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Neuronal-type Na+ and K+ channels in rabbit cultured Schwann cells

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Abstract

Nerve axons in the central and peripheral nervous system are normally surrounded by satellite cells. These cells, known as Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system, interact with axons to form a myelin sheath, so allowing nerve impulses to proceed at high speed. Schwann cells are thought to differ from neurones in their membrane properties in one important aspect: they lack excitability. Using the patch-clamp technique we have now measured directly the ionic currents across the membrane of single Schwann cells cultured from newborn rabbits. Surprisingly, we found that these Schwann cells possess voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels that are similar to those present in neuronal membranes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, USA

    S. Y. Chiu & J. M. Ritchie

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA

    P. Schrager

Authors
  1. S. Y. Chiu
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  2. P. Schrager
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  3. J. M. Ritchie
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Chiu, S., Schrager, P. & Ritchie, J. Neuronal-type Na+ and K+ channels in rabbit cultured Schwann cells. Nature 311, 156–157 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/311156a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/311156a0

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