Ion channels in rabbit cultured fibroblasts

Large outward currents are recorded with the whole-cell patch-clamp technique on depolarization of rabbit cultured fibroblasts. Our findings suggest that these outward currents consist of two voltage-dependent components, one of which also depends on cytoplasmic calcium concentration. Total replacement of external Cl - by the large anion ascorbate does not affect the amplitude of the currents, indicating that both components must be carried by K + . Consistent with these findings with whole-cell currents, in single channel recordings from fibroblasts we found that most patches contain high-conductance potassium-selective channels whose activation depends on both membrane potential and the calcium concentration at the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane. In a smaller number of patches, a second population of high-conductance calcium-independent potassium channels is observed having different voltage-dependence. The calcium- and voltage-dependence suggest that these two channels correspond with the two components of outward current seen in the whole-cell recordings. The single channel conductance of both channels in symmetrical KCl (150 mM) is 260-270 pS. Both channels are highly selective for K + over both Na + and Cl - . The conductance of the channels when outward current is carried by Rb + is considerably smaller than when it is carried by K + . Some evidence is adduced to support the hypothesis that these potassium channel populations may be involved in the control of cell proliferation.

1990 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 725-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Florio ◽  
C. D. Westbrook ◽  
M. R. Vasko ◽  
R. J. Bauer ◽  
J. L. Kenyon

1. We used the patch-clamp technique to study voltage-activated transient potassium currents in freshly dispersed and cultured chick dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells. Whole-cell and cell-attached patch currents were recorded under conditions appropriate for recording potassium currents. 2. In whole-cell experiments, 100-ms depolarizations from normal resting potentials (-50 to -70 mV) elicited sustained outward currents that inactivated over a time scale of seconds. We attribute this behavior to a component of delayed rectifier current. After conditioning hyperpolarizations to potentials negative to -80 mV, depolarizations elicited transient outward current components that inactivated with time constants in the range of 8-26 ms. We attribute this behavior to a transient outward current component. 3. Conditioning hyperpolarizations increased the rate of activation of the net outward current implying that the removal of inactivation of the transient outward current allows it to contribute to early outward current during depolarizations from negative potentials. 4. Transient current was more prominent on the day the cells were dispersed and decreased with time in culture. 5. In cell-attached patches, single channels mediating outward currents were observed that were inactive at resting potentials but were active transiently during depolarizations to potentials positive to -30 mV. The probability of channels being open increased rapidly (peaking within approximately 6 ms) and then declined with a time constant in the range of 13-30 ms. With sodium as the main extracellular cation, single-channel conductances ranged from 18 to 32 pS. With potassium as the main extracellular cation, the single-channel conductance was approximately 43 pS, and the channel current reversed near 0 mV, as expected for a potassium current. 6. We conclude that the transient potassium channels mediate the component of transient outward current seen in the whole-cell experiments. This current is a relatively small component of the net current during depolarizations from normal resting potentials, but it can contribute significant outward current early in depolarizations from hyperpolarized potentials.


1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (6) ◽  
pp. G932-G938 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Jury ◽  
K. R. Boev ◽  
E. E. Daniel

Single smooth muscle cells from the opossum body circular muscle were isolated and whole cell currents were characterized by the whole cell patch-clamp technique. When the cells were held at -50 mV and depolarized to 70 mV in 20-mV increments, initial small inactivating inward currents were evoked (-30 to 30 mV) followed by larger sustained outward currents. Depolarization from a holding potential of -90 mV evoked an initial fast inactivating outward current sensitive to 4-aminopyridine but not to high levels of ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). The outward currents reversed near K+ equilibrium potential and were abolished when KCl was replaced by CsCl in the pipette solution. The sustained outward current was inhibited by quinine and cesium. High EGTA in the pipette solution reduced but did not abolish the sustained outward currents, suggesting that both Ca(2+)-dependent and -independent currents were evoked. The nitric oxide (NO)-releasing agents Sin-1 and sodium nitroprusside increased outward K+ currents. High levels of EGTA in the pipette solution abolished the increase in outward current induced by Sin-1. The presence of cyclopiazonic acid, an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ pump, blocked the effects of NO-releasing agents. We conclude that NO release activates K+ outward currents in opossum esophagus circular muscle, which may depend on Ca2+ release from the SR stores.


1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (6) ◽  
pp. C2010-C2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. Koh ◽  
G. M. Dick ◽  
K. M. Sanders

The patch-clamp technique was used to determine the ionic conductances activated by ATP in murine colonic smooth muscle cells. Extracellular ATP, UTP, and 2-methylthioadenosine 5′-triphosphate (2-MeS-ATP) increased outward currents in cells with amphotericin B-perforated patches. ATP (0.5–1 mM) did not affect whole cell currents of cells dialyzed with solutions containing ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl ether)- N, N, N′, N′-tetraacetic acid. Apamin (3 × 10−7M) reduced the outward current activated by ATP by 32 ± 5%. Single channel recordings from cell-attached patches showed that ATP, UTP, and 2-MeS-ATP increased the open probability of small-conductance, Ca2+-dependent K+ channels with a slope conductance of 5.3 ± 0.02 pS. Caffeine (500 μM) enhanced the open probability of the small-conductance K+ channels, and ATP had no effect after caffeine. Pyridoxal phosphate 6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonic acid tetrasodium (PPADS, 10−4 M), a nonselective P2 receptor antagonist, prevented the increase in open probability caused by ATP and 2-MeS-ATP. PPADS had no effect on the response to caffeine. ATP-induced hyperpolarization in the murine colon may be mediated by P2y-induced release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and activation of the 5.3-pS Ca2+-activated K+ channels.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 4876
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Burdach ◽  
Agnieszka Siemieniuk ◽  
Waldemar Karcz

In contrast to the well-studied effect of auxin on the plasma membrane K+ channel activity, little is known about the role of this hormone in regulating the vacuolar K+ channels. Here, the patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the effect of auxin (IAA) on the fast-activating vacuolar (FV) channels. It was found that the macroscopic currents displayed instantaneous currents, which at the positive potentials were about three-fold greater compared to the one at the negative potentials. When auxin was added to the bath solution at a final concentration of 1 µM, it increased the outward currents by about 60%, but did not change the inward currents. The imposition of a ten-fold vacuole-to-cytosol KCl gradient stimulated the efflux of K+ from the vacuole into the cytosol and reduced the K+ current in the opposite direction. The addition of IAA to the bath solution with the 10/100 KCl gradient decreased the outward current and increased the inward current. Luminal auxin reduced both the outward and inward current by approximately 25% compared to the control. The single channel recordings demonstrated that cytosolic auxin changed the open probability of the FV channels at the positive voltages to a moderate extent, while it significantly increased the amplitudes of the single channel outward currents and the number of open channels. At the positive voltages, auxin did not change the unitary conductance of the single channels. We suggest that auxin regulates the activity of the fast-activating vacuolar (FV) channels, thereby causing changes of the K+ fluxes across the vacuolar membrane. This mechanism might serve to tightly adjust the volume of the vacuole during plant cell expansion.


1991 ◽  
Vol 261 (2) ◽  
pp. C310-C318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. S. Agus ◽  
I. D. Dukes ◽  
M. Morad

The modulation of the transient outward K+ current (Ito) by divalent cations was studied in enzymatically isolated rat ventricular myocytes with the whole cell patch-clamp technique. At holding potentials negative to -70 mV, 1 mM Cd2+ suppressed Ito, whereas, at potentials positive to -50 mV, the current was augmented. These effects were caused by shifts in the voltage dependence of both activation and inactivation of Ito toward more positive potentials. Cd2+ also slowed the activation kinetics of Ito by shifting the voltage dependence of its rate of activation, but the rate of inactivation was unaffected. Other divalent cations produced similar shifts but at markedly different concentrations. Thus, in the millimolar range, a rightward shift of approximately 20 mV was produced by 3 Co2+, 5 Ni2+, and 10 Ca2+, whereas 10 microM concentrations of Cu2+ and Zn2+ produced equivalent shifts. Similar effects were seen in hippocampal neurons with micromolar concentrations of Zn2+. Thus divalent cations have marked and specific effects on the kinetics and voltage dependence of Ito and may serve as a regulatory mechanism in its activation, particularly in cells with resting potentials positive to -60 mV.


1991 ◽  
Vol 261 (4) ◽  
pp. F696-F705 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Pacha ◽  
G. Frindt ◽  
H. Sackin ◽  
L. G. Palmer

High-conductance (maxi) K channels in the apical membrane of rat and rabbit cortical collecting tubules (CCT) were studied using the patch-clamp technique. Principal cells (PC) and intercalated cells (IC) were distinguished with Hoffman modulation optics in split-open tubules. IC were further identified by staining tubules with the fluorescent mitochondrial dye, rhodamine 123. Maxi-K channels were distinguished by their high conductance (greater than 80 pS) and voltage-dependent kinetics. In CCT of rats on a low-Na diet, maxi K channels were observed in 11% of the cell-attached patches on PC and 79% of patches on IC. In rats on a normal diet, the channels were seen in 23 and 79% of patches on PC and IC, respectively. In the rabbit CCT, maxi K channels were observed in 12% (4 of 32) of the patches on PC and 82% (122 of 148) of the patches on IC. The greater abundance of channels in IC was confirmed in rat CCT using the whole-cell clamp technique. Current through the maxi K channels (IK) was measured as the tetraethylammonium (TEA)-sensitive (2.5 mM) outward current in cells equilibrated with 115 mM K and 10(-5) M Ca2+ in the pipette solution. When the cell was clamped to an internal potential of +40 mV, the average IK per cell was -4 +/- 5 pA in PC and 290 +/- 90 pA in IC. Lowering cytoplasmic Ca2+ from 10(-5) M to 10(-7) M reduced IK to 32 +/- 21 pA. Neither single Na channels nor amiloride-sensitive whole-cell currents were seen in IC. Finally, maxi K channels could be activated by pipette suction (10-40 cm H2O) in either cell-attached or inside-out patches on IC from rabbit CCT. This mechanosensitivity was observed even after chelation of free Ca2+ with ethylene glycol-bis (beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) in the pipette or the bath solutions, implying that stretch activation of these channels was not mediated by increased Ca2+ entry into the cell. The IC maxi K channel may play a role in cell volume regulation or in K secretion during elevation of luminal hydrostatic pressure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothee Jakob ◽  
Alexander Klesen ◽  
Elisa Darkow ◽  
Fabian A. Kari ◽  
Friedhelm Beyersdorf ◽  
...  

Cardiac fibroblasts express multiple voltage-dependent ion channels. Even though fibroblasts do not generate action potentials, they may influence cardiac electrophysiology by electrical coupling via gap junctions with cardiomyocytes, and through fibrosis. Here, we investigate the electrophysiological phenotype of cultured fibroblasts from right atrial appendage tissue of patients with sinus rhythm (SR) or atrial fibrillation (AF). Using the patch-clamp technique in whole-cell mode, we observed steady-state outward currents exhibiting either no rectification or inward and/or outward rectification. The distributions of current patterns between fibroblasts from SR and AF patients were not significantly different. In response to depolarizing voltage pulses, we measured transient outward currents with fast and slow activation kinetics, an outward background current, and an inward current with a potential-dependence resembling that of L-type Ca2+ channels. In cell-attached patch-clamp mode, large amplitude, paxilline-sensitive single channel openings were found in ≈65% of SR and ∼38% of AF fibroblasts, suggesting the presence of “big conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa)” channels. The open probability of BKCa was significantly lower in AF than in SR fibroblasts. When cultured in the presence of paxilline, the shape of fibroblasts became wider and less spindle-like. Our data confirm previous findings on cardiac fibroblast electrophysiology and extend them by illustrating differential channel expression in human atrial fibroblasts from SR and AF tissue.


1989 ◽  
Vol 237 (1287) ◽  
pp. 213-231 ◽  

Single-channel and whole-cell patch-clamp techniques were used to characterize the electrophysiological behaviour of plasma membranes from freshly isolated, non-enzyme-treated endosperm protoplasts. A non-selective monovalent cation channel with a single-channel conductance of 22 pS in solutions with physiological potassium concentrations was observed in inside-out patches. The channel passes outward current at depolarized potentials and is highly selective for cations over anions, but discriminates poorly between lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and caesium ions. Specific potassium channel blockers were ineffective. The channel kinetics were apparently complex, with burst-like openings and rapid closures within a single burst. Single-channel openings were more frequent both for depolarizing pulses and maintained positive potentials. Channel activity was also increased by elevated cytoplasmic concentrations of either calcium or barium. Subsequent exposure of patches to low calcium, EGTA-buffered solutions resulted in large decreases in activity. Under whole-cell current clamp, small negative resting potentials were observed. A slowly developing outward current evoked by depolarizing pulses was seen in whole-cell recordings.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (5) ◽  
pp. H1448-H1454 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Hadley ◽  
J. R. Hume

Currents through time-dependent K+ channels (also referred to as IK or the delayed rectifier) were studied with the whole cell patch-clamp technique in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes. IK measurements were restricted to the examination of deactivation tail currents. Substitution of various monovalent cations for external K+ produced shifts of the reversal potential of IK. These shifts were used to calculate permeability ratios relative to K+. The permeability sequence for the IK channels was K+ = Rb+ greater than NH4+ = Cs+ greater than Na+. Time-dependent outward currents were also examined when the myocytes were dialyzed with Cs+ instead of K+. A sizeable time-dependent outward current, quite similar to that seen with K+ dialysis, was demonstrated. This current was primarily carried by intracellular Cs+, as the reversal potential of the current shifted 46 mV per 10-fold change of external Cs+ concentration. The significance of Cs+ permeation through IK channels is discussed with respect to the common use of Cs+ in isolating other currents.


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