title: Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in isolated type I cells of the neonatal rat carotid body.
abstract: 1. Ca(2+)-activated K+ (K+Ca) channels in neonatal rat type I carotid body cells were studied using single channel patch clamp techniques. In outside-out patches, using symmetrical 120 mM [K+] solutions, channels were observed with a slope conductance of 190 pS and a reversal potential of 0 mV. Reducing [K+]o to 5 mM shifted the reversal potential as expected for a K(+)-selective channel. 2. With 100 nM Ca2+ bathing the cytosolic aspect of patches, channel activity (number of active channels in a patch x open probability, NPo) increased with depolarization. NPo also increased with increasing 'cytosolic' [Ca2+] at a fixed membrane potential (0 mV). Using outside-out patches, bath application of 20 or 100 nM charybdotoxin reduced NPo by > 85%. These data indicate the presence of K+Ca channels in type I cells. 3. At 0 mV, using solutions of identical composition (1 microM Ca2+ bathing the cytosolic aspect of the channels), NPo was higher in outside-out patches than in inside-out patches. NPo was greatest in recordings using the perforated-vesicle technique. 4. Hypoxia and anoxia were without effect on K+Ca channels in outside-out patches, but caused significant, reversible reductions of NPo in channels recorded in perforated vesicles. 5. The whole-cell perforated-patch technique was used to record membrane potential at 35-37 degrees C. Hypoxia, anoxia and charybdotoxin all depolarized type I cells. 6. Our results suggest an important role for K+Ca channels in type I carotid body cells, and their activity in relation to a model for chemotransduction is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Leeds University, UK.
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002469:Cell Separation; D018999:Charybdotoxin; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010313:Partial Pressure; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D018999:Charybdotoxin; D010100:Oxygen; D002118:Calcium