Fig. 6.

Maternal diabetes increased the small conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (SK) transient outward currents in PCMNs: effect of the SK channel blocker apamin. Membrane potential was held at −70 mV and stepped from −70 to +40 mV for 250 ms with 10 mV steps every 5 s as shown in the bottom of the traces. A1–C1: control. Outward currents evoked by voltage steps before (A1) and after (B1) application of apamin. C1: apamin-sensitive current (subtraction of A1 and B1). A2–C2: NMDM. Outward currents evoked by voltage steps before (A2) and after (B2) application of apamin. C2: apamin-sensitive currents (subtraction of A2 and B2). Insets in B1 and B2: the black trace (before apamin) and gray trace (after apamin washout) showing that a well-known irreversible effect after apamin blockade (Wolfart et al. 2001). D: apamin-sensitive transient outward currents were significantly increased in NMDM compared with control (†P < 0.05).