The effect of caffeine on excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal and smooth muscle

1976 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 789-798
Author(s):  
A. J. Syson ◽  
H. Huddart
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Membrane Permeability ◽  
Spike Activity ◽  
Free Calcium ◽  
Membrane Hyperpolarization ◽  
Phasic Contraction ◽  
Contraction Coupling ◽  
Mechanical Threshold

1. For cockroach skeletal muscle, 2 mM caffeine considerably lowered the mechanical threshold without affecting the membrane potential. Constractures were induced by 8–10 mM caffeine. 2. In rat ileal smooth muscle, 1–10 mM caffeine inhibited spontaneous contractile behaviour, abolished spike activity and reduced KCl-induced contracture tension. 3. Enhanced spike activity associated with the KCl-induced phasic contraction was abolished by caffeine, the degree of caffeine-induced relaxation being proportional to the concentration employed. These relaxations were not accompanied by membrane hyperpolarization. 4. The present results accord with previous work which has shown that caffeine increases myoplasmic free calcium in the skeletal muscle and lowers it in the smooth muscle. It is suggested that caffiene releases bound calcium in the former muscle and promotes binding in the latter. 5. It is further suggested that in the smooth muscle caffeine may reduce the membrane permeability to calcium.

Effects of bethanechol and the octapeptide of cholecystokinin on colonic smooth muscle in the cat

1987 ◽  
Vol 252 (5) ◽  
pp. G654-G661
Author(s):  
W. J. Snape ◽  
S. T. Tan ◽  
H. W. Kao
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Slow Wave ◽  
Spike Activity ◽  
Membrane Resistance ◽  
Wave Pattern ◽  
Isometric Tension ◽  
Muscle Membrane ◽  
Maximum Effect ◽  
Smooth Muscle Membrane

The aim of this study is to compare the action of the cholinergic agonist, bethanechol, with the action of the octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK-OP) on feline circular colonic smooth muscle membrane potential and isometric tension, using the double sucrose gap. Depolarization of the membrane greater than 10 mV by K+ or bethanechol increased tension and spontaneous spike activity. CCK-OP (10(-9) M) depolarized the membrane (6.1 +/- 1.3 mV) without an increase in tension or spike activity. Depolarization of the membrane by increasing [K+]o was associated with a decrease in the membrane resistance. The slow-wave duration (2.3 +/- 0.2 s) was unchanged by administration of K+ or bethanechol but was prolonged after increasing concentrations of CCK-OP. The maximum effect occurred at a 10(-10) M concentration of CCK-OP (4.5 +/- 0.4 s, P less than 0.01). At higher concentrations of CCK-OP (greater than 10(-10) M), the slow-wave pattern became disorganized. Addition of increasing concentrations of [K+]o or bethanechol, but not CCK-OP, stimulated a concentration-dependent increase in the maximum rate of rise (dV/dtmax) of an evoked spike potential. These studies suggest 1) bethanechol decreased the membrane potential without altering the slow-wave activity, whereas CCK-OP has a minimal effect on the membrane potential but distorted the slow-wave shape; 2) an increased amplitude of the spike and dV/dtmax of the spike were associated with an increase in phasic contractions after bethanechol or increased [K+]o; 3) the lack of an increase in the spike amplitude and the dV/dtmax to CCK-OP was associated with no increase in phasic contraction.

Electrophysiological differentiation of alpha-receptors on arteriolar smooth muscle

1983 ◽  
Vol 244 (4) ◽  
pp. H540-H545 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. G. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Electrical Activity ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Vessel Size ◽  
Contraction Coupling ◽  
Alpha Receptors ◽  
Excitatory Junction Potentials ◽  
Coupling Mechanisms ◽  
Electrophysiological Differentiation

The effects of clonidine (a prototype of an alpha 2-agonist) and phenylephrine (a prototype of an alpha 1-agonist) on intracellularly recorded electrical activity and vessel size of feline submucosal arterioles were compared. Phenylephrine constricts the vessels and causes a depolarization and the initiation of oscillations of the membrane potential. These oscillations occasionally give rise to spike potentials. In contrast, clonidine produces no significant depolarization of the resting potential in spite of the simultaneous initiation of contraction. Neurally induced depolarizations (excitatory junction potentials) are not blocked and are sometimes augmented by the nonselective alpha-blocker phentolamine even though the depolarization induced by norepinephrine is blocked by phentolamine. Excitatory junction potentials are antagonized by the alpha 1-blocker prazosin. The contraction caused by clonidine is blocked to a greater degree by yohimbine (a relatively selective alpha 2-blocker) than by prazosin. The contraction caused by phenylephrine is blocked to a greater degree by prazosin than by yohimbine. These data indicate that phenylephrine and clonidine act by different mechanisms and, taken together with previous studies, suggest that alpha 1- and alpha 2-stimulation utilize different excitation-contraction coupling mechanisms.

Calcium channels, potassium channels, and voltage dependence of arterial smooth muscle tone

1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (1) ◽  
pp. C3-C18 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Nelson ◽  
J. B. Patlak ◽  
J. F. Worley ◽  
N. B. Standen
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Katp Channel ◽  
Voltage Dependence ◽  
Muscle Tone ◽  
Ca Channels ◽  
Resistance Arteries ◽  
Arterial Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Hyperpolarization ◽  
Voltage Dependent

Resistance arteries exist in a maintained contracted state from which they can dilate or constrict depending on need. In many cases, these arteries constrict to membrane depolarization and dilate to membrane hyperpolarization and Ca-channel blockers. We discuss recent information on the regulation of arterial smooth muscle voltage-dependent Ca channels by membrane potential and vasoconstrictors and on the regulation of membrane potential and K channels by vasodilators. We show that voltage-dependent Ca channels in the steady state can be open and very sensitive to membrane potential changes in a range that occurs in resistance arteries with tone. Many synthetic and endogenous vasodilators act, at least in part, through membrane hyperpolarization caused by opening K channels. We discuss evidence that these vasodilators act on a common target, the ATP-sensitive K (KATP) channel that is inhibited by sulfonylurea drugs. We propose the following hypotheses that presently explain these findings: 1) arterial smooth muscle tone is regulated by membrane potential primarily through the voltage dependence of Ca channels; 2) many vasoconstrictors act, in part, by opening voltage-dependent Ca channels through membrane depolarization and activation by second messengers; and 3) many vasodilators work, in part, through membrane hyperpolarization caused by KATP channel activation.

scholarly journals Effects of membrane potential on mechanical activation in skeletal muscle.

1982 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
A F Dulhunty
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Mechanical Activation ◽  
Mechanical System ◽  
Extensor Digitorum Longus ◽  
Test Pulse ◽  
Control Value ◽  
Mechanical Threshold ◽  
Consequent Increase ◽  
Inhibitory Period

The effect of subthreshold depolarization on mechanical threshold was investigated in tetrodotoxin-poisoned mammalian and amphibian skeletal muscle fibers using a two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique. Mechanical threshold was determined with a 2-ms test pulse. The immediate effect of depolarization was inhibition of the mechanical system. The consequent increase in the test pulse threshold was linearly related to the size of the depolarization and there was, on the average, a 10% increase in threshold for a 10-mV depolarization in mammalian fibers. The duration of the inhibitory period was also related to the size of the depolarization. Inhibition was interrupted by the onset of activation (seen as a reduction in the test pulse threshold), and in rat soleus fibers this occurred within 100 ms with a 20-mV depolarization, inhibition decayed within 10 ms. The decay of activation after brief conditioning pulses was initially rapid (on the average, the test pulse threshold recovered to 80% of its control value within 1 ms) and then slow (full recovery took 100-500 ms). After long conditioning pulses, activation often decayed into a period of inhibition. When depolarization (of 20 mV or more) was maintained for several seconds, the fibers became inactivated. Rat extensor digitorum longus and sternomastoid fibers were strongly inactivated by depolarization to -40 mV and the test pulse to +40 mV did not cause contraction.

Calcium-activated K+ channels as modulators of human myometrial contractile activity

1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (4) ◽  
pp. C976-C985 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Anwer ◽  
C. Oberti ◽  
G. J. Perez ◽  
N. Perez-Reyes ◽  
J. K. McDougall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Inositol Phosphate ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Free Calcium ◽  
Myometrial Cell ◽  
Uterine Smooth Muscle ◽  
Kca Channels ◽  
Half Maximal Effective Concentration ◽  
Extracellular Side

The role of Ca(2+)-activated potassium (KCa) channels in the regulation of membrane potential, intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) and contraction was investigated in uterine smooth muscle and myometrial cells. In an immortalized human myometrial cell line, oxytocin increased [Ca2+]i and [3H]inositol phosphate formation. Relaxin attenuated the oxytocin-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. In cell-attached patches, membrane depolarization activated a large-conductance KCa channel (179 +/- 4 pS). Iberiotoxin (IbTX), a potent blocker of "maxi" KCa channels (A. Galvez, G. Gimenez-Gallego, J. P. Reuben, L. Roy-Contanciin, P. Feigenbaum, G. J. Kaczorowski, and M. L. Garcia. J. Biol. Chem. 265: 11083-11090, 1990) produced long closed events (approximately 6 min) in these channels. In agreement with this blockage, IbTX depolarized the cells by 9.8 +/- 2.8 mV and caused a dose-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i with a half-maximal effective concentration of 0.79 nM. IbTX also caused phasic contractions in human myometrial strips and increased both the frequency and force of spontaneous contractions in estrogen-primed rat myometrial strips. Moreover, myometrial contractility was also affected by 1 mM tetraethylammonium, a concentration that blocks uterine smooth muscle KCa channels when applied to the extracellular side (G. J. Perez, L. Toro, S. D. Erulkar, and E. Stefani. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 168: 652-660, 1993). These results strongly suggest that the large conductance KCa channels may actively participate in the control of human myometrial cell membrane potential and [Ca2+].

Factors affecting membrane permeability and ionic homeostasis in the cold-submerged frog

2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (2) ◽  
pp. 405-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.H. Donohoe ◽  
T.G. West ◽  
R.G. Boutilier
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Membrane Permeability ◽  
Rana Temporaria ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Tissue Water ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Ion Gradients ◽  
Pump Activity

Frogs (Rana temporaria) were submerged at 3 degrees C in either normoxic (P(O2)=155 mmHg, P(O2)=20 kPa) or hypoxic (P(O2)=60 mmHg; P(O2)=8 kPa) water for up to 16 weeks, and denied air access, to mimic the conditions of an ice-covered pond during the winter. The activity of the skeletal muscle Na(+)/K(+) pump over the first 2 months of hibernation, measured by ouabain-inhibitable (22)Na(+) efflux, was reduced by 30 % during normoxia and by up to 50 % during hypoxia. The reduction in Na(+)/K(+) pump activity was accompanied by reductions in passive (22)Na(+) influx and (86)Rb(+) efflux (effectively K(+) efflux) across the sarcolemma. This may be due to a decreased Na(+) permeability of the sarcolemma and a 75 % reduction in K(+) leak mediated by ATP-sensitive K(+) channels (‘K(ATP)’ channels). The lowered rates of (22)Na(+) and (86)Rb(+) flux are coincident with lowered transmembrane ion gradients for [Na(+)] and [K(+)], which may also lower Na(+)/K(+) pump activity. The dilution of extracellular [Na(+)] and intracellular [K(+)] may be partially explained by increased water retention by the whole animal, although measurements of skeletal muscle fluid compartments using (3)H-labelled inulin suggested that the reduced ion gradients represented a new steady state for skeletal muscle. Conversely, intracellular ion homeostasis within ventricular muscle was maintained at pre-submergence levels, despite a significant increase in tissue water content, with the exception of the hypoxic frogs following 4 months of submergence. Both ventricular muscles and skeletal muscles maintained resting membrane potential at pre-submergence levels throughout the entire period of hibernation. The ability of the skeletal muscle to maintain its resting membrane potential, coincident with decreased Na(+)/K(+) pump activity and lowered membrane permeability, provided evidence of functional channel arrest as an energy-sparing strategy during hibernation in the cold-submerged frog.

scholarly journals Noninactivating tension in rat skeletal muscle. Effects of thyroid hormone.

1989 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Chua ◽  
A F Dulhunty
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Extensor Digitorum Longus ◽  
Voltage Dependence ◽  
Surface Membrane ◽  
Membrane Potentials ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Rat Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Contraction Coupling

Inactivation of excitation-contraction coupling was examined in extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscle fibers from rats injected daily with tri-iodothyronine (T3, 150 micrograms/kg) for 10-14 d. Steady-state activation and inactivation curves for contraction were obtained from measurements of peak potassium contracture tension at different surface membrane potentials. The experiments tested the hypothesis that noninactivating tension is a "window" tension caused by the overlap of the activation and inactivation curves. Changes in the amplitude and voltage dependence of noninactivating tension should be predicted by the changes in the activation and inactivation curves, if noninactivating tension arises from their overlap. After T3 treatment, the area of overlap increased in EDL fibers and decreased in soleus fibers and the overlap region was shifted to more negative potentials in both muscles. Noninactivating tension also appeared at more negative membrane potentials after T3 treatment in both EDL and soleus fibers. The effects of T3 treatment were confirmed with a two microelectrode voltage-clamp technique: at the resting membrane potential (-80 mV) contraction in response to a brief test pulse required less than normal depolarization in EDL, but more than normal depolarization in soleus fibers. After T3 treatment, the increase in contraction threshold at depolarized holding potentials (attributed to inactivation) occurred at more depolarized holding potentials in EDL, or less depolarized holding potentials in soleus. The changes in contraction threshold could be accounted for by the effects of T3 on the activation and inactivation curves. In conclusion, (a) T3 appeared to affect the expression of both activation and inactivation characteristics, but the activation effects could not be cleanly distinguished from T3 effects on the sarcoplasmic reticulum and contractile proteins, and (b) the experiments provided evidence for the hypothesis that the noninactivating tension is a steady-state "window" tension.

Whole cell current and membrane potential regulation by a human smooth muscle mechanosensitive calcium channel

2000 ◽  
Vol 279 (6) ◽  
pp. G1155-G1161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian N. Holm ◽  
Adam Rich ◽  
Michael G. Sarr ◽  
Gianrico Farrugia
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Membrane Hyperpolarization ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
Circular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Channel Current ◽  
Cell Current

Mechanotransduction is required for a wide variety of biological functions. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of activation of a mechanosensitive Ca2+ channel, present in human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells, on whole cell currents and on membrane potential. Currents were recorded using patch-clamp techniques, and perfusion of the bath (10 ml/min, 30 s) was used to mechanoactivate the L-type Ca2+ channel. Perfusion resulted in activation of L-type Ca2+ channels and an increase in outward current from 664 ± 57 to 773 ± 72 pA at +60 mV. Membrane potential hyperpolarized from −42 ± 4 to −50 ± 5 mV. In the presence of nifedipine (10 μM), there was no increase in outward current or change in membrane potential with perfusion. In the presence of charybdotoxin or iberiotoxin, perfusion of the bath did not increase outward current or change membrane potential. A model is proposed in which mechanoactivation of an L-type Ca2+ channel current in human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells results in increased Ca2+ entry and cell contraction. Ca2+ entry activates large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+channels, resulting in membrane hyperpolarization and relaxation.

Binding of calcium ions to cell membrane isolated from bullfrog skeletal muscle

1964 ◽  
Vol 207 (2) ◽  
pp. 509-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Koketsu ◽  
R. Kitamura ◽  
R. Tanaka
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Membrane Permeability ◽  
Calcium Ions ◽  
Cytoplasmic Membrane ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
Potassium Ions ◽  
Chloroform Methanol ◽  
Sodium And Potassium

The membrane fragments of bullfrog skeletal muscle fibers were isolated by a modification of the method of Kono and Colowick (1961). Radiocalcium ions were bound to these isolated membrane fragments, and the binding of calcium ions was impeded by both sodium and potassium ions. The extractable portion of the isolated membrane fragments with chloroform-methanol mixture bound calcium ions whereas no appreciable binding of calcium ions was observed with the extracted residue. The results suggested that the binding of calcium ions takes place on the lipid or lipoprotein of the so-called cytoplasmic membrane which plays an important role in regulating the membrane permeability and the membrane potential.

scholarly journals Kv2.1 channels play opposing roles in regulating membrane potential, Ca2+ channel function, and myogenic tone in arterial smooth muscle

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (7) ◽  
pp. 3858-3866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha C. O’Dwyer ◽  
Stephanie Palacio ◽  
Collin Matsumoto ◽  
Laura Guarina ◽  
Nicholas R. Klug ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Muscle Relaxation ◽  
Smooth Muscle Relaxation ◽  
Myogenic Tone ◽  
Arterial Smooth Muscle ◽  
Membrane Hyperpolarization ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
Specific Regulation

The accepted role of the protein Kv2.1 in arterial smooth muscle cells is to form K+ channels in the sarcolemma. Opening of Kv2.1 channels causes membrane hyperpolarization, which decreases the activity of L-type CaV1.2 channels, lowering intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and causing smooth muscle relaxation. A limitation of this model is that it is based exclusively on data from male arterial myocytes. Here, we used a combination of electrophysiology as well as imaging approaches to investigate the role of Kv2.1 channels in male and female arterial myocytes. We confirmed that Kv2.1 plays a canonical conductive role but found it also has a structural role in arterial myocytes to enhance clustering of CaV1.2 channels. Less than 1% of Kv2.1 channels are conductive and induce membrane hyperpolarization. Paradoxically, by enhancing the structural clustering and probability of CaV1.2–CaV1.2 interactions within these clusters, Kv2.1 increases Ca2+ influx. These functional impacts of Kv2.1 depend on its level of expression, which varies with sex. In female myocytes, where expression of Kv2.1 protein is higher than in male myocytes, Kv2.1 has conductive and structural roles. Female myocytes have larger CaV1.2 clusters, larger [Ca2+]i, and larger myogenic tone than male myocytes. In contrast, in male myocytes, Kv2.1 channels regulate membrane potential but not CaV1.2 channel clustering. We propose a model in which Kv2.1 function varies with sex: in males, Kv2.1 channels control membrane potential but, in female myocytes, Kv2.1 plays dual electrical and CaV1.2 clustering roles. This contributes to sex-specific regulation of excitability, [Ca2+]i, and myogenic tone in arterial myocytes.

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