carotid body with major carotid arteries was placed in a recording chamber, and glomus cells were visualized with a water immersion lens combined with an infrared differential interference video camera. Patch clamp experiments revealed that voltage-gated outward current, but not inward current, was easily observed in glomus cells. Pharmacological experiments and the kinetics of the current suggest that outward current is via delayed rectifier, A type, and large conductance calcium-activated K channels. Furthermore, K current was reversibly attenuated by mild hypoxia. The results suggest electrophysiological similarities of glomus cells among the cat, the rat, and the DBA/2J mouse. The method appears useful for physiological experiments.
Yamaguchi
Shigeki
S
Division of Physiology, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Lande
Boris
B
Kitajima
Toshimitsu
T
Hori
Yuichi
Y
Shirahata
Machiko
M
D000818:Animals; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology
D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels