Activation of single potassium channels in rat cerebellar granule cells by volatile anesthetics.
1. We recently reported that volatile anesthetics activate a potassium channel (S channel) in neurons of the marine mollusk, Aplysia (Winegar et al., 1996. Anesthesiology 85(4) 889-900). 2. These studies were extended to investigate volatile anesthetic actions on potassium channels in rat cerebellar granule cells. 3. Noninactivating potassium channels were observed across a wide range of potentials. 4. Channel activity increased during volatile anesthetic perfusion while the i-V relations were unchanged and remained weakly inward-rectifying with a conductance at negative potentials of approximately 30 pS. 5. Frequent opening of inward rectifiers by volatile anesthetics may stabilize the resting potential near E(K) to resist depolarizing stimuli.
Department of Anesthesia, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0648, USA.
B D
BD
Winegar
C S
CS
Yost
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D015221:Potassium Channels; D006221:Halothane