title: Characterization of a voltage-dependent Na(+) current in human esophageal smooth muscle.
abstract: Smooth muscle contraction is critical to peristalsis in the human esophagus, yet the nature of the channels mediating excitation remains to be elucidated. The objective of this study was to characterize the inward currents in human esophageal smooth muscle cells (HESMCs). Esophageal tissue was isolated from patients undergoing surgery for cancer and grown in primary culture, and currents were recorded using patch-clamp electrophysiology. Depolarization elicited inward current activating positive to -40 mV and peaking at 0 mV and consisting of transient and sustained components. The transient current was half activated at -16 mV and half inactivated at -67 mV. The transient current was abolished by removal of bath Na(+) or application of TTX (IC(50) ~20 nM), whereas it persisted in the absence of bath Ca(2+) or the presence of Cd(2+). These data provide evidence that cultured HESMCs express voltage-dependent Na(+) channels. RT-PCR revealed mRNA transcripts for Na(x), the "atypical" Na(+) channel isoform, as well as Na(v)1.4. These studies provide the first evidence of Na(v)1.4 in smooth muscle and contribute to a model of excitation in HESMCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C1.
authors.forename: Maneesh A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Harold G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Preiksaitis
authors.forename: Lisanne G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Laurier
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sims
mesh_terms: D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004947:Esophagus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D061566:Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C503482:SCN7A protein, human; D015222:Sodium Channels; D061566:Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels; D002104:Cadmium; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium