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Adenosine-induced slow ionic currents in the Xenopus oocyte

Abstract

Adenosine and its 5′-phosphorylated congeners evoke specific membrane-mediated responses in excitable tissues1,2. Available data suggest that inhibition of the target cell occurs due to hyperpolarization3,4, and in some preparations a compound effect of ATP (excitation and inhibition) has been found5,6. However, the ionic mechanism of the purinergic-mediated response has not been studied by standard intracellular voltage-clamping techniques. Recently, we have discovered purinergic receptors in the Xenopus oocyte, a well defined giant cell amenable to rigorous electrophysiological7 and biochemical8 studies. We report here that in these cells, adenosine-induced slow membrane responses consisted of an early depolarizing (D) transient current carried by Cl ions, followed by a steady hyperpolarizing (H) current involving K+ ions. The relative potency sequence for the D current was ATP ADP > AMP adenosine; this order was reversed for the H current.

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Lotan, I., Dascal, N., Cohen, S. et al. Adenosine-induced slow ionic currents in the Xenopus oocyte. Nature 298, 572–574 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/298572a0

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