pH-mediated Regulation of Pacemaker Activity in Cultured Interstitial Cells of Cajal.
- Author:
Byung Joo KIM
1
;
Jae Hwa LEE
;
Insuk SO
;
Ki Whan KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea. insuk@plaza.snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Interstitial cells of cajal (ICCs);
Pacemaker activity;
Melastatin type transient receptor potential channel 7 (TRPM7)
- MeSH:
Architectural Accessibility;
Gastrointestinal Tract;
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration;
Interstitial Cells of Cajal*;
Membrane Potentials;
Periodicity
- From:The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
2006;10(1):7-11
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemakers in gastrointestinal tracts, regulating rhythmicity by activating nonselective cation channels (NSCCs). In the present study, we investigated the general characteristics and pH-mediated regulation of pacemaker activity in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal. Under voltage clamp mode and at the holding potential of -60 mV, the I-V relationships and difference current showed that there was no reversal potential and voltage-independent inward current. Also, when the holding potentials were changed from +20 mV to -80 mV with intervals of 20 mV, there was little difference in inward current. In pacemaker activity, the resting membrane potential (RMP) was depolarized (In pH 5.5, 23+/-1.5 mV depolarized) and the amplitude was decreased by a decrease of the extracellular pH. However, in case of increase of extracellular pH, the RMP was slightly hyperpolarized and the amplitude was decreased a little. The melastatin type transient receptor potential (TRPM) channel 7 has been suggested to be required for intestinal pacemaking activity. TRPM7 produced large outward currents and small inward currents by voltage ramps, ranging from +100 to -100 mV from a holding potential of -60 mV. The inward current of TRPM7 was dramatically increased by a decrease in the extracellular pH. At pH 4.0, the average inward current amplitude measured at -100 mV was increased by about 7 fold, compared with the current amplitude at pH 7.4. Changes in the outward current (measured at +100 mV) were much smaller than those of the inward current. These results indicate that the resting membrane potential of pacemaking activity might be depolarized by external acidic pH through TRPM7 that is required for intestinal pacemaking activity.
