Properties of K+ currents recorded from cultured ovine trachea submucosal gland cells.

We have used the whole cell recording technique to investigate voltage-activated outward currents in cultured ovine trachea submucosal gland cells. The cultured gland cells secreted lysozyme in response to secretagogues, methacholine (20 microM), phenylephrine (100 microM) and substance P (10 microM). Most cells in culture for 7-21 days expressed a voltage-activated outward current at potentials positive to -30 mV. This outward current inactivated slowly, by 44 +/- 6% during a 3 sec depolarization to +30 mV. The voltage-activated outward current was sensitive to the potassium channel inhibitors tetraethylammonium bromide (5 mM), 4-aminopyridine (500 microM) and glibenclamide (1 microM). These data suggest that the outward voltage-activated currents observed are due to K+ channel activity. In cells with little or no outward current present the potassium channel opener Ro 31-6930 produced an additional voltage-activated net outward current. This effect of Ro 31-6930 was sensitive to glibenclamide (1 microM). Our results suggest that some cultured submucosal gland cells express voltage-activated K+ currents with a mixed pharmacology to antagonists and that a portion of this current is sensitive to modulation by Ro 31-6930.