Ca2+ and cAMP activate K+ channels in the basolateral membrane of crypt cells isolated from rabbit distal colon

Using patch-clamp techniques, we have studied Ca2+-activated K+ channels in the basolateral membrane of freshly isolated epithelial cells from rabbit distal colon. Epithelial cell clusters were obtained from distal colon by gentle mechanical disruption of isolated crypts. Gigaohm seals were obtained on the basolateral surface of the cell clusters. At the resting potential (approximately -45 mV), with NaCl Ringer's bathing the cell, the predominant channels had a conductance of 131 +/- 25 pS. Channel activity depended on voltage as depolarization of the membrane increased the open probability. In excised inside-out patches, channels were found to be selective for K+ over Na+. Channel activity correlated directly with bath Ca2+ concentration in the excised patches. Channel currents were blocked by 5 mM TEA+ and 1 mM Ba2+. In cell-attached patches, after addition of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, which increases intracellular Ca2+, open probability was markedly increased. Channel activity was also regulated by cAMP as addition of 1 mM dibutyryl-cAMP in the bath solution in cell-attached patches increased channel open probability over 20-fold. Channels that had been activated by cAMP were further activated by Ca2+. We conclude that the basolateral membrane of epithelial cells from descending colon contains a class of potassium channels, which are regulated by intracellular Ca2+ and cAMP.