title: Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels regulate action potential repolarization in urinary bladder smooth muscle.
abstract: The goal of this study was to examine the role of large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in the regulation of cell excitability in urinary bladder smooth muscle from the guinea pig. Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels were studied with single-channel recording techniques and found to be intracellular Ca2+ and voltage dependent and sensitive to external tetraethylammonium and blocked by nanomolar concentrations of iberiotoxin (apparent dissociation constant of 4 nM). Spontaneous action potentials recorded from intact tissue strips depended on external Ca2+ and were inhibited by Ca2+ channel blockers. Iberiotoxin (100 nM) significantly altered the configuration of the action potential by increasing the duration and peak amplitude of the action potential and decreasing the rate of decay. Iberiotoxin also increased the action potential frequency from 0.11 to 0.29 Hz. This study suggests that Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels play a significant role in the repolarization of the action potential and in the maintenance of the resting membrane potential of the urinary bladder smooth muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, University of Vermont Medical Research Facility, Colchester 05446, USA.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Heppner
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bonev
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D015221:Potassium Channels; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; C064719:iberiotoxin; D002118:Calcium