title: Regulation of calcium current by intracellular calcium in smooth muscle cells of rabbit portal vein.
abstract: Effects of concentrations of intracellular calcium, [Ca2+]i, on the voltage-dependent Ca2+ current (ICa) recorded from dispersed single smooth muscle cells of the rabbit portal vein were studied, using a whole cell voltage clamp method combined with an intracellular perfusion technique. Outward currents were minimized by replacement of Cs+ -rich solution in the pipette and 20 mM tetraethylammonium in the bath. The ICa was evoked by command pulses of above -30 mV, and the maximum amplitude was obtained at about 0 mV. This ICa was dose dependently inhibited by increases in the [Ca2+]i above 30 nM. The Kd value of the [Ca2+]i required to inhibit the ICa was about 100 nM. The Ba2+ current was also inhibited by increases in the [Ca2+]i. Conversely, perfusion of Ba2+ into the cell up to 100 microM did not suppress the ICa. Changes in the [Ca2+]i did not modify the steady-state inactivation curve. The inhibition of the ICa evoked by the test pulse is most prominent when the preceding influx of Ca2+ during the conditioning pulse was large, as estimated using a double pulse protocol. This inhibition was proportionally reduced by increases in the concentration of the Ca2+ chelator, ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Therefore, the Ca2+ -dependent inactivation of the Ca2+ channel may contribute toward regulating [Ca2+]i in smooth muscle cells of the rabbit portal vein.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D001464:Barium; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D002118:Calcium