ISSN:
1432-2013
Keywords:
Smooth muscle cells
;
ATP-activated channel
;
purinergic neurotransmission
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The electrophysiological effect of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on the enzymatically dispersed smooth muscle cells from rat vas deferens was investigated. ATP always induced depolarization accompanied with a reduction in membrane resistance. In a whole cell voltage clamp experiment, an inward current was recorded when the cell was exposed to ATP-containing solution. The ATP-induced current disappeared within 2min even in the continuous presence of ATP, which may indicate that the cells were desensitized to this compound. The ATP-induced current was also recorded in the cells superfused with 10−5M nicardipine or in the Cs-loaded cells, eliminating the possible involvement of voltage-gated Ca and K current. During cell-attached patch clamp, an elementary current having a mean conductance of 20pS was observed when the intrapipette solution was changed to ATP-containing solution. The estimated zero current potentials of the ATP-activated macroscopic current and elementary current were about 0mV. These results suggest that ATP exerts its transmitter-like action by activating ion channels in smooth muscles.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00584668
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