Previous studies have shown that receptors are overexpressed in tumor cells. However, the role of receptors remains enigmatic. Recently, we and others have demonstrated that -1 receptor modulates K ϩ channels in pituitary. In the present report, patch-clamp and Western blot assays were used in small cell lung cancer (SCLC, NCI-H209, and NCI-H146) and leukemic (Jurkat) cell lines to investigate the effects of ligands on voltage-gated K ϩ channels and cell proliferation. The ligands (ϩ)-pentazocine, igmesine, and 1,3-di(2-tolyl)guanidine (DTG) all reversibly inhibited voltage-activated K ϩ currents in both cell lines. The potency of ligand-induced inhibition (10 M) was igmesine ϭ (ϩ)-pentazocine Ͼ DTG, pointing to the involvement of -1 receptors. Addition of the K ϩ channel blockers tetraethylammonium (TEA) and 4-aminopyridin or one of cited ligands in the culture media reversibly inhibited Jurkat cell growth. Interestingly, K ϩ channel blockers and ligands caused an accumulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 kip1 and a decrease in cyclin A expression in Jurkat and SCLC cells, whereas no effect could be detected on p21 cip1 . Moreover, ligands and TEA had no effect on caspase 3 activity. Accordingly, incubation of cells with ligands did not provoke DNA laddering. These data demonstrate that ligands and voltage-dependent channel blockers inhibit cell growth through a cell cycle arrest in the G 1 phase but not via an apoptotic mechanism. Altogether, these results indicate that the -1 receptor-induced inhibition of the cell cycle is, at least in part, the consequence of the inhibition of K ϩ channels.