Betaine activates a hyperpolarizing chloride conductance in squid olfactory receptor neurons

Isolated olfactory receptor neurons from the squid Lolliguncula brevis respond to betaine, a repellent odorant, with hyperpolarizing receptor potentials. Using perforated-patch techniques, we determined that the hyperpolarizing conductance was selective for Cl⁻ and could be reversibly blocked by the Cl⁻ channel blockers 4-acetamido-4′-isothio-cyanatistilbene-2,2′disulfonic acid and niflumic acid. Gramicidin-patch recordings revealed that [Cl⁻]_i in squid olfactory receptor neurons is normally very low compared to vertebrate olfactory receptor neurons, and that activating a Cl⁻ conductance would hyperpolarize the cell in vivo. The lack of dependence on internal or external K⁺ or Na⁺ ruled out the possibility that the Cl⁻ conductance was generated by a cation-dependent cotransporter or pump. Common G-protein-dependent signalling pathways, including phospholipase C, arachidonic acid, and cyclic nucleotides, do not appear to be involved. Ca²⁺ imaging experiments showed that betaine did not affect [Ca²⁺]_i, suggesting that the Cl⁻ current is not Ca²⁺ dependent. Our findings represent the first report of an odorant-activated, hyperpolarizing chloride conductance in olfactory receptor neurons. Accepted: 20 March 1998