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PVP‐containing solutions for analysis of divalent cation‐dependent NMDA responses in Xenopus oocytes
Author(s) -
Raditsch Martin,
Witzemann Veit
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(94)01118-4
Subject(s) - xenopus , divalent , chemistry , nmda receptor , biophysics , biochemistry , biology , receptor , organic chemistry , gene
The electrophysiological analysis of Ca 2+ ‐conducting ion channels in Xenopus oocytes is difficult due to secondary intracellular effects induced by Ca 2+ . In the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) membrane currents can be recorded in nominally divalent cation‐free solutions. The Ca 2+ ‐permeable recombinant NMDA receptors of the NR1/NR2A subtype were used as assay system and the results show that PVP has no effect on NMDA receptor‐induced currents. Ca 2+ and Ba 2+ depress NMDA‐induced currents at submillimolar concentrations probably by interfering with the Na + /K + flux. This block is fully reversible as also observed for Mg 2+ but shows in contrast no pronounced voltage dependence. PVP‐containing solutions may be useful for the analysis of divalent cation‐dependent ion channels.