Figure 4

Functional consequences of hypoxia-induced K⁺ current block. A) Outward-currents (measured at +40 mV) of neurones which showed hypoxic sensitive outward-currents (reduction by 43 %, p < 0.01) and in which we measured action potentials (n = 11). B) Corresponding to changes in K⁺ currents these neurones displayed a 49% prolongation in mean AP duration in hypoxia (p < 0.01, n = 11). C) Hypoxia reduced the threshold to evoke an AP in some neurones. Injection of 200 pA depolarising currents could evoke an AP in hypoxia but not in normoxia and injection of 500 pA could elicit 2 APs in hypoxia compared to one in normoxia. Bath: Ringer's solution, pipette: High-K_i EGTA.