Current density analysis of outward currents in acutely isolated rat entorhinal cortex cells

Entorhinal cortex stellate and pyramidal cells were acutely isolated from juvenile rats. Using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp method outward potassium currents were recorded. A fast transient A-current and a sustained outward current could be measured in both stellate and pyramidal cells. The A-current density was significantly larger in pyramidal cells than in stellate cells. In contrast, stellate cells possessed a larger current density of the delayed rectifier current as well as the Ca2+ activated K+ current than pyramidal cells. Moreover, superficial stellate cells exhibited large delayed rectifier currents and only small A-currents while entorhinal cortex deep layer pyramidal cells displayed larger A-currents than delayed rectifier currents.