title: The inward rectifier potassium conductance in rat basophilic leukemia cells.
abstract: Whole-cell recordings were made from rat basophilic leukemia cells. The properties of the cells in the potential range negative to -20 mV could be accounted for by two potassium conductances, a leakage conductance (0.54 +/- 0.01 nS, mean +/- s.e.m., n = 6) and an inward rectifier conductance. The inward rectifier conductance activated at a potential close to EK and had a maximal value of 2.7 +/- 0.22 nS (n = 6). Cesium (2 mM, n = 6) decreased the inward current at every potential. Strontium (10 mM, n = 7) and rubidium (2 mM, n = 3) had a similar effect, but they also increased the slope conductance between -63 and -103 mV. Barium (1-100 microM) blocked selectively the inward rectifying current without affecting the leakage current; the effect was use-, voltage-, and temperature-dependent. TEA decreased the current; the concentration giving 50% inhibition was 37.5 mM. The current was unaffected by phorbol esters as well as several hormones and transmitters that were tested.
authors.affiliation: Vollum Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piguet
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: North
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D001491:Basophils / Q000502:physiology*; D002586:Cesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D002586:Cesium; D001464:Barium; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D011188:Potassium