Wyatt C N, Weir E K, Peers C
Department of Pharmacology, Leeds University, UK.
Neurosci Lett. 1994 May 19;172(1-2):63-6. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(94)90663-7.
Diphenylene iodonium (DPI), an inhibitor of NAD(P)H oxidase, blocks hypoxic excitation of the carotid body. We used the whole-cell patch-clamp technique to investigate the actions of DPI on ionic currents in isolated type I carotid body cells. DPI (10 microM) caused reversible blockade of K+ and Ca2+ currents in these cells, indicating that DPI is a non-selective ion channel blocker. Since hypoxic excitation of the carotid body is dependent on Ca2+ influx into type I cells, our observation that DPI blocks Ca2+ currents in type I cells can account for the ability of this compound to inhibit hypoxic excitation of the intact organ.
