title: Adrenocorticotropic hormone activates an outward current in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages.
abstract: To define the effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in immunocompetent cells, ion channel activities in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages were analyzed by the perforated patch-clamp method. ACTH induced outward currents at smaller holding potentials than K+ equilibrium potentials. Reversal potentials of ACTH-induced currents were dependent on external K+ concentrations, but not on external Cl- concentration. Quinine potently blocked the outward current and tetraethylammonium (TEA) partially suppressed that current. ACTH did not induce the response in Ca2+ free solution containing EGTA. These results suggest that ACTH can modulate macrophage functions through the activation of Ca2+ dependent K+ channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Science, Faculty of Engineering, Iwate University, 020-8551, Morioka, Japan. t5396009@iwate-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ichinose
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shingai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sawada
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005260:Female; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D011803:Quinine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019789:Tetraethylammonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D000521:alpha-MSH; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011803:Quinine; D011188:Potassium