Single nonselective cation channels and Ca2+-activated K+ channels in aortic endothelial cells.

In cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells, elementary K+ currents were studied in cell-attached and inside-out patches using the standard patch-clamp technique. Two different cationic channels were found, a large channel with a mean unitary conductance of 150 +/- 10 pS and a small channel with a mean unitary conductance of 12.5 +/- 1.1 pS. The 150-pS channel proved to be voltage- and Ca2+-activatable and seems to be a K+ channel. Its open probability increased on membrane depolarization and, at a given membrane potential, was greatly enhanced by elevating the Ca2+ concentration at the cytoplasmic side of the membrane from 10(-7) to 10(-4) M. 150-pS channels were not influenced by the patch configuration in that patch excision neither induced run-down nor evoked channel activity in silent cell-attached patches. However, they were only seen in two out of 55 patches. The 12-pS channel was predominant, a nonselective cationic channel with almost the same permeability for K+ and Na+ whose open probability was minimal near -60 mV but increased on membrane hyperpolarization. An increase in internal Ca2+ from 10(-7) to 10(-4) M left the open probability unchanged. Although the K+ selectivity of the 150-pS channels remains to be elucidated, it is concluded that they may be involved in controlling Ca2+-dependent cellular functions. Under physiological conditions, 12-pS nonselective channels may provide an inward cationic pathway for Na+.