AJP - Cell Physiology, Vol 262, Issue 3 C678-C681, Copyright © 1992 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Potassium channel block does not affect metabolic responses of brown fat cells

P. A. Pappone and M. T. Lucero
Department of Animal Physiology, University of California, Davis 95616.

Hormonally stimulated brown fat cells are capable of extremely high metabolic rates, making them an excellent system in which to examine the role of plasma membrane ion channels in cell metabolism. We have previously shown that brown fat cell membranes have both voltage-gated and calcium-activated potassium channels (Voltage-gated potassium channels in brown fat cells. J. Gen. Physiol. 93: 451-472, 1989; Membrane responses to norepinephrine in cultured brown fat cells. J. Gen. Physiol. 95: 523-544, 1990). Currents through both the voltage-activated potassium channels, IK,V, and the calcium-activated potassium channels, IK,Ca, can be blocked by the membrane-impermeant K channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA). We used microcalorimetric measurements from isolated neonatal rat brown fat cells to assess the role these potassium conductances play in the metabolic response of brown fat cells to adrenergic stimulation. Concentrations of TEA as high as 50 mM, sufficient to block approximately 95% of IK,V and 100% of IK,Ca, had no effect on norepinephrine-stimulated heat production. These results show that neither voltage-gated nor calcium-activated K channels are necessary for a maximal thermogenic response in brown fat cells and suggest that K channels are not involved in maintaining cellular homeostasis during periods of high metabolic activity.

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