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Cell-to-cell coupling studied in isolated ventricular cell pairs

Experientia volume 43, pages 1091–1094 (1987)Cite this article

Summary

Cell pairs isolated from adult rat and guinea pig ventricles were used to study the electrical properties of the nexal membrane. Each cell of a pair was connected to a voltage-clamp system so as to enable whole-cell, tight-seal recording. The current-voltage relationship of the nexal membrane was found to be linear, revealing a resistance rn of 2–4 MΩ. rn was insensitive to the sarcolemmal membrane potential (range:−90 to +30 mV), and exerted no time-dependent gating behavior (range: 0.1 to 10 s). Lowering pHi yielded a small increase in rn. Vigorous elevations in [Ca2+]i gave rise to an increase in rn which was associated with a cell shortening. Uncoupling caused by aliphatic alcohols or halothane did not produce cell shortening. Cell pairs were also used to study action potential transfer.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Berne, Bühlplatz 5, 3012, Berne, (Switzerland)

    R. Weingart & P. Maurer

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  1. R. Weingart
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  2. P. Maurer
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Weingart, R., Maurer, P. Cell-to-cell coupling studied in isolated ventricular cell pairs. Experientia 43, 1091–1094 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01956045

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01956045

Key words

  • Myocytes
  • electrical coupling
  • cell-to-cell coupling
  • nexus