Abstract: The dissociation and culture of cells isolated from the ventral nerve cord of the larva of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera are described. The propterties of the voltage-gated ion channels of the cultured neurons were studied with patchclamp technique in the wholecell configuration. Neurons survived and grew fast in either TC-100, Leibovitz's L-15 or Grace medium supplemented with glutathione, glutamine, glucose and 10% foetal calf serum. The medium made up of equal parts of TC-100 and Leibovitz's L-15 enabled better adherence, survival and growth. Most neurons showed neurite growth exhibiting unipolar, bipolar or multipolar. Neural cell bodies readily formed seals with patch pipettes, allowing stable, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Depolarization of the cell under voltage-clamp resulted in TTX-sensitive sodium currents, high-voltage activated calcium currents and two types of outward potassium currents. The potassium currents could be decreased by TEA-Cl and 4-AP.

Key words: Helicoverpa armigera, nerve cell, ion channel, cell culture