ISSN:
1432-2013
Keywords:
Vas deferens
;
Isolated smooth muscle cells
;
Whole cell recording
;
Ca-channel current
;
Inactivation
;
Sensitivity to nicardipine
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract (1) Fast and slowly inactivating components of Ca-channel current were compared to clarify whether more than one type of Ca-channel exists in smooth muscle cells from rat vas deferens using the whole cell variant of the patch clamp technique. The pipette was filled with 150 mM Cs solution to eliminate outward current and Ba was used as the charge carrier for Ca-channel current. (2) When activated by a 5 s test pulse to 0 mV from a holding potential of −60 mV, the inactivation process of Ba-current was well fitted by the sum of two exponentials. The time constant of the faster inactivating component was 100–300 ms and that of the slower inactivating component was 1.5–3 s. Steadystate inactivation curves of the fast- and slow-components were very similar. (3) The inward current activated at 0 mV from −80 mV was inactivated faster than that from −30 mV. The voltage-dependencies of the peak current from holding potentials of −30 mV and −80 mV were similar. Both had voltage threshold at −30 mV and were maximal at +10 mV. (4) Low concentrations of nicardipine (10−9 to 10−7 M) preferentially inhibited the slow component while higher concentration (10−6 to 10−5 M) were required to block the fast component. The current activated from a holding potential of −30 mV was almost fully suppressed by 10−7 M nicardipine whereas that from −80 mV was blocked only slightly. The voltage dependencies of the peak currents before and during the superfusion with nicardipine (10−7 M) were similar although the peak amplitude was suppressed in the presence of the drug. (5) These results suggest that the existence of either (a) two populations of Ca channels that differ in the time course of inactivation and the sensitivity to nicardipine, but have nearly identical dependence on membrane potential or (b) one population of Ca channel having two different states of inactivation and the sensitivity of nicardipine, in rat vas deferens.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00585117
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