Abstract
Dopamine D2 receptors exist in the soma of rat olfactory receptor neurons. Actions of dopamine on the voltage-gated Ca 2+ channels in the neurons were investigated using the perforated whole-cell voltage-clamp. In 10 mM Ba 2+ solution, rat olfactory receptor neurons displayed the inward currents elicited by the voltage ramp (167 mV/s) and depolarizing step pulses from a holding potential of −91 mV. The inward Ba 2+ currents were greatly reduced by 10 μM nifedipine (L-type Ca 2+ channel blocker). The Ba 2+ currents were inhibited by the external application of dopamine. The IC 50 for the inhibition was about 1 μM. Quinpirole (10 μM, a D2 dopamine agonist) also inhibited the Ba 2+ currents. Quinpirole did not affect the activation and inactivation kinetics of the Ba 2+ currents. The results suggest that dopamine modulates the L-type Ca 2+ channels in rat olfactory receptor neurons via the mechanism independent of voltage.
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