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. 1972 Apr;44(4):651–671. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1972.tb07305.x

Origin of the after-hyperpolarization that follows removal of depolarizing agents from the isolated superior cervical ganglion of the rat

D A Brown, M J Brownstein, C N Scholfield
PMCID: PMC1665991  PMID: 4625268

Abstract

1. Potential changes in isolated rat superior cervical ganglia following addition and removal of depolarizing agents were recorded using a moving-fluid extracellular electrode system.

2. Ganglionic negativity produced by carbachol was followed by a pronounced ganglionic positivity on washing. This after-positivity was attributed to hyperpolarization of the ganglion cells since it was unaffected by crushing the postganglionic trunk.

3. The after-hyperpolarization was selectively depressed by (a) cooling (Q10 2·3), (b) metabolic inhibitors (cyanide, azide, 2,4-dinitrophenol), (c) reducing [K+]o or substituting Cs+ for K+, (d) ouabain, and (e) substituting Li+ for Na+. This suggested a close dependence on active Na+ transport.

4. When K+ was restored to K+-free solution, or the preparation was warmed rapidly, or when metabolic inhibitors were washed away, the hyperpolarization was rapidly regenerated. The effect of restoring K+ indicated that the hyperpolarization was generated directly by the Na+ pump.

5. The hyperpolarization was not altered by replacing Cl- with isethionate, indicating that the voltage change produced by the Na+ current was not modified by passive Cl- movements.

6. Hexamethonium added to the washout fluid augmented the after-hyperpolarization, suggesting that there was a high (cationic) leak current due to continued receptor-activation on washing with normal Krebs solution.

7. The hyperpolarization was reduced by omission of Ca2+ and restored by addition of Mg2+. This was considered to result from changes in passive membrane permeability.

8. The time-course of post-carbachol hyperpolarization accorded with a Na+ extrusion process whose rate was directly proportional to [Na+]i with a rate constant of 0·38±0·02 min-1 at 23-27° C.

9. With increasing concentrations of carbachol, the amplitude of the hyperpolarization increased in proportion to the preceding depolarization, but the rate constant of the hyperpolarization was unchanged.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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