Inhibition of the inward-rectifying Cl- channel in rat choroid plexus by a decrease in extracellular pH

1. The sensitivity of the inward-rectifying Cl- channel in choroid plexus to changes in external pH (pH(o)) was examined. 2. Cl- currents were recorded using whole-cell patch-clamp methods. The inward-rectifying channel was activated by 375 nM of the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A which was added to the electrode solution. 3. Reducing pH(o) from 7.3 to 6.5 inhibited the inward-rectifying Cl- currents, whereas an increase in current was observed when pH(o) was elevated to 8.5. The inhibition of the conductance exhibited a sigmoidal relationship with decreasing pH over a range of 8.5 to 5.5. A half-maximal inhibition of the current was observed at pH 7.3. 4. The inhibition of the whole-cell current by reducing pH(o) suggests that it is carried by channels which are distinct from other inward-rectifier Cl- channels, e.g. ClC-2, phospholemman and the channel in Xenopus oocytes.