Inwardly rectifying chloride channel activity in intestinal pacemaker cells

Cl^- channels are proposed to play a role in gut pacemaker activity, but little is known about the characteristics of Cl^- channels in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), the intestinal pacemaker cells. The objective of the present study was to identify whole cell Cl^- currents in ICC associated with previously observed single-channel activity and to characterize its inward rectification. Whole cell patch-clamp studies showed that ICC express an inwardly rectifying Cl^- current that was not sensitive to changes in cation composition of the extracellular solutions. Currents were not affected by replacing all cations with N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG⁺). Whole cell currents followed the Cl^- equilibrium potential and were inhibited by DIDS and 9-anthracene carboxylic acid. Ramp protocols of single-channel activity showed that inward rectification was due to reduction in single-channel open probability, not a reduction in single-channel conductance. Single-channel data led to the hypothesis that strong cooperation exists between 30-pS channels that show less cooperation at potentials positive to the reversal potential. Hence, an inwardly rectifying Cl^- channel plays a prominent role in determining pacemaker activity in the gut.