Voltage-dependent calcium and potassium channels in retinal glial cells (original) (raw)

Nature volume 317, pages 809–811 (1985)Cite this article

Abstract

Glial cells, which outnumber neurones in the central nervous system, have traditionally been considered to be electrically inexcitable and to play only a passive role in the electrical activity of the brain1. Recent reports have demonstrated, however, that certain glial cells, when maintained in primary culture, possess voltage-dependent ion channels2–4. It remains to be demonstrated whether these channels are also present in glial cells in vivo. I show here that Müller cells, the principal glial cells of the vertebrate retina, can generate ‘Ca2+spikes’ in freshly excised slices of retinal tissue. In addition, voltage-clamp studies of enzymatically dissociated Müller cells demonstrate the presence of four types of voltage-dependent ion channels: a Ca2+ channel, a Ca2+-activated K+ channel, a fast-inactivating (type A) K+ channel and an inward-rectifying K+ channel. Currents generated by these voltage-dependent channels may enhance the ability of Müller cells to regulate extracellular K+ levels in the retina and may be involved in the generation of the electroretinogram.

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

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kuffler, S. W. Proc. R. Soc. B168, 1–21 (1967).
    ADS CAS Google Scholar
  2. Chiu, S. Y., Schrager, P. & Ritchie, J. M. Nature 311, 156–157 (1984).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  3. MacVicar, B. A. Science 226, 1345–1347 (1984).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  4. Bevan, S. & Raff, M. Nature 315, 229–232 (1985).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  5. Newman, E. A. Nature 309, 155–157 (1984).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  6. Newman, E. A. J. Neurosci. 5, 2225–2239 (1985).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  7. Conner, J. D., Detwiler, P. B. & Sarthy, P. V. J. Physiol., Lond. 362, 79–92 (1985).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  8. Fleckenstein, A. A. Rev. Pharmac. Tox. 17, 149–166 (1977).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  9. Hamill, O. P., Marty, A., Neher, E., Sakmann, B. & Sigworth, F. J. Plügers Arch. ges. Physiol. 391, 85–100 (1981).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  10. Byerly, L., Chase, P. B. & Stimers, J. R. J. gen. Physiol. 85, 491–518 (1985).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  11. Hagiwara, S. & Ohmori, H. J. Physiol., Lond. 331, 231–252 (1982).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  12. Meech, R. W. A. Rev. Biophys. Bioengng 7, 1–18 (1978).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  13. Connor, J. A. & Stevens, C. F. J. Physiol., Lond. 213, 21–30 (1971).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  14. Thompson, S. H. J. Physiol., Lond. 265, 465–488 (1971).
    Article Google Scholar
  15. Hagiwara, S., Miyazaki, S. & Rosenthal, N. P. J. gen. Physiol. 67, 621–638 (1976).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  16. Quandt, F. N. & MacVicar, B. A. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 10, 939 (1984).
    Google Scholar
  17. Bevan, S., Chiu, S. Y., Gray, P. T. A. & Ritchie, J. M. J. Physiol., Lond. 361, 18P (1985).
    Google Scholar
  18. Newman, E. A., Frambach, D. A. & Odette, L. L. Science 225, 1174–1175 (1984).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  19. Kline, R. P., Ripps, H. & Dowling, J. E. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75, 5727–5731 (1978).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  20. Mori, S., Miller, W. H. & Tomita, T. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 73, 1351–1354 (1976).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eye Research Institute of Retina Foundation, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, USA
    Eric A. Newman

Authors

  1. Eric A. Newman
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Newman, E. Voltage-dependent calcium and potassium channels in retinal glial cells.Nature 317, 809–811 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/317809a0

Download citation

This article is cited by