title: Identification of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in cells of embryonic chick osteoblast cultures.
abstract: Primary cultures of embryonic chick osteoblasts consist of a heterogeneous cell population. Patch clamp measurements were done on 1- to 5-day-old osteoblasts, osteocytes, fibroblastlike cells, and cells that could not be classified on morphologic criteria. The measurements showed the omnipresence of depolarization-activated high-conductance channels in cell-attached patches. The whole-cell experiments showed an outward rectifying conductance activating at positive membrane potentials. Channels underlying the latter conductance were found to be K+ conducting in outside-out membrane patches. The activation potential of the outward rectifying K+ conductance shifted to negative membrane potentials upon increasing the intracellular Ca2+ concentration within the range of 10(-8)-10(-3.2) M. The same happened with the activation potential of the K+ channels found in outside-out patches. Finally, inside-out patch experiments directly demonstrated the dependency of the activation potential of K+ channels on Ca2+ ions. Thus the identity and main characteristics of Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels expressed by the various cell types present in chick osteoblast cultures have now been established. Decreased input resistances were found in cells of cultures more than 2 days old. This is consistent with the establishment of electrical coupling between the cells. Functions in which Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels could play a role are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Physiological Physics, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ravesloot
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Houten
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ypey
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Nijweide
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D002118:Calcium