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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Recording of Inward Rectifying K+ Currents in Freshly Isolated Basilar Artery Smooth Muscle Cells by Patch Clamp Technique
Published on: February 7, 2025
Expression of inwardly rectifying K+ channels in the carotid body of rat
Y Yamamoto1, R Ishikawa, K Omoe
1Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan. yyoshio@iwate-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
The inwardly rectifying K+ channels, Kir1.1, Kir2.3, Kir4.1-Kir5.1, and Kir4.2-Kir5.1, are candidate chemosensory molecules for CO2/H+. Here, we determined the mRNA expression and immunohistochemical localization of these channels in the carotid body (CB) and petrosal ganglion (PG) of the rat. RT-PCR analysis revealed mRNA expression of Kir4.1 and Kir5.1 in CB, and Kir1.1, Kir4.1, and Kir5.1 in PG. Immunohistochemistry identified the glomus cells in CB to express both Kir4.1 and Kir5.1 protein, while the nerve fibers in CB were immunoreactive for Kir1.1, Kir4.1, and Kir5.1. In the PG, immunoreactivity for Kir1.1, Kir4.1, and Kir5.1 was observed in some ganglion cells. Our findings suggest that Kir channels in the peripheral chemoreceptors play a role in sensing hypercapnic acidosis and maintaining the resting membrane potentials.
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