Three components of active membrane current in the C-neurons of rabbit cervical nodose ganglion under voltage clamp

Abstract In the C-neurons of rabbit nodose ganglion there is a persistent slow outward current at V m levels positive to −80 mV. This current was detectable in Na + -free Ringer and disappeared in Ca 2+ -free medium. Therefore it may be the Ca 2+ -activated K + current. This K + current shows a unique time and voltage dependency, suggesting that it may have a regulatory role on the excitability of C-neurons. Two other types of current also observed in C-neurons were I Q - and I A -like currents. In A-neurons, however, a Ca 2+ -activated K + current was not observed at all.