What question did this study set out to answer?

To identify and characterize the specific ionic conductances operating in GH3 rat anterior pituitary cells.

March 1, 1984The Journal of General PhysiologyOpen Access

Na and Ca channels in a transformed line of anterior pituitary cells.

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Authors

DMDonald R. MattesonUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CAClay M. ArmstrongElectrophysiology

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Implication

In vitro electrophysiological study demonstrates distinct sodium, calcium, and potassium conductances in rat pituitary GH3 cells, highlighting voltage-gated control of cell excitability.

Key Points

To identify and characterize the specific ionic conductances operating in GH3 rat anterior pituitary cells.
Applied the whole-cell patch-clamp technique with low-resistance pipettes, series resistance compensation, and ballistic charging on GH3 cells.
Controlled internal and external ionic environments using Cs+, K+, Ca++, Ba++, and 50 mM EGTA, alongside tetrodotoxin (TTX) pharmacology.
Identified three distinct conductances: a voltage-dependent outward potassium current, a rapid inward sodium current blocked by TTX, and a slower inward calcium current carried by Ca++ or Ba++.
Observed that inward calcium current inactivates during prolonged pulses with extracellular Ca++ but does not inactivate when Ba++ replaces Ca++.
Demonstrated that intracellular dialysis with 50 mM EGTA fails to alter Ca++-dependent inactivation, indicating that current decay is not caused by internal Ca++ accumulation.

Cite This Study

Matteson et al. (1984) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a71b37bac440176ef2a4bfd https://doi.org/10.1085/jgp.83.3.371

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Implication

In vitro electrophysiological study demonstrates distinct sodium, calcium, and potassium conductances in rat pituitary GH3 cells, highlighting voltage-gated control of cell excitability.

Na and Ca channels in a transformed line of anterior pituitary cells.

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Na and Ca channels in a transformed line of anterior pituitary cells.

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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