Voltage gated Na⁺ channels contribute to membrane voltage fluctuation in αT3-1 pituitary gonadotroph cells

Abstract

αT3-1 cells showed a slope resistance of 1.8 GΩ . The cell membrane surface was not smooth and a scanning electron micrograph showed a complex structure with blebs and microvilli like projections. The cells showed spontaneous fluctuations at zero current resting membrane potential and hyperpolarization increased the amplitude of membrane potential fluctuations. The amplitude of membrane potential fluctuations at hyperpolarized membrane potential was attenuated on application of TTX to the bath solution. The potential at which half steady state inactivation of isolated sodium current occurred, was at a very hyperpolarized potential (-95.4 mV). The study presented in this paper shows that the voltage gated sodium channels contribute to the increase in the amplitude of electrical noise with hyperpolarization in α T3-1 cells.