TY - JOUR
T1 - Electrophysiological characterization of cultured hepatic stellate cells in rats
AU - Kashiwagi, Satoshi
AU - Suematsu, Makoto
AU - Wakabayashi, Yoshiyuki
AU - Kawada, Norifumi
AU - Tachibana, Masaaki
AU - Koizumi, Amane
AU - Inoue, Masayasu
AU - Ishimura, Yuzuru
AU - Kaneko, Akimichi
PY - 1997/4
Y1 - 1997/4
N2 - This study aimed to examine electrophysiological properties of cultured rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) using the whole cell configuration of patch-clamp technique. At least three different current components were identified. First, when the membrane was depolarized to voltages more positive than -40 mV, a transient outward K+ current was evoked. Second, membrane hyperpolarization below -60 mV evoked a sustained and inward- rectifying K+ current. The third component was a current flowing outward, which was activated when the cell was depolarized more positively than 0 mV. The channel for this current allowed Na+, K+, and Cl- to pass nonspecifically, suggesting the presence of hemi gap-junctional channel. Furthermore, a laser photobleaching technique revealed the presence of gap junctions between adjacent HSCs. A voltage-gated Ca2+ current, which is known to occur in smooth muscle cells, was searched for but was not detectable. These results suggest that membrane potential of HSCs is determined specifically by the two distinct K+ channels and by an intercellular mechanism involving gapjunctional communication.
AB - This study aimed to examine electrophysiological properties of cultured rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) using the whole cell configuration of patch-clamp technique. At least three different current components were identified. First, when the membrane was depolarized to voltages more positive than -40 mV, a transient outward K+ current was evoked. Second, membrane hyperpolarization below -60 mV evoked a sustained and inward- rectifying K+ current. The third component was a current flowing outward, which was activated when the cell was depolarized more positively than 0 mV. The channel for this current allowed Na+, K+, and Cl- to pass nonspecifically, suggesting the presence of hemi gap-junctional channel. Furthermore, a laser photobleaching technique revealed the presence of gap junctions between adjacent HSCs. A voltage-gated Ca2+ current, which is known to occur in smooth muscle cells, was searched for but was not detectable. These results suggest that membrane potential of HSCs is determined specifically by the two distinct K+ channels and by an intercellular mechanism involving gapjunctional communication.
KW - calcium ion channel
KW - gap junction
KW - microvascular tone
KW - patch clamp
KW - pericytes
KW - potassium ion channel
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030977380&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030977380&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1152/ajpgi.1997.272.4.g742
DO - 10.1152/ajpgi.1997.272.4.g742
M3 - Article
C2 - 9142904
AN - SCOPUS:0030977380
VL - 272
SP - G742-G750
JO - American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
JF - American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
SN - 0363-6135
IS - 4 35-4
ER -