Tetraethylammonium‐sensitive apical K+ channels mediating K+ secretion by turtle colon.

1. Apical membrane K+ channels in turtle colon were identified and characterized using current fluctuation analysis. 2. Under short‐circuit conditions in NaCl‐Ringer solution, the power density spectrum (PDS) of the short‐circuit current (Isc) sometimes exhibited a clearly discernible Lorentzian component, indicating spontaneous fluctuations produced by a population of apical ion channels. The Lorentzian component had a characteristic corner frequency (fc) which averaged 10.2 +/‐ 0.9 Hz (mean +/‐ S.E.M., n = 20). 3. The power of the spontaneous fluctuations was enhanced (So increased) by manoeuvres that depolarize the apical membrane electrical potential (Va). Discernible fluctuations were enhanced or induced by raising the serosal K+ concentration ([K+]s = 50‐115 mM, Na+ replacement), by clamping the transepithelial potential (Vt) to serosa‐positive values, or by blocking basolateral K+ channels with Ba2+. 4. Mucosal amiloride (100 microM) attenuated the spontaneous fluctuations observed in NaCl‐Ringer solution but had no effect in the presence of serosal high K+, indicating that amiloride did not block the K(+)‐permeable channels but these channels resided in the same cells as the amiloride‐sensitive Na+ channels. 5. Raising the mucosal K+ concentration attenuated spontaneous fluctuations. 6. In the presence of serosal high K+ and mucosal amiloride, the spontaneous fluctuations were often accompanied by a reversed Isc consistent with K+ secretion. These conditions were used to test the effects of putative channel blockers. 7. Mucosal Ba2+ and tetraethylammonium (TEA+) were effective inhibitors of the spontaneous fluctuations and the reversed Isc. At a concentration of 10 mM, TEA+ was maximally effective but the TEA+ analogues tetramethylammonium (TMA+) and tetrapropylammonium (TPrA+) were much less effective. Mucosal Rb+ or Cs+ did not inhibit at a concentration of 10 mM. 8. Mucosal lidocaine (200 microM), quinidine (200 microM), or diphenylamine‐2‐carboxylate (DPC, 1 mM) had little or no effect on the spontaneous fluctuations and reversed Isc. Quinine (100 microM), 4‐aminopyridine (1 mM), and apamin (100 nM) were also without effect. 9. Mucosal TEA+ (10 mM) abolished the active secretory K+ flux measured in the presence of serosa‐positive transepithelial potentials. 10. These experiments identified a population of TEA(+)‐sensitive, apical K+ channels which mediate active K+ secretion in turtle colon. Sensitivity to external TEA+ distinguishes these channels from basolateral K+ channels in turtle colon and demonstrates similarity to apical K+ channels in mammalian colon.