Figure 4.

Functional expression of T-type Ca²⁺ currents in LNCaP cells treated with bicalutamide or hormone-depleted media for 4-10 days. A. Characteristics of the transient Ca²⁺ currents generated by a membrane step protocol. The voltage step protocol consisted of voltage steps from a holding potential of -100 mV to +40 mV and is shown below the current trace. B. Representative traces of the inward Ca²⁺ current generated by a 750 ms-depolarizing voltage ramp from -100 mV to +80 mV. C. Voltage-dependence of the normalized T-type Ca²⁺ currents generated in LNCaP cells following treatment with bicalutamide (n=4). D. Changes in cell capacitance in LNCaP cells cultured under different conditions and for various periods of time. The number of cells analyzed under each condition is presented above each bar. E. Plots of the number of T-type Ca²⁺ current expressing cells as a function of cell densities. Note that control cells did not express T-type Ca²⁺ currents. Approximately 20% of LNCaP cells treated with bicalutamide or hormone-depleted media express T-type Ca²⁺ currents. Current densities were obtained by dividing current amplitude at -10 mV by cell capacitance.