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Related Experiment Videos

Using gadolinium to identify stretch-activated channels: technical considerations

R A Caldwell1, H F Clemo, C M Baumgarten

  • 1Department of Physiology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA.

The American Journal of Physiology
|August 4, 1998
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Gadolinium (Gd3+) is used to study stretch-activated ion channels (SACs), but its effectiveness is limited. Factors like anion binding can reduce free Gd3+ concentrations, potentially leading to inaccurate conclusions about SAC involvement.

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Biophysics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Gadolinium (Gd3+) is widely used to inhibit cation-selective stretch-activated ion channels (SACs).
  • Gd3+ sensitivity is a common method to infer SAC involvement in physiological and pathophysiological processes.
  • The interpretation of Gd3+ experiments requires careful consideration of experimental conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the limitations of using Gd3+ as a sole indicator of SAC activity.
  • To discuss factors that can confound the interpretation of Gd3+ experiments.
  • To provide guidance for the accurate use and interpretation of Gd3+ in SAC research.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Gd3+ and SACs.
  • Analysis of the chemical interactions between Gd3+ and common buffer components (e.g., phosphate, bicarbonate, EGTA).

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  • Discussion of the implications of these interactions for experimental outcomes.

    • Main Results:

    • Gd3+ avidly binds to anions in physiological solutions, significantly reducing free Gd3+ concentrations.
    • Low free Gd3+ concentrations can lead to false-negative results, suggesting no SAC involvement when it is present.
    • Certain SACs are inherently insensitive to Gd3+, and Gd3+ can also block other ion channels, leading to potential false positives.

    Conclusions:

    • Gd3+ remains a valuable tool for studying SACs, but its use requires careful experimental design.
    • Researchers must account for Gd3+ binding to anions to avoid misinterpreting results.
    • Awareness of Gd3+ insensitivity in some SACs and off-target effects is crucial for accurate conclusions.