title: Characteristics of calcium currents in rabbit portal vein myocytes.
abstract: The properties of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels were studied in isolated portal vein myocytes using the whole cell voltage-clamp method. Ca2+ currents (ICa) were identified based on their activation and inactivation potential, their dependence on external Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o), their suppression by organic or inorganic Ca2+ channel blockers, their augmentation by BAY K 8644, and their insensitivity to tetrodotoxin or alterations in external Na+ ([Na+]o). Changing the holding potential from -90 to -40 mV decreased ICa from 4.6 +/- 0.6 to 2.0 +/- 0.3 pA/pF at 0 mV but did not shift its voltage dependence significantly. The voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation and activation was represented by Boltzmann distributions with the following parameters: inactivation, half-maximal voltage (V0.5) = -32 +/- 7 mV and slope factor (k) = 6.1 +/- 0.2 mV; activation, V0.5 = -15 +/- 4 mV and k = 5.6 +/- 0.6 mV. Doubling the [Ca2+]o increased ICa and shifted the voltage dependence of its activation and inactivation by approximately 10 mV toward more positive potentials without altering the window currents. Substituting Na+, Ba2+, or Sr2+ for Ca2+ as the charge carrier through the Ca2+ channel slowed the rate of its inactivation and shifted its voltage dependence toward more negative potentials. Divalent selectivity of the Ca2+ channel showed an apparent concentration dependence: at 2 mMISr less than IBa = ICa, while at 10 mM ICa less than ISr = IBa. Because 50-100 microM ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid abolished the apparent concentration dependence of the divalent ion selectivity, this phenomenon was attributed to a high Ca2+ selectivity of the channel. Our data support the presence of only one type of Ca2+ channel in rabbit portal vein myocytes with characteristics similar to the L-type Ca2+ channel described in other cells, but with somewhat different divalent selectivity, holding potential, and [Na+]o dependence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Katzka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morad
mesh_terms: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D000584:Amiloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002469:Cell Separation; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006706:Homeostasis; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011930:Reaction Time
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; D000584:Amiloride; D002118:Calcium