Fluctuation analysis of nonselective cation currents induced by AIF complex in guinea-pig chromaffin cells

Properties of aluminium fluoride (AIF) complex-activated nonselective cation (NS) channels in guinea-pig chromaffin cells were investigated using the patch clamp technique. As the membrane potential was hyperpolarized from the holding potential of -55 mV, the AIF-induced nonselective cation current (INS) diminished progressively. With hyperpolarizations to -100 mV or more negative potentials, the AIF.INS almost instantaneously disappeared. The apparent unit conductance of AIF INS was estimated to be 3 pS by fluctuation analysis. The open state probability of AIF-activated NS channels became large with a decrease in concentration of free Mg2+ ions inside the cell and was less than 0.5 at 12 microM Mg2+. It is concluded that NS channels in the chromaffin cell apparently differ from those in smooth muscle cells.