Inositol trisphosphate regulation of photoreceptor membrane currents

In previous studies elevation of intracellular Ca2+ was shown to cause prolonged reduction of two voltage-dependent K+ currents (IA and ICa2+-K+) across the membrane of the isolated Hermissenda photoreceptor, the type B cell (Alkon et al., 1982b; Alkon and Sakakibara, 1985). Here we show that iontophoretic injection of inositol trisphosphate (IP3), but not inositol monophosphate, also caused prolonged reduction of IA and ICa2+-K+. IP3 injection also caused reduction of a light-induced K+ current (also ICa2+-K+) but did not affect the voltage-dependent Ca2+ current, ICa2+, or the light-induced inward current, INa+, of the type B cell. IP3 injection caused similar effects on the K+ currents of the other type of Hermissenda photoreceptor, the type A cell. INA+ of the type A cell, unlike that of the type B cell, was, however, markedly increased following IP3 injection. The differences of IP3 effects on the two types of photoreceptors may be related to differences in regulation of ionic currents by endogenous IP3 as reflected by clear differences (before injection) in the magnitude of IA, ICa2+-K+, and INa+ between the two cell types.