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Characterization of stretch-activated ion channels in cultured astrocytes
L Islas1, H Pasantes-Morales, J A Sanchez
1Institute of Cell Physiology, National A. University of Mexico, Mexico City.
Abstract:
The presence of a stretch-activated channel in rat cerebellar astrocytes in culture is described. This stretch-sensitive channel is K(+)-selective and its open probability increases with suction following a Boltzmann-like distribution with half activation at 45 mm Hg. Kinetic analysis of the single-channel data indicated that there are two open and two closed states and that the shortest time constants of both open and closed states are the most sensitive to suction. A symmetrical two-barrier-one-site permeation model can quantitatively describe the inward rectification of the single-channel current to voltage relations. It is suggested that this stretch-activated channel plays a role in the regulatory volume response of astrocytes to hyposmotic conditions.