Regulation of K+ channels in the basolateral membrane of Necturus oxyntic cells

Patch-clamp methods were used to study single-channel events in isolated oxyntic cells and gastric glands from Necturus maculosa. Cell-attached, excised inside-out and outside-out patches from the basolateral membrane frequently contained channels which had conductances of 67 +/- 21 pS in 24% of the patches and channels of smaller conductance, 33 +/- 6 pS in 56% of the patches. Channels in both classes were highly selective for K+ over Na+ and Cl-, and shared linear current-voltage relations. The 67-pS channel was activated by membrane depolarization, whereas the activity of the 33-pS channel was relatively voltage independent. The larger conductance channels were activated by intracellular Ca2+ in the range between 5 and 500 nM, but unaffected by cAMP. The smaller conductance channels were activated by cAMP, but not Ca2+. The presence of K+ channels in the basolateral membrane which are regulated by these known "second messengers" can account for the increase in conductance and the hyperpolarization of the membrane observed upon secretagogue stimulation.