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. 1989 Apr 14;980(2):139-45.
doi: 10.1016/0005-2736(89)90392-1.

The plasma membrane potential of human neutrophils. Role of ion channels and the sodium/potassium pump

A Majander  1 , M Wikström
Affiliations

The plasma membrane potential of human neutrophils. Role of ion channels and the sodium/potassium pump

A Majander et al. Biochim Biophys Acta. .

Abstract

Calcium-depleted human neutrophils are depolarised when suspended in calcium-free media containing sodium ions, and are repolarised by extracellular replenishment of Ca2+. The depolarisation is due to a high inward sodium current, which is blocked by calcium and by several other divalent cations, but not by barium. Addition of calcium results in a rise in the cytosolic concentration from approx. 20 nM to the resting level of approx. 130 nM. Calcium influx is strongly accelerated by a voltage-gated calcium channel. This channel might be responsible for the depolarising Na+ current in the absence of divalent cations. In the polarised state the neutrophil membrane has a high intrinsic permeability to K+, which may be low or absent in the depolarised state. Generation of membrane potential from the depolarised state is mainly due to the electrogenic sodium/potassium pump. However, the resting potential of about -75 mV is maintained primarily by the K+ conductance, and only to a small extent by the sodium/potassium pump.

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