Muscarinic receptor activation of potassium channels in rat dentate gyrus neurons.

1. The effects of acetylcholine (ACh) on granule cells freshly dissociated from rat dentate gyrus (DG) were studied using the nystatin perforated patch technique. This method allowed us to study ACh-induced currents (IACh) under voltage clamp without "run-down" of the ACh response. In some experiments, we used the conventional whole-cell method for intracellular application of drugs not permeable to cell membrane. 2. At a holding potential of -40 mV, ACh induced an outward current. The amplitude of IACh increased in a sigmoidal fashion with increasing ACh concentration. The half-maximal response and the Hill coefficient determined from the relation between ACh concentration and response were 4.98 x 10(-7) M and 1.70, respectively. 3. The reversal potential of IACh was close to the K+ equilibrium potential. The IACh was accompanied by an enhancement of the K+ current. 4. Muscarine and McN-A-343 mimicked the ACh response, whereas oxotremorine induced no response. 5. Muscarinic antagonists reversibly suppressed the IACh (10(-5) M) in a concentration-dependent manner, where the values of half-inhibition concentration (IC50) were 1.03 x 10(-6) M for pirenzepine and 2.21 x 10(-5) M for AF-DX-116. 6. Intracellular perfusion with GDP-beta S suppressed the IACh greatly. The IACh persisted in the neurons pretreated with an external solution containing pertussis toxin (IAP) for 18 h. 7. In the neurons perfused with Ca(2+)-free external solution containing 2 mM ethylene glycol-O,O'-bis (beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid and 10 mM Mg2+, the first application of ACh induced the IACh with an amplitude similar to that in the standard solution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)