Inward rectifier K channels in renal epithelioid cells (MDCK) activated by serotonin

The present study has been performed to test for the effect of intracellular calcium and of serotonin on the channel activity in patches from subconfluent MDCK-cells. In inside-out patches, inwardly rectifying potassium-selective channels are observed with open probabilities of 0.01 +/- 0.01, 0.24 +/- 0.03 and 0.39 +/- 0.07, at 100 nmol/liter, 1 mumol/liter or 10 mumol/liter calcium activity, respectively. The single-channel slope conductance is 34 +/- 2 pS, if the potential difference across the patch (Vp) is zero, and approaches 59 +/- 1 pS, if Vp is -50 mV, cell negative. In the cell-attached mode, little channel activity is observed prior to application of serotonin (open probability = 0.03 +/- 0.03). If 1 mumol/liter serotonin is added to the bath perfusate, the open probability increases rapidly to a peak value of 0.34 +/- 0.04 within 8 sec. In continued presence of the hormone, the open probability declines to approach 0.06 +/- 0.02 within 30 sec. At zero potential difference between pipette and reference in the bath (i.e., the potential difference across the patch is equal to the potential difference across the cell membrane), the single-channel conductance is 59 +/- 4 pS. In conclusion, inwardly rectifying potassium channels have been identified in the cell membrane of subconfluent MDCK-cells, which are activated to a similar extent by increase of intracellular calcium activity to 1 mumol/liter and by extracellular application of 1 mumol/liter serotonin.