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ToolsThomas, Paul and Smith, Paul A. (2001) Tetrabutylammonium: a selective blocker of the somatostatin-activated hyperpolarizing current in mouse AtT-20 corticotrophs. Pflügers Archiv European Journal of Physiology, 441 (6). pp. 816-823. ISSN 0031-6768
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
To obtain a clearer understanding of the mechanisms by which somatostatin modulates stimulus-secretion coupling in neuroendocrine cells, we investigated the pharmacology of the somatostatin-activated inward rectifier in mouse pituitary tumour cells (AtT-20 corticotrophs). Individual AtT-20 cells displayed spontaneous, long-lasting action potentials that caused transient spikes in cytosolic [Ca2+] ([Ca]i). Application of 1–10 nM somatostatin led to membrane hyperpolarization and loss of [Ca]i spiking activity. Voltage-clamp recordings revealed that the somatostatin-induced hyperpolarization was due to an inwardly rectifying K+ current. Tetrabutylammonium (TBA+) inhibited both outward and inward currents through the inward rectifier, whereas Cs+ blocked only inward current and tetraethylammonium (TEA+) was completely ineffective in blocking somatostatin-activated currents. However TEA+, but neither TBA+ nor Cs+, blocked voltage-gated outward currents. Correspondingly, TBA+ abolished the hyperpolarizing effects of somatostatin and, of the three K+ channel blockers, only TBA+ prevented the somatostatin-induced inhibition of [Ca]i spiking. TBA+ may thus prove a useful tool in elucidating the underlying mechanisms by which somatostatin affects the secretory activity of neuroendocrine cells.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences |
| Depositing User: | EPrints Services |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Oct 2010 13:37 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Oct 2022 03:47 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/1139 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s004240000488 |
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