title: Membrane current oscillations in descending vasa recta pericytes.
abstract: We investigated the origin of spontaneous transient inward current (STIC) oscillations in descending vasa recta (DVR) pericytes. In cells clamped at -80 mV, angiotensin II (ANG II; 10 nmol/l) induced oscillations with mean amplitude and frequency of -65.5 pA and 1.2 Hz. Simultaneous recording of cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca(2+)](CYT)) and membrane current oscillations verified their synchrony and the correlation of their amplitudes. Confocal recording in fluo-4-loaded DVR showed that ANG II can induce either stable pericyte [Ca(2+)](CYT) elevation or oscillations, while decreasing adjacent endothelial [Ca(2+)](CYT). Oscillating currents reversed sign at -30.2 mV and were blocked by niflumic acid, implicating charge transfer via Cl(-) ion. Removal of extracellular Ca(2+), blockade of Ca(2+) influx with SKF96365 (30 micromol/l), ryanodine (30 micromol/l), or caffeine (10 mmol/l) inhibited oscillations. In contrast, they were insensitive to removal of extracellular Na(+) and exposure to either nifedipine (1 micromol/l) or 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (10 micromol/l). Ouabain (100 nmol/l) increased basal pericyte [Ca(2+)](CYT) and the frequency of resting STICs but did not affect the larger oscillations that followed ANG II stimulation. We conclude that [Ca(2+)](CYT) oscillations stimulate Cl(-) currents. The former are most likely maintained by repetitive cycles of ryanodine-sensitive SR Ca(2+) release and SKF96365-sensitive store refilling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Qingli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chunhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: W Gil
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Wier
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Pallone
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D007679:Kidney Medulla / Q000098:blood supply*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D020286:Pericytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D007473:Ion Channels; D000804:Angiotensin II; D002118:Calcium