title: Role of Na+ and Ca++ in guinea pig trachealis contraction induced by cooling.
abstract: The role of extracellular Na+ and Ca++ in cooling-induced contraction (CIC) was studied in guinea pig trachealis muscle. Tracheal preparations were tested in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate (KRB) solution and then in either: (1) a low Na+ sucrose KRB, (2) KRB plus amiloride, a sodium channel blocker, or (3) KRB plus nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker. When the trachealis muscle was cooled from 37 to 20 degrees C in KRB, the value of the isometric tension increased on average by 25% of the maximal tension induced by acetylcholine; however, when the tissue was tested in the low Na+ sucrose KRB or the KRB containing amiloride, CIC was totally prevented. In the presence of nifedipine the mean value of CIC was only 10% of the acetylcholine-induced contraction, which was also observed not to be affected by extracellular Na+ or Ca++; whereas the KCl-induced contraction was affected by Ca++ but not by Na+. The results suggest that rapid cooling of the smooth muscle cells causes an increase in sodium conductance and a decrease in the activity of the Na+-K+ pump, resulting in membrane depolarization. During depolarization a significant quantity of Ca++ enters the cell, contributing to the magnitude of CIC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine, Cayey, P.R.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santacana
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000584:Amiloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007477:Ions; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012964:Sodium / Q000502:physiology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D000584:Amiloride; D012964:Sodium; D009543:Nifedipine; D000109:Acetylcholine; D002118:Calcium