Calcium-activated potassium channels in chondrocytes

M. Grandolfo*, P. D'Andrea, M. Martina, F. Ruzzier, F. Vittur

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

The presence of calcium-activated potassium channels in chondrocytes of growing cartilage was tested. Results obtained with fura-2 on cultured resting chondrocytes indicate that the cells respond to an elevation of extracellular calcium concentration ( [Ca2+]o ) from 0.1 to 2 mM increasing the intracellular concentration of the ion ( [Ca2+]i ) from 117 to 187 nM. This increment may be blocked by 3μM La3+. Patch clamp experiments in cell-attached configuration showed that, when [Ca2+]i rises, the open probability (Po) of the K+ channels increases. Increments in both Po and unitary currents of the K+ channels can be obtained after applying 2.5μM A23187 with 2mM [Ca2+]o. Hence, the results demonstrate that, in chondrocytes, a class of Ca2+-activated K+ channels is present and their activity is related to an increase of [Ca2+]i.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1429-1434
Number of pages6
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume182
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 14 1992

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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