Cellular and molecular neurobiology
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Cell. Mol. Neurobiol. · Aug 1997
Effect of metabolic inhibitors on membrane potential and ion conductance of rat astrocytes.
1. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of metabolic inhibition on the membrane potential and ion conductance of rat astrocytes. The metabolic inhibitors investigated were dinitrophenol (DNP), carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl hydrazone (FCCP), cyanide, and oligomycin. 2. ⋯ Block of tentative KATP channels with tolbutamide (1 mM) or Cl- channels with Zn2+ (1 mM) did not inhibit the depolarization caused by DNP or FCCP. 8. In conclusion, DNP and FCCP have specific effects on the plasmalemma in rat astrocytes which may be due to opening of Cl- channels. This effect was not seen with cyanide or oligomycin and should be considered as a possible complication when DNP and FCCP are used for metabolic inhibition.