title: Inwardly rectifying K+ current in osteoclasts.
abstract: Membrane properties of freshly isolated rat osteoclasts were studied using the whole cell patch-clamp recording technique. The membrane potential could switch between two stable levels, approximately -70 and -15 mV. Voltage-clamp studies indicated that osteoclasts exhibited marked inward rectification, with hyperpolarizing voltage commands from -70 mV activating large inward currents. No voltage-dependent currents were observed in response to depolarization. An increase in external K+ concentration shifted the current-voltage relationship positive in a manner predicted for K+ current. Furthermore, barium and cesium reversibly suppressed the inward current. Thus the dominant current evident in osteoclasts was inwardly rectifying K+ current, resembling that found in a number of cell types, including cardiac and skeletal muscle and oocytes. The current-voltage relationship of osteoclasts was "N-shaped" and could intersect the zero-current level at three potentials, accounting for two stable membrane potentials. Switching of membrane potential between these two levels may regulate a number of the cellular processes involved in bone resorption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sims
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D001464:Barium