Potassium currents in periglomerular cells of frog olfactory bulb in vitro

Voltage-activated currents have been recorded from periglomerular cells in thin slices of frog olfactory bulb. Cells were examined with whole-cell patch clamp methods. The voltage-dependent potassium currents were studied after pharmacological block of inward currents. Depolarising steps from -130 mV gave an early transient, A-type, outward current and a delayed rectifier K+ current (IKV). The two currents could be isolated on the basis of the differences in their kinetic properties. The A-current developed following a third-order kinetics when the membrane was depolarised to potentials more positive than -40 mV after preconditioning to potentials more negative than -60 mV. Once activated (tau a 2.5 ms at 0 mV), IA inactivated following a single exponential (tau ha about 60 ms). IKV activated with a second-order kinetics above -30 mV with a time constant of 4 ms at 0 mV. IA and IKV were sensitive, respectively, to 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and tetraethylammonium (TEA).