Time course of K+ current inhibition by low oxygen in chemoreceptor cells of adult rabbit carotid body Effects of carbon monoxide

AbstractK+ currents recorded from adult rabbit chemoreceptor cells are reversibly inhibited on lowering the pO2 in the bathing solution. Bath application of a hypoxic TTX-containing solution revealed that inhibition of K+ current by low pO2, proceeds faster than TTX inhibition of Na+ currents, the apparent t12 being 3.68 and 7.14 s, respectively. Addition of carbon monoxide to the hypoxic gas mixture used to equilibrate the bathing solution reversed the inhibition of K+ currents by approx. 70%