title: Regulation of K+ channels by cell contact in a cloned folliculo-stellate cell (TtT/GF).
abstract: Membrane currents in a folliculo-stellate cell line (TtT/GF) were examined using the whole-cell clamp technique. The cultured cells were morphologically categorized as isolated spread cells, isolated round cells, contact spread cells, and contact round cells. A distinct outward current was observed in isolated spread cells, contact round cells, and contact spread cells, whereas the outward current detected in isolated round cells was barely perceivable. The reversal potentials of the outward tail current obeyed the Nernst equation, indicating that the outward current was carried by K+ ions. The activation and deactivation processes of the K+ current could be fitted by single exponential curves. 4-aminopyridine, tetraethylammonium, and Ba2+ inhibited the K+ current. The concentrations for half-maximal inhibition of these agents to block the K+ current were 0.2 mM, 0.8 mM, and 8 mM, respectively. The biophysical and pharmacological characteristics of the K+ current in TtT/GF cells were similar to those of the K+ current in glial and Schwann cells. According to the results of the present study, it was concluded that TtT/GF cells possessed outward K+ channels, characteristics of which were similar to those of the K+ channels in glial and Schwann cells, and that the amplitude of the K+ current in TtT/GF cells seemed to be regulated by the condition of the cell contact.
authors.affiliation: Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tokyo School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamashita
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D001464:Barium; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D011188:Potassium