title: Resistance of delayed-rectifier K+ current to cadmium in Drosophila neurons.
abstract: The delayed-rectifier potassium current (IKDR) is important in repolarizing the membrane potential and determining the level of neuronal excitability. We investigated the effect of cadmium on this potassium current. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to measure IKDR from cultured Drosophila neurons derived from embryonic neuroblasts. The current was measured from neurons before and after the application of 0.1 mM cadmium to the external saline. IKDR was similar in the cadmium-containing saline (383 +/- 47 pA) and the control saline (401 +/- 60 pA). These results indicate that cadmium neurotoxicity does not specifically affect IKDR in Drosophila neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait. Waleed@hsc.Kuniv.edu.Kw
authors.forename: Waleed B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Alshuaib
authors.forename: Mini V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Mathew
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004330:Drosophila; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019789:Tetraethylammonium / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D002104:Cadmium; D019789:Tetraethylammonium