Whole-cell recordings of calcium and potassium currents in acutely isolated smooth muscle cells.
OBJECTIVE
To record calcium and potassium currents in acutely isolated smooth muscle cells of mesenteric arterial branches in rats.


METHODS
Smooth muscle cells were freshly isolated by collagenase digest and mechanical trituration with polished pipettes. Patch clamp technique in whole-cell mode was employed to record calcium and potassium currents.


RESULTS
The procedure dissociated smooth muscle cells without impairing the electrophysiological characteristics of the cells. The voltage-gated Ca2+ and potassium currents were successfully recorded using whole-cell patch clamp configuration.


CONCLUSIONS
The method dissociates smooth muscle cells from rat mesenteric arterial branches. Voltage-gated channel currents can be recorded in this preparation.
Cai
Qing
Q
Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China.
Zhu
Zhong-Liang
ZL
Fan
Xiao-Li
XL
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D051668:Delayed Rectifier Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D015220:Calcium Channels; D051668:Delayed Rectifier Potassium Channels; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium