Neuronal-type Na+ and K+ channels in rabbit cultured Schwann cells (original) (raw)
- Letter
- Published: 13 September 1984
Nature volume 311, pages 156–157 (1984)Cite this article
- 142 Accesses
- 177 Citations
- Metrics details
Abstract
Nerve axons in the central and peripheral nervous system are normally surrounded by satellite cells. These cells, known as Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system, interact with axons to form a myelin sheath, so allowing nerve impulses to proceed at high speed. Schwann cells are thought to differ from neurones in their membrane properties in one important aspect: they lack excitability. Using the patch-clamp technique we have now measured directly the ionic currents across the membrane of single Schwann cells cultured from newborn rabbits. Surprisingly, we found that these Schwann cells possess voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels that are similar to those present in neuronal membranes.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Additional access options:
Similar content being viewed by others
References
- Gray, P. T. A., Bevan, S. & Ritchie, J. M. Proc. R. Soc. (in the press).
- Brockes, J. P., Fryxell, K. J. & Lemke, G. E. J. exp. Biol. 95, 215–230 (1981).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Hamill, O. P., Marty, A., Neher, E., Sakmann, B. & Sigworth, F. J. Eur. J. Physiol. 391, 85–100 (1981).
Article CAS Google Scholar - Fenwick, E. M., Marty, A. & Neher, E. J. Physiol., Lond. 331, 577–597 (1982).
Article CAS Google Scholar - Yeh, J. Z., Oxford, G. S., Wu, C. H. & Narahashi, T. Biophys. J. 16, 77–81 (1976).
Article CAS Google Scholar - Meves, H. & Pichon, Y. J. Physiol., Lond. 251, 60P–62P (1975).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Narahashi, T., Moore, J. W. & Scott, W. R. J. gen. Physiol. 47, 965–974 (1964).
Article CAS Google Scholar - Bevan, S., Gray, P. T. A., Rang, H. P. & Ritchie, J. M. J. Physiol., Lond. 348, 17P (1984).
Article Google Scholar - Ritchie, J. M. & Rang, H. P. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 2803–2807 (1983).
Article ADS CAS Google Scholar - Munson, R., Westermark, B. & Glaser, L. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76, 6425–6429 (1979).
Article ADS CAS Google Scholar - Pouyssegur, J., Jacques, Y. & Lazdunski, M. Nature 286, 162–164 (1980).
Article ADS CAS Google Scholar - Kuffler, S. W., Nicholls, J. G. & Orkand, R. K. J. Neurophysiol. 29, 768–787 (1966).
Article CAS Google Scholar - Villegas, J., Sevcik, C., Barnola, F. V. & Villegas, R. J. gen. Physiol. 67, 369–380 (1976).
Article CAS Google Scholar - Tang, C. M., Strichartz, G. R. & Orkand, R. K. J. gen. Physiol. 74, 629–542 (1979).
Article CAS Google Scholar
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, USA
S. Y. Chiu & J. M. Ritchie - Department of Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA
P. Schrager
Authors
- S. Y. Chiu
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - P. Schrager
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - J. M. Ritchie
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chiu, S., Schrager, P. & Ritchie, J. Neuronal-type Na+ and K+ channels in rabbit cultured Schwann cells.Nature 311, 156–157 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/311156a0
- Received: 10 April 1984
- Accepted: 26 July 1984
- Issue Date: 13 September 1984
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/311156a0