Na+-gated nonselective cation channel from lobster olfactory projection neurons

Na+-gated nonselective cation channel from lobster olfactory projection neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 80: 3387-3391, 1998. A nonselective cation channel specifically activated by intracellular Na+ was identified in cell-free patches taken from cultured lobster olfactory projection neurons. Na+ reversibly activates the channel in a concentration-dependent manner, with a "half-effect" Na+ concentration of 76.4 mM at -60 mV. The conductance of the channel is 32 pS. The channel is permeable to both alkali metal (Li+ > Na+ > K+ > Rb+ > Cs+) and divalent (Ca2+ > Mn2+ > Sr2+ > Mg2+ > Ba2+ > Na+) cations. The presence of a channel with the ability to generate plateau potentials suggests that the channel may potentially contribute to oscillatory behavior in these olfactory interneurons.