Single-channel fluctuations in bimolecular lipid membranes induced by rat olfactory epithelial homogenates.

Chemosensitive single-channel fluctuations were observed to be induced in essentially solvent-free lipid bimolecular membranes by the addition of sonicated homogenates of rat olfactory epithelium. The chemosensitive channels were not observed when respiratory epithelium homogenates were used instead. Ionic selectivity is consistent with potassium ions as the charge carrier. These channels may be associated with the initial events of chemoreception in the rat olfactory epithelium.