title: Role of K+ channels in spontaneous electrical and mechanical activity of smooth muscle in the guinea-pig mesotubarium.
abstract: 1. The spontaneous electrical and mechanical activity and the efflux rate of 86Rb+ in the guinea-pig mesotubarium were studied in the presence of agents interacting with K+ channels. 2. Tetraethylammonium (TEA, 10 mM) increased the amplitude of the action potentials while having no consistent effect on the frequency or amplitude of spontaneous contractions. 3. 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP, 1-5 mM) caused a graded increase in the duration of the contractions and of the electrical slow waves, and a decrease in the duration of the relaxed period between contractions. At 4 mM-4-AP or more the cell was unable to repolarize from the slow wave and the membrane depolarized to -26 mV from the normal resting potential of -63 mV. The rate of 86Rb+ efflux in the presence of 5 mM-4-AP was higher than that at 60 mM-K+, where the membrane potential is -24 mV. 4. 4-AP (5 mM) evoked a contracture in Ca(2+)-free solution, containing 1 mM-EGTA, both at the normal [K+]o of 5.9 mM and at 60 mM-K+, suggesting release of intracellular Ca2+. 5. Apamin (0.1-1 microM) and charybdotoxin (1-10 nM), blockers of Ca(2+)-dependent K+ channels, were without effects on the spontaneous electrical and mechanical activity. 6. The K+ channel opener pinacidil (10 microM) inhibited the spontaneous contractions and hyperpolarized the membrane by about 7 mV. The permeability to 86Rb+ was increased by a factor of 1.4. 7. It is concluded that different K+ channels are involved in the generation of spikes and slow waves: one sensitive to TEA and responsible for repolarization of the individual action potential, and another sensitive to 4-AP and responsible for repolarization of the slow wave. The duration of the relaxed period can be influenced by activation of K+ channels sensitive to pinacidil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lydrup
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001030:Apamin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D020110:Pinacidil; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012413:Rubidium / Q000378:metabolism; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006146:Guanidines; D015221:Potassium Channels; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D001030:Apamin; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D020110:Pinacidil; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D012413:Rubidium