Abstract
Using the patch-clamp technique, we have identified a large, outwardly rectifying, Cl−-selective whole-cell current in primary cultures of human vas deferens epithelial cells. Whole-cell currents were time- and voltage-dependent and displayed inactivation following depolarising pulses ≥ 60 mV. Currents were equally permeable to bromide (P Br/PCl = 1.05 ± 0.04), iodide (P I/P Cl = 1.06 ± 0.07) and Cl−, but significantly less permeable to gluconate (P Gluc/P Cl = 0.23 ± 0.03). Currents spontaneously increased with time after establishing a whole-cell recording, but could be inhibited by exposure to a hypertonic bath solution which reduced inward currents by 68 ± 4%. Subsequent exposure of the cells to a hypotonic bath solution led to a 418 ± 110% increase in inward current, indicating that these currents are regulated by osmolarity. 4,4′-Diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulphonic acid (100 μM) produced a rapid and reversible voltage-dependent block (60 ± 5% and 10 ± 7% inhibition of current, measured at ± 60 mV, respectively). Dideoxyforskolin (50 μM) also reduced the volume-sensitive Cl− current, but with a much slower time course, by 41 ± 13% and 32 ± 16% (measured at ± 60 mV, respectively). Tamoxifen (10 μM) had no effect on the whole-cell Cl− current. These results suggest that vas deferens epithelial cells possess a volume-sensitive Cl− conductance which has biophysical and pharmacological properties broadly similar to volume-sensitive Cl− currents previously described in a variety of cell types.
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Winpenny, J.P., Mathews, C.J., Verdon, B. et al. Volume-sensitive chloride currents in primary cultures of human fetal vas deferens epithelial cells. Pflügers Arch. 432, 644–654 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004240050181
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004240050181