Abstract
In previous studies of the development of membrane excitability in vertebrate neurones1,2, a calcium current has commonly been observed first, later replaced by a sodium current. We have now examined the development of membrane currents in explant cultures of mesencephalic neural crest cells from the quail embryo. Some of these cells constitute the precursors for the ciliary and trigeminal ganglia3,4 and in certain conditions can be characterized morphologically as neurones after only a few hours in culture5,6. We report here that two membrane currents are present in neurones after 1 day in culture, a voltage-and time-dependent potassium current and a leakage current. On the second day in culture, voltage-dependent sodium and calcium currents can be detected. With time the sodium and calcium currents increase in magnitude and all four currents are present for at least 7 days in culture. This onset of electrical excitability differs from that described in other vertebrate neurones both in vitro7 and in vivo8,9, but resembles the sequence observed in neurones of the developing grasshopper10.
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Bader, C., Bertrand, D., Dupin, E. et al. Development of electrical membrane properties in cultured avian neural crest. Nature 305, 808–810 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/305808a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/305808a0
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