title: Internal K ions modulate the action of external cations on hyperpolarization-activated inward current in rabbit isolated sinoatrial node cells.
abstract: We have investigated the effect of change in external Na+ concentration on the hyperpolarization-activated inward current (I(f)) in the presence of different internal cations. Rabbit single isolated sinoatrial node cells were studied using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. With 140 mM K+ pipettes, lowering [Na+]o causes the fully activated I/V curve for I(f) to shift in a negative direction without a significant decrease of the slope conductance. The PNa/PK ratio, as defined by the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation, is concentration-dependent: the lower the [Na+]o, the higher PNa/PK. The conductance/concentration relationship for I(f) shows saturation at low [Na+]o or [K+]o, indicating that the channel has a strong affinity for external cations. With 140 mM Cs+ pipettes, the I/V curve shows strong inward rectification and inward I(f) current decreases almost proportionally to the decrease in [Na+]o; the conductance/concentration relationship for I(f) shifts to the right suggesting that the binding affinity of the external binding site is reduced. These results suggest that the I(f) channel is a multi-ion channel with a high-affinity external binding site, the affinity of which is modulated by internal cations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Noble
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002412:Cations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002586:Cesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012849:Sinoatrial Node / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D007473:Ion Channels; D002586:Cesium; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium