title: Plasma membrane hyperpolarization by cyanide in chromaffin cells: role of potassium channels.
abstract: Exposure of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells to cyanide produces elevation of cytosolic calcium, impaired Na(+)-H+ exchange, membrane lipid peroxidation and release of neurotransmitters. Since these observations suggested cyanide alters plasma membrane function, the present study examined the effect of NaCN on the membrane potential of undifferentiated PC12 cells in suspension. In PC12 cells loaded with the voltage sensitive fluorescent dye, bis-oxonol, cyanide (2.5-10 mM) elicited an immediate (within seconds), concentration related decrease in fluorescence, indicating hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane. Increasing extracellular K+ concentration to 20 mM blocked the effect of cyanide (5 mM), suggesting cyanide increased K+ efflux. Pretreatment with quinine blocked the cyanide-induced hyperpolarization, whereas glyburide had little effect, showing the hyperpolarization produced by cyanide was due to activation of Ca2+ sensitive K+ channels. Removal of Ca2+ from the media did not influence cyanide-induced hyperpolarization. However, buffering intracellular Ca2+ by loading cells with the Ca2+ chelators, Quin II or BAPTA, abolished the cyanide effect, showing cytosolic Ca2+ is a key factor. These findings suggest that cyanide mobilizes Ca2+ from intracellular stores which leads to hyperpolarization via the activation of Ca2+ sensitive K+ channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1334.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Latha
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Borowitz
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanthasamy
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Isom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002838:Chromaffin System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D016716:PC12 Cells; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D011803:Quinine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012966:Sodium Cyanide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D011803:Quinine; D012966:Sodium Cyanide; D005905:Glyburide; D002118:Calcium