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Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate whether lens fiber cells isolated and maintained under calcium-free conditions exhibit distinct membrane currents. METHODS: Fiber cells were isolated from the cortical portion of neonate rat lenses using a trypsin digestion protocol and were maintained in EDTA-buffered Ringer's solutions. Membrane currents were recorded from fiber bundles using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. RESULTS: Cortical fiber cells of up to 600-microm length were viable and amenable to whole-cell patch-clamp recording. The major current recorded under these conditions was a slowly activating, voltage-dependent current that was markedly increased on membrane depolarization. This current appeared to be fiber cell specific and had similar properties to currents elicited by gap junction hemichannels previously recorded by others in Xenopus oocytes. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from intact elongated fiber cells. Fiber cells kept in calcium-free bath medium appear to be electrically "leaky" and exhibit a distinct membrane current that has not been described previously for lens cells. This current is unlikely to be active in the normal lens but may play a role in the depolarized cataractogenic lens.