Multiple conductance levels of the dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channel in GH3 cells

Calcium channels in GH3 cells exhibit at least five conductance levels when examined in cell-attached or outside-out patches. These channels resemble the high threshold Ca2+ current in their range of activation and inactivation, and in their sensitivity to dihydropyridines (DHP). Mean open times for the five levels were brief (less than 1 msec) in control solutions but increased in the presence of BAY K 8644. In 100 mM Ba2+ and BAY K 8644, the five predominant slope conductances were 8-9, 12-13, 16-18, 23-24, and 28 pS. The present study is the first report of multiple levels of the DHP-sensitive Ca2+ channel occurring with high frequency in native membranes. The range of conductance levels that we observed encompasses the range of conductances found for two other different types of Ca2+ channels and indicates that unit conductance should be used with caution as a distinguishing characteristic for identification of different channel types.