Acetylcholine-sensitive potassium channels in human atrial myocytes

Single channel recording techniques were used to study acetylcholine (ACh)-sensitive K+ channel activity in human atrial myocytes isolated from specimens obtained during corrective cardiac surgery. Under conditions of cell-attached patch, the presence of ACh in the patch pipette activated K+ channels. Single channel activity occurred in periodic bursts. The channels exhibited a slope conductance of 46 +/- 2 pS inwardly (means +/- SD, n = 4). During a burst, both open and closed time histograms were fitted by a single exponential curve, suggesting the existence of one open and one closed state during a burst. Open probability increased directly with ACh concentration without affecting open time. The channel could be activated by GTP and guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) (in the presence and absence of ACh in the pipette, respectively). Slope conductance, the response to GTP and GTP gamma S, and the independence of activation from Ca2+ were similar to those for other species. In contrast, sensitivity to ACh appeared diminished compared with frog atrial myocytes.