Mc. Chiang et al., BOVINE SERUM-ALBUMIN ENHANCES CALCIUM CURRENTS IN CHICKEN GRANULOSA-CELLS, Molecular and cellular endocrinology, 94(1), 1993, pp. 27-36
The effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on Ca2+ currents in chicken g
ranulosa cells was examined using both the nystatin-perforated and the
conventional whole cell patch clamp techniques. Under voltage-clamp c
onditions, depolarizing voltage steps evoked inward Ca2+currents with
both methods. The time- and voltage-dependence of Ca2+currents measure
d with the perforated patch technique was similar to those obtained wi
th conventional whole cell recording. Commercially prepared BSA and es
sentially fatty acid free BSA both rapidly enhanced the amplitude of C
a2+ currents. However, the fatty acid free BSA was more potent, and it
s potency was greatly reduced by incubation with saturating concentrat
ions of oleic acid. These data show that BSA, a common constituent of
incubation media, can influence ion channels in the plasma membrane of
granulosa cells.