title: Potassium current inhibition by nonselective cation channel-mediated sodium entry in rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells.
abstract: Under physiological conditions, nonselective cation (NSC) channels mediate the entry of cations into cells, the most important being Na+ and Ca2+. In contrast to the Ca(2+)-dependent signaling mechanisms, little is known about the consequences and the spatial distribution of intracellular [Na+] elevation. In this study we demonstrate that Na+ entry, during the opening of ATP-activated NSC channels, leads to an inhibition of voltage-dependent K+ currents (IK) in cromaffin-like undifferentiated PC-12 cells. The effect was dependent on the charge carrier as well as on the density of the ATP-activated current. Extracellular alkali cations (Na+, Li+) were more efficient than NH4+ in suppressing IK. Intracellular infusion of Na+ had the same effect as Na+ influx through ATP-activated NSC channels. The inhibition of IK persisted when the total ATP-induced Na+ entry was reduced by membrane depolarization, suggesting a spatial restriction of the required Na+ accumulation. Our results indicate that NSC channels influence the function of other ion channels by changing local intracellular ion concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakologie, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Strübing
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hescheler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D002412:Cations / Q000378:metabolism; D004563:Electrochemistry; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D017136:Ion Transport; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D007473:Ion Channels; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium