title: Contribution of reverse Na+-Ca2+ exchange to spontaneous activity in interstitial cells of Cajal in the rabbit urethra.
abstract: Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) isolated from the rabbit urethra exhibit regular Ca2+ oscillations that are associated with spontaneous transient inward currents (STICs) recorded under voltage clamp. Their frequency is known to be very sensitive to external Ca2+ concentration but the mechanism of this has yet to be elucidated. In the present study experiments were performed to assess the role of Na+-Ca2+ exchange (NCX) in this process. Membrane currents were recorded using the patch clamp technique and measurements of intracellular Ca2+ were made using fast confocal microscopy. When reverse mode NCX was enhanced by decreasing the external Na+ concentration [Na+]o from 130 to 13 mM, the frequency of global Ca2+ oscillations and STICs increased. Conversely, inhibition of reverse mode NCX by KB-R7943 and SEA0400 decreased the frequency of Ca2+ oscillations and STICs. Application of caffeine (10 mM) and noradrenaline (10 microM) induced transient Ca2+-activated chloride currents (I(ClCa)) at -60 mV due to release of Ca2+ from ryanodine- and inositol trisphosphate (IP3)-sensitive Ca2+ stores, respectively, but these responses were not blocked by KB-R7943 or SEA0400 suggesting that neither drug blocked Ca2+-activated chloride channels or Ca2+ release from stores. Intact strips of rabbit urethra smooth muscle develop spontaneous myogenic tone. This tone was relaxed by application of SEA0400 in a concentration-dependent fashion. Finally, single cell RT-PCR experiments revealed that isolated ICC from the rabbit urethra only express the type 3 isoform of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX3). These results suggest that frequency of spontaneous activity in urethral ICC can be modulated by Ca2+ entry via reverse NCX.
authors.affiliation: Smooth Muscle Research Centre, Regional Development Centre, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hollywood
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Large
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: McHale
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Thornbury
authors.forename: Gerard P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Sergeant
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger / Q000378:metabolism*; D014521:Urethra / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; D002118:Calcium