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Electrical excitability of cultured adrenal chromaffin cells.
Author(s) -
Biales B,
Dichter M,
Tischler A
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.1976.sp011618
Subject(s) - chromaffin cell , neuroscience , electrophysiology , adrenal medulla , endocrinology , medicine , biology , chemistry , catecholamine
1. Adult human and gerbil adrenal medullary cells were maintained in dissociated cell culture and studied by micro‐electrode penetration. 2. In the best recordings, chromaffin cell transmembrane potentials exceeded ‐50mV. 3. Chromaffin cells were capable of generating all‐or‐nothing over‐shooting action potentials, similar to those generated by sympathetic neurones. 4. The action potentials were blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX, 10(‐6)g/ml.) but were not blocked by removal of Ca or by CoCl2 (10 mM). We conclude that the action potentials are probably generated by a Na mechanism. 5. Chromaffin cells are depolarized by the iontophoretic application of acetylcholine (ACh). This depolarization was accompanied by an increased membrane conductance and could trigger action potentials. 6. Action potentials were also found in cells in fresh slices of gerbil adrenal medullae.