Fig. 3. Representative patch-clamp recordings from Sternotherus odoratus vomeronasal (VN) neurons in the whole-cell configuration. Holding potential, Vh, –70 mV. Neurons were stepped in 10 mV depolarizing command potentials to +40 mV for 400 ms with an interpulse interval of 10 s. (A) Whole-cell current recording from a male VN neuron. (B) Current/voltage curves were plotted from the family of currents shown in A for the peak inward current (
) and the peak transient (
) and sustained (
) components of the outward current. (C,D) As in A and B but for a female VN neuron. Note that the outward currents of the female inactivated more rapidly than those of the male (see Results for calculations). The insets in A and C are the same recording on an expanded time scale to allow visualization of the rapid inward current and kinetics of activation. (E) Time to half-activation of the outward voltage-activated current measured from male (; N=5) and female (
; N=19) VN neurons. Note that the vertical axis is on a logarithmic scale. Values are means ± S.E.M.
