Membrane responses to changes in the extracellular potassium concentration in isolated hippocampal pyramidal neurons

The responses of freshly isolated hippocampal pyramidal neurons to rapid, elevations of the external potassium concentration ([K⁺] _out ) were investigated using the whole-cell variation of a patch-clamp technique. An elevation of [K⁺] _out induced a two-phase inward current at the membrane potentials more negative than the reversal potential for K ions. This current consisted of a leakage, current and a time-dependent current (τ=40–50 msec at 21°C), the latter designated below asI _ΔK. It displayed first-order activation kinetics that showed neither voltage, nor concentration dependence. The amplitude of this current was determined by the external K⁺ concentration and increased with hyperpolarization. Voltage dependence ofI _ΔK measured within the range from −20 to −120 mV was similar to that for inward rectifier. Activation ofI _ΔK was utterly dependent on Na⁺; substitution of extracellular Na⁺ with choline chloride almost completely depressedI _ΔK.I _ΔK was absent in the cells freshly dissociated from the nodosal and dorsal root ganglia. This suggests that this earlier unrecognized current is instrumental in preserving densely packed hippocampal pyramidal neurons from sudden increases in [K⁺] _out and following spontaneous over-excitation. It prevents the neurons from responding to K⁺-induced depolarizations by slowing down potassium influx.     

Four types of potassium currents in motor nerve terminals of snake

The experiments were perfomed on transvcrsus abdominis muscle of Elaphe dione by subendothelial recording. The results indicate that in snake motor nerve endings there exist four types of K* channels, i.e. voltage-dependent fast and slow K channels, Ca2 -activated K channel and ATP-sensitive K channel, (i) The typical wave form of snake terminal current was the double-peaked negativity in standard solution. The first peak was at-tributed to Na influx (INa) in nodes of Ranvier. The second one was blocked by 3, 4-aminopyridine (3, 4-DAP) or te-traethylammonium (TEA), which corresponded to fast K outward current (IKF) through the fast K* channels in terminal part, (ii) After IKF as well as the slow K current (IKS) were blocked by 3, 4-DAP, the TEA-sensitive Ca2 -dependent K current (IK(Ca)) passing through Ca2 -activated K channel was revealed, whose amplitude depended on [K ]and [Ca2 ] It was blocked by Ba2 , Cd2 or Co2 . (iii) IK.F and IK(Ca) were blocked by TEA, while IK.S was retained. It     

Cadmium alteration of root physiology and potassium ion fluxes

Segments of oat (Avena sativa L.) roots which had been exposed to 1 millimolar CdSO₄ in quarter-strength Hoagland No. 1 solution exhibited decreased respiratory rates, ATP levels, membrane-bound ATPase activity, and reduced K⁺ fluxes. Respiration and ATP levels were decreased after a 2-hour treatment with 1 millimolar CdSO₄ to 65 and 75%, respectively, of control rates. A membrane-bound, Mg²⁺-dependent, K⁺-stimulated acid ATPase was rapidly inhibited to 12% of control activity in the presence of 1 millimolar CdSO₄. Potassium uptake into root segments was inhibited to 80% of control values after 30 minutes in the presence of CdSO₄. A 2-hour pretreatment of root segments with CdSO₄ inhibited K⁺ uptake to 15% of control values. Cytoplasmic K⁺ efflux was inhibited with 1 millimolar CdSO₄.

The rates and the degree of Cd²⁺ inhibition of the parameters listed above suggest that one of the first sites of Cd²⁺ action is the plasmalemma K⁺ carrier (ATPase) in oat roots.

     

Active potassium transport by rabbit descending colon epithelium

Summary Previous studies of rabbit descending colon have disagreed concerning potassium transport across this epithelium. Some authors reported active K⁺ secretion underin vitro short-circuited conditions, while others suggested that K⁺ transport occurs by passive diffusion through a highly potassium-selective paracellular route. For this reason, we re-examined potassium fluxes across the colon in the presence of specific and general metabolic inhibitors. In addition, electrochemical driving forces for potassium across the apical and basolateral membranes were measured using conventional and ion-sensitive microelectrodes. Under normal conditions a significant net K⁺ secretion was observed (J _net ^K =–0.39±0.081 eq/cm²hr) with⁴²K fluxes, usually reaching steady-state within approximately 50 min following isotope addition. In colons treated with serosal addition of 10^–4 m ouabain,J _sm ^K was lowered by nearly 70% andJ _ms ^K was elevated by approximately 50%. Thus a small but significant net absorption was present (J _net ^K =0.12±0.027 eq/cm²hr). Under control conditions, the net cellular electrochemical driving force for K⁺ was 17 mV, favoring K⁺ exit from the cell. Cell potential measurements indicated that potassium remained above equilibrium after ouabain, assuming that passive membrane permeabilities are not altered by this drug. Net K⁺ fluxes were abolished by low temperature.The results indicate that potassium transport by the colon may occur via transcellular mechanisms and is not solely restricted to a paracellular pathway. These findings are consistent with our previous electrical results which indicated a nonselective paracellular pathway. Thus potassium transport across the colon can be modeled as a paracellular shunt pathway in parallel with pump-leak systems on the apical and basolateral membranes.     

Sodium and potassium fluxes and compartmentation in roots of atriplex and oat

K⁺ and Na⁺ fluxes and ion content have been studied in roots of Atriplex nummularia Lindl. and Avena sativa L. cv Goodfield grown in 3 millimolar K⁺ with or without 3 or 50 millimolar NaCl. Compartmental analysis was carried out with entire root systems under steady-state conditions.

Increasing ambient Na⁺ concentrations from 0 to 50 millimolar altered K⁺, in Atriplex, as follows: slightly decreased the cytoplasmic content (Q_c), the vacuolar content (Q_v), and the plasma membrane influx and efflux. Xylem transport for K⁺ decreased by 63% in Atriplex. For oat roots, similar increases in Na⁺ altered K⁺ parameters as follows: plasma membrane influx and efflux decreased by about 80%. Q_c decreased by 65%, and xylem transport decreased by 91%. No change, however, was observed in Q_v for K⁺. Increasing ambient Na⁺ resulted in higher (3 to 5-fold) Na⁺ fluxes across the plasma membrane and in Q_c of both species. In Atriplex, Na⁺ fluxes across the tonoplast and Q_v increased as external Na⁺ was increased. In oat, however, no significant change was observed in Na⁺ flux across the tonoplast or in Q_v as external Na⁺ was increased. In oat roots, Na⁺ reduced K⁺ uptake markedly; in Atriplex, this was not as pronounced. However, even at high Na⁺ levels, the influx transport system at the plasma membrane of both species preferred K⁺ over Na⁺.

Based upon the Ussing-Teorell equation, it was concluded that active inward transport of K⁺ occurred across the plasma membrane, and passive movement of K⁺ occurred across the tonoplast in both species. Na⁺, in oat roots, was actively pumped out of the cytoplasm to the exterior, whereas, in Atriplex, Na⁺ was passively distributed between the free space, cytoplasm, and vacuole.

     

Acclimation of potassium influx in rye (Secale cereale) to low root temperatures

The influx of K⁺(⁸⁶Rb⁺) into intact roots of rye (Secale cereale L. cv. Rheidal) exposed to a differential temperature (DT) between the root (8° C) and shoot (20° C) is initially reduced compared with warm-grown (WG) controls with both shoot and root maintained at 20° C. Over a period of 3 d, however, K⁺-influx rates into DT plants are restored to levels similar to or greater than those of the WG controls, the absolute rates of K⁺ influx being strongly dependent upon the shoot/root ratio. Acclimation in DT plants results in a reduction of K⁺ influx into the apical (0–2 cm) region of the seminal root which is associated with a compensatory increase in K⁺ influx into the more mature, basal regions of the root. Values of V _max and apparent K _m for K⁺ influx into DT plants were similar to those for WG plants at assay temperatures of 8° C and 20° C except for an increase in the apparent K _m at 8° C. The influx of K⁺ from solutions containing 0.6 mol·m^-3 K⁺ into both WG and DT plants was found to be linearly related to assay temperature over the range 2–27° C, and the temperature sensitivity of K⁺ influx to be dependent upon shoot/root ratio. At high shoot/root ratios, the ratio of K⁺ influx at 20° C:K⁺ influx at 8° C for WG plants approached a minimum value of 1.9 whereas that for DT plants approached unity indicating that K⁺ influx into DT plants has a large temperature-insensitive component. Additionally, when plants were grown in solutions of low potassium concentration, K⁺ influx into DT plants was consistently greater than that into WG plants, in spite of having a greater root potassium concentration ([K⁺]int). This result indicates some change in the regulation of K⁺ influx by [K⁺]int in plants exposed to low root temperatures. We suggest that K⁺ influx into rye seedlings exposed to low root temperatures is regulated by the increased demand placed on the root system by a proportionally larger shoot and that the acclimation of K⁺ influx to low temperatures may be the result of an increased hydraulic conductivity of the root system.Abbreviations DT differential temperature pretreatment - [K⁺]int root potassium concentration - [K⁺]ext potassium concentration of nutrient medium - WG warm-grown pretreatment     

Effectiveness of potassium sulfate in mitigating salt-induced adverse effects on different physio-biochemical attributes in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

To assess whether foliar application of K+S as potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄) could alleviate the adverse effects of salt on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. SF-187) plants, a greenhouse experiment was conducted. There were two NaCl levels (0 and 150 mM) applied to the growth medium and six levels of K+S as K₂SO₄ (NS (no spray), WS (spray of water+0.1% Tween 20 solution), 0.5% K+0.21% S, 1.0% K+0.41% S, 1.5% K+0.62% S, and 2.0% K+0.82% S in 0.1% Tween-20 solution) applied two times foliarly to non-stressed and salt-stressed sunflower plants. Salt stress markedly repressed the growth, yield, photosynthetic pigments, water relations and photosynthetic attributes, quantum yield (F_v/F_m), leaf and root K⁺, Mg²⁺, P, Ca²⁺, N as well as K⁺/Na⁺ ratios, while it enhanced the cell membrane permeability, and leaf and root Na⁺ and Cl⁻ concentrations. Foliar application of potassium sulfate significantly improved growth, achene yield, photosynthetic and transpiration rates, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, leaf turgor and enhanced shoot and leaf K⁺ of the salt-stressed sunflower plants, but it did not improve leaf and root Na⁺, Cl⁻, Mg²⁺, P, Ca²⁺, N as well as K⁺/Na⁺ ratios. The most effective dose of K+S for improving growth and achene yield was found to be 1.5% K+0.62% S and 1% K+0.41% S, respectively. Improvement in growth of sunflower plants due to exogenously applied K₂SO₄ was found to be linked to enhanced photosynthetic capacity, water use efficiency, leaf turgor and relative water content.     

Chloride transport and compartmentation within main and lateral roots of two grapevine rootstocks differing in salt tolerance

Root Cl^? transport was investigated using ³⁶Cl^? flux analysis in two grapevine (Vitis sp.) rootstock hybrids differing in salt tolerance; 1103 Paulsen (salt-tolerant) and K 51–40 (salt sensitive). Initial ³⁶Cl^? influx to the root was greater in Paulsen than K 51–40. This flux, attributed to the Cl^? influx to the cytoplasm (Φ _oc) increased with increasing external concentrations of Cl^? for plants adapted to growth in 30 mM NaCl. The concentration kinetics in this high concentration range could be fit to a Michaeils–Menton equation. There was no significant difference between genotypes in Km (28.68 ± 15.76 and 24.27 ± 18.51 mM for Paulsen and K 51–40, respectively), but Paulsen had greater V _max (0.127 ± 0.042) compared to K 51–40 (0.059 ± 0.026 μm g^?1 FW min^?1). In Paulsen, the main root had greater contribution to ³⁶Cl^? uptake than lateral roots, there being no significant difference in lateral root influx between the genotypes. ³⁶Cl^? transport to the shoot of K 51–40 was greater than for Paulsen. It was estimated that efflux rate from the xylem parenchyma cells to the xylem vessels (Φ _cx) in K 51–40 was twice that of Paulsen. Compartmental analysis from ³⁶Cl^? efflux kinetics confirmed the larger Φ _oc and the higher ratio of main to lateral root Φ _oc for Paulsen. Efflux from the cytoplasm (Φ _co) was higher than 95 % of Φ _oc indicating a high degree of cycling across the plasma membrane in roots at these high external Cl^? concentrations. Paulsen appears to keep the cytoplasmic Cl^? concentration in roots lower than K 51–40 via greater efflux to the vacuole and to the outside medium. The difference in salt tolerance between the genotypes can be attributed to different Cl^? transport properties at the plasma membrane and tonoplast and particularly in Cl^? efflux to the xylem.     

Ion conductance and ion selectivity of potassium channels in snail neurones

Summary Delayed potassium channels were studied in internally perfused neurone somata from land snails. Relaxation and fluctuation analysis of this class of ion channels revealed Hodgkin-Huxley type K channels with an average single channel conductance ( _K) of 2.40±0.15 pS. The conductance of open channels is independent of voltage and virtually all K channels seem to be open at maximum K conductance (g _K) of the membrane. Voltage dependent time constants of activation ofg _K, calculated from K current relaxation and from cut-off frequencies of power spectra, are very similar indicating dominant first-order kinetics. Ion selectivity of K channels was studied by ion substitution in the external medium and exhibited the following sequence: T1⁺>K⁺>Rb⁺>Cs⁺>NH ₄ ⁺ >Li⁺>Na⁺. The sequence of the alkali cations does not conform to any of the sequences predicted by Eisenman's theory. However, the data are well accommodated by a new theory assuming a single rate-limiting barrier that governs ion movement through the channel.This paper is dedicated to the memory of Walther Wilbrandt.     

Effects of temperature and dinitrophenol on the uptake of potassium and sodium ions in Ricinus communis roots

Summary Detopped root systems of Ricinus communis plants were used for the study of the effects of temperature and DNP on the uptake of K and Na ions supplied as KNO₃ and NaNO₃.When K and Na ions were offered together in equivalent concentrations, the steady state uptake rates for K⁺ and Na⁺ at 23 to 25° gave a K⁺/Na⁺ ratio of 3. Increasing the Na⁺ concentration relative to K⁺ 3-fold did not alter the preferential uptake of K⁺. The uptake of K⁺ was more sensitive to temperature in the range 10 to 40° and to the application of DNP at 1.5x10^-4 M than was the uptake of Na⁺. When NaNO₃ was the only salt supplied Na⁺ uptake became more sensitive to DNP than when both K⁺ and Na⁺ nitrates were supplied. Prolonged application of DNP led to net K⁺ efflux from the roots, even when no K⁺ was being supplied to the roots. Net Na⁺ efflux under the influence of DNP occurred only in roots previously grown on Na-containing nutrient medium.The different responses of the K⁺ and Na⁺ uptake processes to temperature and DNP suggest the operation of different uptake mechanisms for K⁺ and Na⁺ These results have been considered in relation to the recent concept of dual mechanisms for the absorption of alkali cations by plant tissues.     

Molecular substrates of potassium spatial buffering in glial cells

It is generally accepted that the foremost mechanism for the buffering of K⁺ from the extracellular space ([K⁺]_o) in the brain is “K⁺ spatial buffering.” This is the process by which glial cells dissipate local K⁺ gradients by transferring K⁺ ions from areas of high to low [K⁺]_o. These glial K⁺ fluxes are mediated mainly by inwardly rectifying K⁺ (Kir) channels. The K⁺ spatial buffering hypothesis has been tested and confirmed in the retina, in which is has been termed as “K⁺ siphoning”. In Müller cells, the primary glial cells of the retina, Kir channels are distributed in a highly non-uniform manner, exhibiting high concentrations in membrane domains facing the vitreous humor (endfeet) and in proximity to the blood vessels (perivascular processes). Such non-uniform distribution of Kir channels facilitates directed K⁺ fluxes in the retina from the synaptic plexiform layers to the vitreous humor and blood vessels. Recent molecular and electrophysiological studies in Müller cells have revealed a high degree of complexity in terms of Kir channel subunit composition, mechanisms of subcellular localization, and regulation. How such complexity fits into their proposed role in buffering [K⁺]_o in retina is the main topic of this article.     

Possible processes releasing nonexchangeable potassium from the rhizosphere of maize

The source and the releasing processes of nonexchangeable K from the rhizosphere were evaluated by using a 0.01 M HCl sequential extraction that enables the detection of subtle depletion of nonexchangeable K in the rhizosphere. Rhizobox experiments were conducted in which maize (Zea mays L.) plants were grown on different K sources (non-allophanic Andosol, Fluvisol, biotite and orthoclase) for 17 days. Nonexchangeable K decreased significantly in the rhizosphere of Andosol, Fluvisol and biotite, but not of orthoclase. The width of depletion was about 0–1 mm from the root-accumulating compartment regardless of the K sources, and was much less than that of exchangeable (5–10 mm) and water-soluble (50 mm) K. Rhizosphere pHs were above 4.5 in any treatment. These results suggested that the main source of nonexchangeable K for maize was interlayer K in 2:1 type phyllosilicate, and that the releasing process involved was cation exchange of the K rather than mineral dissolution by protons. For the exchange of interlayer K, a decrease of solution K⁺ below a certain threshold is known as a prerequisite. But the concentration of solution K⁺ at the root compartment of Andosol or Fluvisol, estimated to be more than 100 M, was relatively higher than the known thresholds. Moreover, the significant release of nonexchangeable K from biotite occurred only at the root compartment where marked depletion of solution K⁺ was not observed. We therefore suggest that the release of interlayer K from the rhizosphere can occur even without a marked depletion of solution K⁺ through the following processes; (1) accumulation of cations such as Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ or Na⁺ in the rhizosphere, (2) their adsorption on 2:1 type clay minerals near the edge of interlayer but inaccessible and nonexchangeable by NH₄ ⁺, (3) concomitant removal of the NH₄ ⁺-nonexchangable K even above the known thresholds of solution K⁺, which is followed by the expansion of the interlayer space, and (4) further removal of the deeper K by repetition of the above processes.     

Effects of mono- and multi-valent cations on the inward-rectifying potassium channel in isolated protoplasts from maize roots

Transport properties mediated by ionic channels were studied by the patch-clamp technique in protoplasts from cortical parenchyma cells of maize roots (CPMR). While outward currents could be seen only occasionally, macroscopic voltage- and time-dependent potassium-selective inward currents (I_K+in) were frequently observed in the whole-cell configuration. These currents increased continuously as a function of K⁺ concentration (in the range 3 – 200 mm) and the slow-saturating macroscopic chord-conductance was fitted by a Michaelis-Menten function with K_m = 195 ± 39 mm. Other ions, like sodium and lithium, did not permeate at all through the maize root inward-channel, or like ammonium (P_NH4+/ P_K+ = 0.16 0.25) and rubidium (P_Rb+/P_K+≈ 0.10) displayed a very low permeability ratio. Up to 5 mm Rb⁺ did not induce any inhibition of the K⁺ inward current, whereas submillimolar concentrations of Cs⁺ were sufficient to block, in a voltage-dependent manner, the inward currents. A decrease of the external potassium concentration favoured Cs⁺ inhibition (K_m = 89 ± 6 μm and 26 ± 2 μm in 200 and 100 mm KCl, respectively). The potassium inward-currents were reversibly and consistently inhibited by submillimolar external concentrations of the metal ions Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Co²⁺, while 1 mm La³⁺ only slightly decreased (≈10%) both the single channel conductance (9.2 ± 1.2 pS in 100 mm potassium) and the macroscopic current. In contrast to the case with Cs⁺, inhibition induced by other metal ions did not show any voltage dependence. These results suggest that, as with animal potassium channels, the inward channel of maize-root cortical cells has a narrow pore of permeation and metal ions decrease the K⁺ current, possibly by acting on binding sites located outside the pore. Received: 21 February 1997 / Accepted: 27 May 1997     

Soil potassium mobility and uptake by corn under differential soil moisture regimes

This study examined the effects of soil moisture on soil K mobility, dynamics of soil K, soil K fixation, plant growth and K uptake. A pot experiment, with and without corn (Zea maysL.), was conducted over a 16-d duration using a Yolo silt loam treated with two soil moisture regimes, i.e. constant moisture vs. wetting–drying (W–D) cycles. Soil K dynamics were determined using both ion exchange resin and direct extraction of soil solution. Soil K mobility increased significantly with soil moisture content (θ_v) and there was a positive curvilinear relationship between θ_v and effective diffusion coefficient (D_e), suggesting that more K⁺ can diffuse to the plant roots at sufficient soil moistures. Increase in D_e could be attributed to the decrease of impedance factor. During W–D cycles, soil solution K concentration increased as soil solution volume decreased, but soil solution K and NH₄ ⁺-extractable K pools decreased. In the constant moisture regime, available K pools decreased over the 16-d duration, but to a lesser extent than in W–D regime. The W–D cycles significantly enhanced K fixation and reduced available K pools in the soil in contrast to the constant moisture regime. Potassium fixation by the soil showed a biphasic pattern under the W–D regime, with a rapid fixation within the first 2 d after re-wetting, followed by a slower fixation. In the soil with constant moisture, K fixation was rapid during the first 8 h after wetting the soil, and then proceeded so slowly that no significant K fixation was observed after 4 d. The W–D cycles decreased root and shoot growth and K uptake by corn compared to constant moisture condition. Our results support the hypothesis that W–D cycles enhance soil K fixation, reduce soil K mobility and plant growth, and therefore reduce plant K⁺ uptake. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Energization of potassium uptake in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plant roots accumulate K⁺ from micromolar external concentrations. However, the absence of a firm determination of the trans-plasma-membrane electrochemical gradient for K⁺ in these conditions has precluded an assessment of whether K⁺-accumulation requires energization in addition to the driving force provided by the inside-negative membrane electrical potential (E_m). To address this question unequivocally, we measured E_m, and the cytosolic and external K⁺-activities in root cells of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. cv. Columbia in conditions in which net K⁺-accumulation occurs at low external K⁺ (10 M). In these conditions, net K⁺-uptake was about 0.1 mol · (g FW)^-1 · h^-1, E_m varied between-153 and -129 mV and the cytosolic K⁺-activity, determined with K⁺-selective electrodes, was 83 ± 4 mM. These values yield an outwardly-directed driving force on K⁺ of at least 6.5 kJ · mol^-1. Only if external potassium is raised to the region of 1 mM does E_m become sufficient to drive net K⁺-accumulation. It is therefore concluded that at micromolar external K⁺-activities which prevail in most soils, K⁺-uptake cannot be solely energized by E_m — as exemplified by a channel-mediated mechanism. The nature of the energization mechanism is discussed in relation to processes operating in fungal and algal cells.Abbreviations and Symbols AAS atomic absorption spectrometry - E_m membrane potential - electrochemical potassium gradient - F Faraday constant (96500 C · mol^-1) We thank Peter Barraclough, Roger Leigh, David Walker and Tony Miller (Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, UK) for helpful discussions. Financial support was provided by the Agricultural and Food Research Council (Grant PG87/529).     

Secondary dormancy in Avena fatua: Effect of temperature and after-ripening

To evaluate the effect of after-ripening on secondary dormancy induction in pure genetic lines of Avena fatua L., seed samples were periodically removed from standard conditions of storage and the caryopses then subjected to anoxia. Anoxia did not induce secondary dormancy in SH430, a line characterized by no primary dormancy at harvest maturity; secondary dormancy was induced in caryopses of other lines that had been after-ripened to over-come primary dormancy ranging in duration from a few days (CS40, CS166) to several months (AN51, AN127). Germination response to low GA₃ concentrations indicated that secondary dormancy in CS40 and CS166 was less intense than in AN51 and AN127. The longer the period of dry after-ripening prior to anoxia treatment, the lower the intensity of secondary dormancy induced. After a period of dry after-ripening, which was characteristic for each line, anoxia became an ineffective dormancy-inducing treatment. Caryopses selected for their response to dormancy induction by anoxia were subjected to temperatures from 5 to 35°C to investigate the effect of low (5 to 18°C) and high (20 to 35°C) temperatures on both thermo- and secondary dormancy induction. SH430 was not responsive to any treatment, while CS40, CS166 and AN51 were induced into a thermo-dormancy at temperatures above 20°C and CS166 and AN51 were induced into secondary dormancy by anoxia at temperatures from 5 to 35°C. The effect of anoxia on secondary dormancy induction in a range of pure genetic lines is discussed with reference to primary dormancy, after-ripening and temperature.     

Single-channel analysis of a potassium inward rectifier in myocytes of newborn rat heart

Summary Unitary K⁺ currents in single cells isolated from ventricular muscle of newborn rat hearts were measured in response to different potentials and [K] _o . TheI/V curves were linear for potentials more negative than the zero-current voltage: especially in high [K] _o (150nm KCl), no clear outward currents could be detected indicating a drastic rectification in the inward direction. The channel is mainly selective to K⁺ but Na⁺ ions are also carried (P _Na/P _K=0.056). The channel conductance is proportional to the square root of [K] _o but Na⁺ ions seem to have a facilitatory effect on _K, the single-channel conductance. The channel activity, measured asP _o, i.e. the probability to find the channel in open state, decreased as the membrane was hyperpolarized. This behavior was tentatively explained by an inactivation process as the membrane becomes more negative. The rate constants of the transitions between the different states were calculated according to a C–O–C model. A control of the gating process by permeant ion K⁺ was postulated, based on the increase of one of the rate constants from the closed to the open state with [K] _o . Finally, the macroscopicI/V curves calculated fromP _o and i, the unit current, were found to be characteristic of a ion-blocked inward rectifier.     

Muscle Potassium and Potassium Losses During Hypokinesia in Healthy Subjects

Hypokinesia (HK) induces electrolyte losses in electrolyte-deficient tissue, yet the mechanisms of electrolyte losses in electrolyte-deficient tissue remain unknown. Mechanisms of electrolyte deposition could be involved. To determine the effect of prolonged HK on potassium (K⁺) deposition were measured muscle K⁺ content and K⁺ losses. Studies were conducted on 20 physically healthy male volunteers during 30 days pre-experimental period and 364 days experimental period. Subjects were equally divided into two groups: control subjects (CS) and experimental subjects (ES). The CS group was run average distances of 9.8 ± 1.7 km day⁻¹ and the ES group was walked average distances of 2.7 ± 0.6 km day⁻¹. Muscle K⁺ content decreased (p < 0.05) and plasma K⁺ concentration, and K⁺ losses in urine and feces increased (p < 0.05) in the ES group compared to their pre-experimental level and the values in their respective CS group. Muscle K⁺ content, plasma K⁺ level, and urine and fecal K⁺ losses did not show any changes in the CS group compared to their pre-experimental values. The conclusion was that K⁺ losses in K⁺-deficient muscle of healthy subjects could have been attributable to the less efficient K⁺ deposition inherently to prolonged HK.     

Cation sensitivity and kinetics of guard-cell potassium channels differ among species

in ward rectifying g uard c ell K ⁺ c hannel, GCKC1_in, from three major crop plants Solanum tuberosum L., Nicotiana tabacum L., and Vicia faba L. Selecting guard cells for our analyses we aimed to test whether K⁺ channels of the same cell type differ among species. The channels shared basic features including voltage-dependence, selectivity and single-channel conductance. They activated at hyperpolarization (V _1/2 ≈ −164 mV) with single channels of 7 pS underlying the whole-cell current. The channel density in S. tuberosum was higher than in V. faba and N. tabacum while the activation and deactivation kinetics were faster in the latter two species. Among different monovalent cations the K⁺ channels discriminated strongly against Na⁺, Li⁺, and Cs⁺. The sensitivity to Cs⁺ was similar for the three species. Extracellular Ca²⁺ blocked the V.␣faba K⁺ channel at concentrations ≥1 mM but only affected its functional homologs in S. tuberosum and N.␣tabacum at higher concentrations and more-negative membrane potentials. Like the differences in Ca²⁺-sensitivity, protoplasts from the three species differed remarkably in their response towards extracellular pH changes. Whereas protons neither altered the open probability nor the kinetic parameters of the V. faba GCKC1_in, in S. tuberosum and N. tabacum this cation affected the voltage-dependent properties strongly. An increase in proton concentration from pH 8.5 to 4.5 shifted the potential of half-maximal open probability to less-negative values with a maximum effect around pH 6.2. The pH modulation of the K⁺ channels could be described assuming a two-state model where the open and closed channel can be protonated. The observed differences in cation-sensitivity and voltage-dependent kinetics between K⁺ channels reflect the diversification of guard-cell channels that may contribute to species-specific variations in the control of stomatal aperture. Received: 19 July 1997 / Accepted: 2 October 1997