Properties of single voltage-dependent K+ channels in dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurones of rat hippocampus

Voltage-dependent K⁺ channels in the apical dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurones play important roles in regulating dendritic excitability, synaptic integration, and synaptic plasticity. Using cell-attached, voltage-clamp recordings, we found a large variability in the waveforms of macroscopic K⁺ currents in the dendrites. With single-channel analysis, however, we were able to identify four types of voltage-dependent K⁺ channels and we categorized them as belonging to delayed-rectifier, M-, D-, or A-type K⁺ channels previously described from whole-cell recordings. Delayed-rectifier-type K⁺ channels had a single-channel conductance of 19 ± 0.5 pS, and made up the majority of the sustained K⁺ current uniformly distributed along the apical dendrites. The M-type K⁺ channels had a single-channel conductance of 11 ± 0.8 pS, did not inactivate with prolonged membrane depolarization, deactivated with slow kinetics (time constant 100 ± 6 ms at −40 mV), and were inhibited by bath-applied muscarinic agonist carbachol (10 μ m ). The D-type K⁺ channels had a single-channel conductance of around 18 pS, and inactivated with a time constant of 98 ± 4 ms at +54 mV. The A-type K⁺ channels had a single-channel conductance of 6 ± 0.6 pS, inactivated with a time constant of 23 ± 2 ms at +54 mV, and contributed to the majority of the transient K⁺ current previously described. These results suggest both functional and molecular complexity for K⁺ channels in dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurones.