Gating of maxi channels observed from pseudo-phase portraits

Phase space has been used to visualize and analyze the dynamic behavior of stochastic and chaotic systems. We applied this concept to maxi channels recorded from excised inside-out patches of in situ interstitial cells of Cajal. Pseudo-phase portraits of channel current were fairly homogeneous from patch to patch. They showed three main peaks, α, β, and γ, in increasing conductance. These represented single or near aggregated states. The α-peak …