Electrical coupling between cultured glomus cells of the rat carotid body: observations with current and voltage clamping

Brain Res. 1994 Nov 21;664(1-2):257-65. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(94)91982-8.

Abstract

Electrically coupled pairs of cultured rat glomus cells were used. In one group of experiments, both cells were current-clamped. Delivery of positive or negative pulses to Cell 1 elicited appreciable voltage noise in this cell and large action potentials (probably Ca2+ spikes) in about 10% of them. Both passive and active electrical events spread to Cell 2, presumably through the gap junctions between them. The coupling coefficient (Kc) was larger for the spikes than for non-regenerative voltage noise. In another group of experiments, Cell 1 was current-clamped and Cell 2 was voltage-clamped at Cell 1 EM. Pulses of either polarity, delivered to Cell 1, produced current flow through the intercellular junction and allowed direct measurements of junctional currents (Ij) and total conductances (Gj). Ij had a mean value of about 12.5 pA and Gj of 391 pS. Unitary (presumably single channel) conductance (gj) was about 78 pS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials
  • Animals
  • Carotid Body / cytology*
  • Cell Communication / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Gap Junctions / physiology*
  • Membrane Potentials / physiology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar