Aim: To investigate the characteristics of single L-type Ca2+ channels in hypothalamic neurons.
Methods: The cell-attached patch-clamp technique and acute cell isolation technique were used.
Results: (1) L-type Ca2+ channels opened throughout an 768 ms long voltage pulse. (2) The averaged open-time constant was 0.28 ms(tau0), two closed-time constants were 2.91 (tau(c1)) and 53.22 ms(tau(c2)). (3) The conductance was (29.5 +/- 3.1) pS and (4) Bay K 8644 increased the open probability by prolonging the mean open time to 1.61 ms.
Conclusion: L-type Ca2+ channel existed in hypothalamic neurons, with the similar properties to Ca2+ currents as previously reported, but showed its own peculiarity.