Toxin sensitivity of the calcium-dependent rubidium efflux in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

86Rb+ efflux was measured on polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells under A23187 or ATP stimulation. This efflux, inhibited by barium, Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus venom and charybdotoxin was attributed to the stimulation of Ca(++)-activated maxi K+ channels. Snake venom from Dendroaspis polylepis did not alter the stimulation as well as did apamine. ATP was effective on both the apical and basolateral membranes and the Ca(++)-activated maxi K+ channels were predominantly found on the basolateral membrane. This study presents the physiological evidence that dendrotoxin is ineffective on the epithelial Ca(++)-activated maxi K+ channel present in MDCK cells.