Roy, A; Rozanov, C; Iturriaga, R; Mokashi, A; Lahiri, S*

Brain Research [BRAIN RES.], vol. 769, no. 2, pp. 396-399, Sep 1997

The membrane potential hypothesis that the responses to hypercapnia of carotid chemosensory activity is mediated by voltage-gated Ca2+ channels was investigated by measuring directly the chemosensory output from rat and cat carotid bodies, perfused and superfused in vitro. We found that the inorganic and organic blockers of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels suppressed the hypercapnic responses, thereby supporting the membrane potential hypothesis.