Characterization of Intermediate Conductance K+ Channels in Submandibular Gland Acinar Cells

Abstract

There are some evidences that K+ efflux evoked by muscarinic stimulation is not mainly mediated by large conductance K+ (BK) channels in salivary gland. In this experiment, we therefore characterised non BK channels in rat submandibular gland acinar cells and examined the possibility of agonist effect on this channel using a patch clamp technique. Two types of K+ channels were observed in these cells. BK channels were observed in 3 cells from total 6 cells and its average conductance was 152±7 pS (n=3). The conductance of the another types of K+ channel was estimated as 71±7 pS (n=6). On the basis of the conductance of this channel, we defined this channel as intermediate conductance K+ (IK) channels, which were observed from all 6 cells we studied. When we increased Ca2+ concentration of the bath solution in inside-out mode, the IK channel activity was greatly increased, suggesting this channel is Ca2+ sensitive. We next examined the effect of carbachol (CCh) and isoproterenol on the activity of the IK channels. 10-5 M isoproterenol significantly increased the open probability (Po) from 0.08±0.02 to 0.21±0.03 (n=4, P＜0.05). Application of 10-5 M CCh also increased Po from 0.048±0.03 to 0.55±0.33 (n=5, P＜0.05) at the maximum channel activity. The degree of BK channel activation induced by the same concentration of CCh was lower than that of IK channels; Po value was 0.011±0.003 and 0.027±0.005 in control and during CCh stimulation (n=3), respectively. The result suggests that IK channels exist in salivary acinar cells and its channel activity is regulated by muscaricinic and β- adrenergic agonist. We conclude that IK channels also play a putative role in secretion as well as the BK channels in rat submandibular gland acinar cells.