Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kir2.3

Title: Direct effects of carbachol on membrane potential and ion activities in leech glial cells.

Authors: K Ballanyi, W R Schlue

Journal, date & volume: Glia, 1988 , 1, 165-7

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2976036

Abstract
Ion-selective double-barreled microelectrodes were used to measure the activities of intracellular K+ and Na+ (aKi, aNai) and the membrane potential (Em) in neuropile glial cells as well as extracellular K+ (aKe) in the neuropile of segmental ganglia in the leech, Hirudo medicinalis. Bath-application of carbachol resulted in a prominent membrane depolarization. This depolarization was accompanied by transient increases of aNai and aKe, whereas aKi decreased. It is suggested that the carbachol-induced depolarization and the underlying ion activity changes are due to activation of an acetylcholine receptor-coupled cation channel in the membrane of the neuropile glial cells.