Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Single Na+ channel currents observed in cultured rat muscle cells

Abstract

The voltage- and time-dependent conductance of membrane Na+ channels is responsible for the propagation of action potentials in nerve and muscle cells. In voltage-step-clamp experiments on neurone preparations containing 104–107 Na+ channels the membrane conductance shows smooth variations in time, but analysis of fluctuations1,2 and other evidence3 suggest that the underlying single-channel conductance changes are stochastic, rapid transitions between ‘closed’ and ‘Open’ states as seen in other channel types. We report here the first observations of currents through individual Na+ channels under physiological conditions using an improved version of the extracellular patch-clamp technique4–6 on cultured rat muscle cells. Our observations support earlier inferences about channel gating and show a single-channel conductance of approximately 18 pS.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Conti, F., Hille, B., Neumcke, B., Nonner, W. & Stämpfli, R. J. Physiol., Lond. 262, 699–727; 729–742 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Sigworth, F. J. J. Physiol., Land. (in the press).

  3. Hille, B. A. Rev. Physiol. 38, 139–152 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Neher, E. & Sakmann, B. Nature 260, 799–802 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Neher, E., Sakmann, B. & Steinbach, J. H. Pflügers. Arch. ges. Physiol. 375, 219–228 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Neher, E. in Techniques in Cellular Physiology (ed. Baker, P. F.) (Eisevier, Amsterdam, in the press).

  7. Horn, R. & Brodwick, M. J. gen. Physiol. 75, 297–321 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Godman, G. C. & Murray, M. R. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 84, 668–672 (1953).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Chiu, S. Y., Ritchie, J. M., Rogart, R. B. & Stagg, D. J. Physiol. 292, 149–166 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Conti, F. & Neher, E. Nature 285, 140–143 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Spector, I. & Prives, J. M. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 5166–5170 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Hodgkin, A. L. & Huxley, A. F. J. Physiol. 117, 500–544 (1952).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Armstrong, C. M. & Gilly, W. E. J. gen. Physiol. 74, 691–711 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Frankenhauser, B. & Moore, L. E. J. Physiol. 169, 431–437 (1963).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sigworth, F., Neher, E. Single Na+ channel currents observed in cultured rat muscle cells. Nature 287, 447–449 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/287447a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/287447a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing