[Aconitine modification of cell membrane sodium channels of a neuroblastoma]

Currents through normal and aconitine-modified sodium channels in the perfused neuroblastoma cell are measured under voltage clamp conditions. Aconitine shifts the voltage range of activation of the sodium channels towards more negative potentials by about 20 mV, and changes the selectivity, so that channels become more permeable to NH4+ than to Na+ ions. The currents through aconitine--modified channels are inactivated almost completely like those through the normal ones. Aconitine is effective when applied to both sides of the cell membrane. Steady-state characteristics of gating are discussed in terms of the model assuming three main states of the gate machinery: closed, open and inactivated.