title: Single channel analysis of the inward rectifier K current in the rabbit ventricular cells.
abstract: The inward rectifier K channel in rabbit ventricular cells was studied by the patch-clamp method. Single channel currents were recorded in giga-sealed cell-attached patches with 150 mM K+ in the pipette. The slope conductance in the membrane potential range from -140 to -40 mV was 46.6 +/- 6.7 pS (mean +/- S.D., n = 16), and was reduced by decreasing [K+] in the pipette (20 or 50 mM). The channel was blocked by an application of Cs+ or Ba2+ (0.04-1 mM) in the pipette. Outwardly directed current, recorded with 50 mM K+ in the pipette, revealed the inward rectification of the single channel current. The probability of the channel being open was 0.33 +/- 0.05 (n = 10) at the resting potential (RP=-81.7 +/- 1.7 mV, n = 16) with 150 mM K+ in the pipette, and it decreased with hyperpolarization. The mean open time of the channel was 178 +/- 25 msec (n = 6) at RP. The closed time of the channel seemed to have two exponential components, with time constants of 11.0 +/- 2.0 msec and 1.92 +/- 0.52 sec (n = 6) at RP. The slower time constant was increased with hyperpolarization. The averaged patch current recorded upon hyperpolarizing pulses demonstrated a time-dependent current decay as expected from the single channel kinetics. The results indicated that the inward rectifier K+ current has time- and voltage-dependent kinetics.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003217:Conductometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D016276:Ventricular Function
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D011188:Potassium