POTASSIUM AND CHLORIDE CONDUCTANCES IN RAT LEYDIG-CELLS - EFFECTS OF GONADOTROPINS AND CYCLIC ADENOSINE-MONOPHOSPHATE

1. The effects of gonadotrophins (luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotrophin) and cyclic AMP on ionic conductances were investigated using the tight‐seal whole‐cell recording technique in Leydig cells freshly isolated from nature rat testis by enzymatic treatment. 2. In resting cells, the predominant ionic conductance is a voltage‐dependent K+ conductance resembling the delayed rectifier K+ conductance of T‐lymphocytes. This conductance is characterized by: (1) a time‐dependent inactivation for potentials more positive than +20 mV, (2) a reversal potential near ‐65 mV, (3) a sensitivity to intracellular Cs+, and (4) a sensitivity to extracellular TEA and 4‐aminopyridine. 3. A Cl‐ conductance is also present resembling the Cl‐ background conductance in squid axons and heart cells. In resting cells, this conductance contributes only a small component of the total outward current obtained with depolarizing pulses. 4. Gonadotrophins (human chorionic gonadotrophin, porcine luteinizing hormone and ovine luteinizing hormone) have little effect on the K+ conductance. They transiently increase a Cl‐ conductance after a delay of up to 30 s. This response does not occur if the hormones are applied late in the whole‐cell recording. Gonadoliberine (GnRH) does not affect the Cl‐ or K+ conductance. 5. Internal cyclic AMP (100 microM) mimics all these effects while internal application of a GTP‐ATP mixture induces a similar response, which is, however, sustained rather than transient. 6. The Cl‐ conductance was studied quantitatively with a GTP‐ATP internal solution. This conductance is activated by depolarizing voltage steps to test potentials of ‐40 mV or more. Under these conditions, the instantaneous current observed as soon as the depolarizing pulse is applied displays outward rectification and reverses near ECl. During the pulses, a strong inactivation is observed for potentials greater than +40 mV. This conductance is independent of external and internal calcium. 7. It is concluded that the gonadotrophins act through a cyclic AMP‐dependent process to activate a Cl‐ conductance. This conductance is different to the hyperpolarization‐activated Cl‐ conductance and the calcium‐activated Cl‐conductance also present in the membrane of resting cells. © 1990 The Physiological Society