Voltage-gated K+ channels in chemoreceptor sensory neurons of rat petrosal ganglion.

A subpopulation of sensory neurons in the petrosal ganglion transmits information between peripheral chemoreceptors (glomus cells) in the carotid body and relay neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract. Expression of voltage-gated K+ channels in these neurons was characterized by immunohistochemical localization. Five members of the Kv1 family, Kv1.1, Kv1.2, Kv1.4, Kv1.5 and Kv1.6 and members of two other families, Kv2.1 and Kv4.3, were identified in over 90% of the chemoreceptor neurons. Although the presence of these channel proteins was consistent throughout the population, individual neurons showed considerable variation in K+ current profiles.