Potassium channels in chick lens epithelium change with maturation.

Before hatching, chick embryos show a high incidence of inwardly rectifying potassium channels and calcium-activated potassium channels in the apical membrane of their lens epithelium. Subsequent to hatching, these channel types disappear while, at about the same time, a new calcium insensitive maxi potassium channel appears. This new channel shows several properties in common with the calcium-activated maxi potassium channels but is different in its conductive and gating properties.