title: Substance P activates Cl- and K+ conductances in guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle cells.
abstract: Substance P (SP) causes bronchoconstriction, but its effects on airway smooth muscle ion conductances are unknown. We investigated the effects of SP on single smooth muscle cells dissociated from guinea-pig trachealis. Under voltage clamp at -60 mV, SP evoked reversible contractions and inward current (ISP). ISP had a latency of approximately 1 s, reached a peak of 1039 +/- 147 pA (n = 19) about 2 s after onset of application, and declined to baseline levels over the next 5-10 s. At more positive holding potentials (-25 and 0 mV), the inward current was decreased in magnitude and preceded by outward current. With 140 mM K+ in the electrode and Cl- equilibrium potential (ECl) of about 0 mV, ISP was outwardly rectifying and reversed at -11 +/- 2 mV. When K+ currents were blocked using Cs+, the current-voltage relationship for ISP was linear and reversed at 3 +/- 1 mV. The reversal potential was dependent on the Cl- gradient across the membrane. These results suggest that SP caused a transient activation of Cl- and K+ conductances. Following the initial transient inward current, SP caused a prolonged suppression of spontaneously active K+ currents. The findings that SP evoked contractions during voltage clamp at potentials at which voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels are not active, and that current oscillations were also evoked by SP, suggest that SP is acting through release of Ca2+ from internal stores. Furthermore, SP occluded the inward current evoked by acetylcholine, suggesting that the peptidergic and cholinergic signalling pathways converge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sims
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018118:Chloride Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D013373:Substance P; D000109:Acetylcholine