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Figure 2. Membrane stretch induced channel opening. We elicited membrane stretch by applying suction (negative pressure). (A) Current traces under various conditions. Horizontal bars above the traces represent the durations of mechanical stress. Horizontal lines of each trace represent the closed state. V_p, pipette potential; V_m, membrane potential. (upper panel) A current trace from a cell-attached patch with high-K⁺ pipette solution. V_p = –20 mV and –40 mV. (middle panel) A current trace from an inside-out patch in symmetrical high-K⁺ solutions. V_m = –20 mV and –40 mV. (lower panel) A current trace from an inside-out patch in symmetrical high-K⁺ solutions whose bath solution contained 3 µM arachidonic acid. V_m = 20 mV. (B) The strength of the negative pressure to initiate the activation of channel opening. Each point is expressed as mean ± SD (n = 10). The strength was smaller in inside-out patches (without arachidonic acid, aa-free) than in cell-attached patches (cell-attached). Arachidonic acid at 3 µM (3 µM aa) significantly reduced the pressure strength required to initiate the increase in channel activity. *p < 0.001 vs. cell-attached. +p < 0.0001 vs. aa-free.

J DENT RES, Vol. 85, No. 7, 664-669 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/154405910608500716

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