Figure 5. La³⁺ pre-perfusion prolongs deactivation of taurine-activated currents in α1β3γ2-transfected cells.

A, averaged response induced by 2 ms applications of 20 mM taurine and 20 mM taurine + 100 μm LaCl₃ in a lifted small cell transfected with α1β3γ2 cDNAs. Application of GABA + LaCl₃ was preceded by perfusion with LaCl₃ (100 μm). Holding potential, -60 mV. Prolongation of the current decay can be better observed in the right panel where the traces are shown superimposed. B, summary of the LaCl₃ effects on responses to 2 ms taurine applications. τ, deactivation time constants of the monoexponential functions fitted to the current decay. Each bar represents the mean ±s.e.m. of 12 cells studied.