title: Calcium channel currents in isolated smooth muscle cells from the basilar artery of the guinea pig.
abstract: Ca2+ channel currents were studied in smooth muscle cells from the basilar artery of the guinea pig using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. 10 mM Ba2+ as the charge carrier and strong buffering of intracellular Ca2+ with EGTA (pCai = 8). Cell capacitance was 18.8 +/- 6.6 pF (n = 96) and maximum current density at +10 to +20 mV (holding potential less than -55 mV), measured early in dialysis, was -14.8 +/- 4.9 pA/pF (n = 83). Currents reversed at approximately +95 mV and, at more positive potentials, outward Cs+ currents were recorded that were blocked by either external Cd2+ or Ca2+. One component of current was identified that had properties consistent with L-type channels. On the basis of measurements of tail currents, its threshold for activation was -15 mV, its voltage dependence of activation was steep and it was half-activated at +8.5 mV. It inactivated very slowly at +15 mV (2787 +/- 511 ms) and it deactivated rapidly (251 +/- 55 microseconds) at -55 mV. It was quickly lost during dialysis and was largely blocked by 1 nM nifedipine (1-s pulses, holding potential = -55 mV). A second component, termed B-type current, was identified that had properties inconsistent with those of T-type channels. On the basis of tail currents, its threshold for activation was -30 mV, its voltage dependence of activation was less steep and it was half-activated at +33.7 mV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Simard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001488:Basilar Artery; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D009543:Nifedipine; D002118:Calcium