Whole-cell voltage clamp and intracellular perfusion technique on single smooth muscle cells

1989 ◽  
Vol 80 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuke Ohya ◽  
Nicholas Sperelakis
1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Kusaka ◽  
N Sperelakis

The effects of phorbol esters on the L-type Ca2+ current (ICa(L)) were investigated using nystatin-perforated patch and standard whole-cell voltage clamp in uterine smooth muscle cells isolated from late-pregnant rats. Using nystatin-perforated patch to maintain the integrity of the cytosol components, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 300 nM) increased ICa(L). When the standard whole-cell voltage clamp was used, the effect of PMA was dependent on the Ca2+ concentration in the pipette solution: PMA enhanced ICa(L) at pCa 6 and pCa 7 but not at pCa 10 or pCa 8. The effect of PMA was reversed by a selective inhibitor of protein kinase C, calphostin-C (500 nM). It is concluded that phorbol esters stimulate ICa(L) in uterine muscle cells and that the isoform of protein kinase C involved in this effect is Ca2+ dependent. This mechanism may be involved in the regulation of uterine contraction during pregnancy.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (7) ◽  
pp. 759-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiichi Shimamura ◽  
Masumi Kusaka ◽  
Nicholas Sperelakis

The effects of oxytocin (OT) on holding current were studied in uterine smooth muscle cells freshly isolated from the longitudinal layer of 18–20 day pregnant rats, using the nystatin method of whole-cell voltage clamp. As we previously reported, the voltage-dependent Ca2+ current (L type) was partially inhibited by OT (about 30% inhibition at 1 μM). When the cells were held at the holding potential (HP) of −60 mV and the holding current was monitored, OT induced an inward current. The amplitude of this OT-induced current was 72 ± 26 pA (n = 27). When the cell was held at more positive potentials (HP 0 or +40 mV), the OT-induced current reversed direction, becoming outward. This current usually was long lasting (74% of cells responding to OT); a transient current was observed in 26% of the cells. In the absence of either Na+ or Ca2+ in the bath solution, OT induced an inward current (at HP −60 mV). However, the OT-induced current was absent when both of these ions were omitted from the bath. These results suggest that OT induces an inward current through receptor-activated nonselective cation channels. The resulting increase of intracellular Ca2+ may contribute to the inhibition of voltage-dependent Ca2+ current produced by OT. This OT-induced current may also play an important role for membrane depolarization and accompanying contraction produced by OT in pregnant rat myometrium.Key words: oxytocin receptor activated channel, uterine smooth muscle, pregnant rat myometrium, holding current, whole-cell voltage clamp.


1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (3) ◽  
pp. G378-G385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Xiong ◽  
N. Sperelakis ◽  
A. Noffsinger ◽  
C. Fenoglio-Preiser

Voltage-gated Ca2+ currents were investigated in single smooth muscle cells freshly isolated from the circular layer of the human colon (ascending and descending portions) using the whole cell voltage-clamp technique. Tissue samples were obtained at the time of therapeutic surgery. In physiological salt solution (containing 2 mM Ca2+), an inward current was observed when the cell membrane was depolarized in the presence of tetrodotoxin. This current disappeared when Ca2+ was removed from the bath solution and was inhibited when Ca2+ channel blockers were applied, indicating that the inward current was a Ca2+ current (ICa). Changing the holding potential (HP) from -100 mV to more positive potentials (e.g., -60 and -40 mV) markedly decreased the amplitude of ICa. The voltage dependence of steady-state activation and inactivation was represented by Boltzmann distributions; there was a substantial amount of overlap (window current) between -60 and -10 mV. A fast-inactivating ICa component followed by a slow-inactivating ICa component was observed in some cells from both ascending and descending colons. The fast ICa component was observed only when cells were held at -80 or -100 mV, and had a more negative threshold potential (-70 to -60 mV). This component was sensitive to low concentrations of Ni2+ (30 microM) but was resistant to nifedipine (10-20 microM). In contrast, the slow (sustained) ICa component was observed at all HPs (-40 to -100 mV) and had a more positive threshold potential (about -40 mV). This component was insensitive to low concentration of Ni2+ but was sensitive to nifedipine and BAY K 8644.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (10) ◽  
pp. 1475-1484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideaki Sada ◽  
Takashi Ban ◽  
Takeshi Fujita ◽  
Yoshio Ebina ◽  
Nicholas Sperelakis

To assess developmental changes in kinetic properties of the cardiac sodium current, whole-cell voltage-clamp experiments were conducted using 3-, 10-, and 17-day-old embryonic chick ventricular heart cells. Experimental data were quantified according to the Hodgkin–Huxley model. While the Na current density, as examined by the maximal conductance, drastically increased (six- to seven-fold) with development, other current–voltage parameters remained unchanged. Whereas the activation time constant and the steady-state activation characteristics were comparable among the three age groups, the voltage dependence of the inactivation time constant and the steady-state inactivation underwent a shift in the voltage dependence toward negative potentials during embryonic development. Consequently, the steady-state (window current) conductance, which was sufficient to induce automatic activity in the young embryos, was progressively reduced with age.Key words: cardiac electrophysiology, whole-cell voltage-clamp experiments, fast Na currents, heart, development, developmental changes.


1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (2) ◽  
pp. C297-C305 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Honore ◽  
C. Martin ◽  
C. Mironneau ◽  
J. Mironneau

The whole cell voltage-clamp technique was used to study the effects of extracellular ATP in cultured smooth muscle cells isolated from pregnant rat myometrium. An inward current was elicited by ATP (IATP) in cells held at -70 mV under voltage clamp. The amplitude of IATP was reduced by estrogen pretreatment and by the end of pregnancy. IATP not only did not undergo any desensitization but showed facilitation. The current-voltage relationship of IATP was linear and reversed close to 0 mV. Changing the sodium electrochemical gradient by decreasing extracellular or intracellular sodium resulted in a linear relationship between the reversal potential of IATP and Na equilibrium potential that, however, differed from the predicted curve for a purely sodium conductance. The conductance activated by ATP was monovalent cation selective with little discrimination between potassium, cesium, and sodium ions. IATP was depressed by divalent cations, and the rank order of potency was Co greater than Mg greater than Ca greater than Ba, suggesting that the free-acid form of ATP was the effective ligand. Adenosine, AMP, and ADP were ineffective in eliciting IATP, whereas ATP gamma S and alpha,beta-methylene ATP were capable of mimicking the effects of ATP, although they were less potent. These results are consistent with the free-acid form of ATP activating a monovalent cation-selective and estrogen-sensitive conductance in myometrium.


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