A voltage-dependent calcium current in mouse MC3T3-E1 osteogenic cells.

Abstract
MC3T3-E1 osteogenic cells in a growing state were voltage-clamped by the whole-cell patch-clamp method. The MC3T3-E1 cells dexhibited a transient, fast-inactivating Ca inward current upon depolarizing pulses from a holding potential of .sbd.80 mV. This current had a threshold of activation of about .sbd.50 mV and was insensitive to the dihydropyridine, nifedipine. These results show that MC3T3-E1 cells have a voltage-dependent Ca channel corresponding to the "T-type.".