Role of MaxiK-type calcium dependent K+ channels in rat carotid body hypoxia transduction during postnatal development

Carotid body chemoreceptors transduce a decrease in arterial oxygen tension into increased sinus nerve action potential (AP) activity which undergoes a maturational increase in the post-natal period. MaxiK-channels channels are proposed to play a major role in organ function based on their maturation-dependent expression in glomus cells and inhibition by acute hypoxia. To better resolve the role of this channel, single-unit AP activity of rat chemoreceptor neurons was recorded, in vitro, during a progressive decrease in oxygen from normoxia (∼150 Torr) to moderate hypoxia (∼60 Torr). Blockade of MaxiK channels with charybdotoxin (100 nM) in both older (P16-P18) and younger (P2-P3) animals resulted in no significant change in AP activity, but increased nerve conduction speed in the older animals. In dissociated glomus cells, charybdotoxin slightly enhanced the intracellular calcium response to acute hypoxia at both ages. We conclude that MaxiK channels play little or no role in mediating the response to acute, moderate hypoxia, either in the newborn or older animal.