Activity of delayed rectifier potassium channel in alveolar macrophages from COPD rats / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To explore the change of delayed rectifier potassium channel (K_V) activity in alveolar macrophages (AM) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rats. METHODS: COPD model was established by exposure of the animals to cigarette smoke. With whole-cell voltage- or current-clamp techniques, K_V activity, membrane capacitance and resting membrane potential (Em) in AM from COPD model and control rats were compared. RESULTS: (1) Significant increases in total mononuclear cells and AM in bronchoal aveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were found in COPD group compared with in control group. (2) The AM K_V current altitude in COPD group [(520.5?38.7)pA, (+50) mV, n=30] was significantly lower than that in control group [(713.6?44.4)pA, (+50) mV, n=30, P0.05), but had more positive Em (P