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Heterogeneity in the Membrane Current Pattern of Identified Glial Cells in the Hippocampal Slice

Heterogeneity in the Membrane Current Pattern of Identified Glial Cells in the Hippocampal Slice Glial cells, acutely isolated or in tissue culture, have previously been shown to express a variety of voltage‐gated channels. To resolve the question whether such channels are also expressed by glial cells in their normal cellular environment, we have applied the patch‐clamp technique to study glial cells in hippocampal slices of 10–12‐day‐old mice. Based on the membrane current pattern, we distinguished four glial cell types. One was characterized by passive, symmetrical K+ currents activated in depolarizing and hyperpolarizing directions. A second population showed a similar current pattern, but with a marked decay of the current during the 50‐ms voltage jumps. In a third population, the decaying passive currents were superimposed with a delayed rectifier outward current and, in some cases, with a slow inward current activated by depolarization. The fourth population expressed delayed rectifying outward currents, an inward rectifier K+ current and fast inward currents activated by depolarization. To unequivocally identify the glial cells we combined electrophysiological and ultrastructural characterizations. Therefore, cells were filled with the fluorescent dye lucifer yellow during characterization of their membrane currents, the fluorescence of the dye was used to convert diaminobenzidine to an electron‐dense material, and subsequently slices were inspected in the electron microscope. Recordings were obtained from cells in the stratum radiatum and were identified as glial by their size, the characteristic chromatin distribution, and the lack of synaptic membrane specializations. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png European Journal of Neuroscience Wiley

Heterogeneity in the Membrane Current Pattern of Identified Glial Cells in the Hippocampal Slice

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References (42)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 1992 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0953-816X
eISSN
1460-9568
DOI
10.1111/j.1460-9568.1992.tb00897.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Glial cells, acutely isolated or in tissue culture, have previously been shown to express a variety of voltage‐gated channels. To resolve the question whether such channels are also expressed by glial cells in their normal cellular environment, we have applied the patch‐clamp technique to study glial cells in hippocampal slices of 10–12‐day‐old mice. Based on the membrane current pattern, we distinguished four glial cell types. One was characterized by passive, symmetrical K+ currents activated in depolarizing and hyperpolarizing directions. A second population showed a similar current pattern, but with a marked decay of the current during the 50‐ms voltage jumps. In a third population, the decaying passive currents were superimposed with a delayed rectifier outward current and, in some cases, with a slow inward current activated by depolarization. The fourth population expressed delayed rectifying outward currents, an inward rectifier K+ current and fast inward currents activated by depolarization. To unequivocally identify the glial cells we combined electrophysiological and ultrastructural characterizations. Therefore, cells were filled with the fluorescent dye lucifer yellow during characterization of their membrane currents, the fluorescence of the dye was used to convert diaminobenzidine to an electron‐dense material, and subsequently slices were inspected in the electron microscope. Recordings were obtained from cells in the stratum radiatum and were identified as glial by their size, the characteristic chromatin distribution, and the lack of synaptic membrane specializations.

Journal

European Journal of Neuroscience – Wiley

Published: Jun 1, 1992

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