Effects of barium, lanthanum and gadolinium on endogenous chloride and potassium currents in Xenopus oocytes.

1. The effects of multivalent cations on membrane currents recorded from Xenopus oocytes were studied. 2. The hyperpolarization-activated chloride current was reversibly blocked by lanthanum; half-maximal block occurred at a concentration of 8 microM. Zinc, cadmium, cobalt and nickel were less potent than lanthanum, and gadolinium, manganese, barium and strontium had no effect at a concentration of 100 microM. 3. The calcium-activated chloride current was blocked by gadolinium (50 microM), and lanthanum, cadmium, cobalt, nickel and manganese were equally effective. The actions of gadolinium and lanthanum were almost irreversible, while partial (30-80%) recovery was observed with the other cations. Zinc (100 microM) had no effect. 4. In lanthanum (100 microM), membrane depolarizations from -70 mV activated an outward potassium current that was partially blocked by barium (0.1-2 mM). The barium-sensitive current was confined to potentials less negative than -70 mV. The current consisted of a time-independent as well as a time-dependent component, the latter of which had voltage dependence similar to the M-current. 5. It is proposed that lanthanum, gadolinium and barium can usefully separate these endogenous membrane currents in Xenopus oocytes.