Effects of luminal Na+ on single Na+ channels in A6 cells, a regulatory role for protein kinase C

Abstract

1) modulation of apical Na+ permeability by luminal Na+ does not require direct interaction of Na+ with the channel protein but, rather, appears to involve an intracellular regulatory pathway, 2) relieving self-inhibition alters both the number and kinetics of single Na+ channels, 3) the effect of low Na+ must be modulated via decreased apical Na+ entry and intracellular Na+, since amiloride yielded similar results, 4) changes in intracellular Na+ probably affect Na+ channel activity via cytosolic Ca2+, 5) the effects of decreasing luminal Na+ are reversed by PKC activators and mimicked by PKC inhibitors suggesting a possible role for PKC in Na+ self-inhibition.