A stretch-sensitive Cl− channel in human corpus cavernosal myocytes

With the patch clamp method we demonstrate a stretch-sensitive Cl− currents as well as stretch-sensitive Cl− channels in a small group (≈5%, n=117) of cultured human corpus cavernosal muscle cells. The current and the channel activities had the following characteristics: (1) Their equilibrium potentials changed with extracellular Cl− concentration close to that predicted by Nernst equation provided that the relevant channels had high permeability to Cl− but low permeability to acetate ions; (2) They were blocked by mM concentrations of Zn2+; (3) The i-v relation of single channel current was almost linear for holding potentials varied from −70 to +60 mV; and (4) The channels had unitary conductances of ≈140–170 pS.