title: Regulation of membrane excitability by intracellular pH (pHi) changers through Ca2+-activated K+ current (BK channel) in single smooth muscle cells from rabbit basilar artery.
abstract: Employing microfluorometric system and patch clamp technique in rabbit basilar arterial myocytes, regulation mechanisms of vascular excitability were investigated by applying intracellular pH (pH(i)) changers such as sodium acetate (SA) and NH(4)Cl. Applications of caffeine produced transient phasic contractions in a reversible manner. These caffeine-induced contractions were significantly enhanced by SA and suppressed by NH(4)Cl. Intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) was monitored in a single isolated myocyte and based the ratio of fluorescence using Fura-2 AM (R (340/380)). SA (20 mM) increased and NH(4)Cl (20 mM) decreased R (340/380) by 0.2 +/- 0.03 and 0.1 +/- 0.02, respectively, in a reversible manner. Caffeine (10 mM) transiently increased R (340/380) by 0.9 +/- 0.07, and the ratio increment was significantly enhanced by SA and suppressed by NH(4)Cl, implying that SA and NH(4)Cl may affect [Ca(2+)](i) (p < 0.05). Accordingly, we studied the effects of SA and NH(4)Cl on Ca(2+)-activated K(+) current (IK(Ca)) under patch clamp technique. Caffeine produced transient outward current at holding potential (V (h)) of 0 mV, caffeine induced transient outward K(+) current, and the spontaneous transient outward currents were significantly enhanced by SA and suppressed by NH(4)Cl. In addition, IK(Ca) was significantly increased by acidotic condition when pH(i) was lowered by altering the NH(4)Cl gradient across the cell membrane. Finally, the effects of SA and NH(4)Cl on the membrane excitability and basal tension were studied: Under current clamp mode, resting membrane potential (RMP) was -28 +/- 2.3 mV in a single cell level and was depolarized by 13 +/- 2.4 mV with 2 mM tetraethylammonium (TEA). SA hyperpolarized and NH(4)Cl depolarized RMP by 10 +/- 1.9 and 16 +/- 4.7 mV, respectively. SA-induced hyperpolarization and relaxation of basal tension was significantly inhibited by TEA. These results suggest that SA and NH(4)Cl might regulate vascular tone by altering membrane excitability through modulation of [Ca(2+)](i) and Ca(2+)-activated K channels in rabbit basilar artery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Cheju National University, 66 Jejudaehakno, Jeju, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province 690-756, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Kook
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Mi Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Woong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kyung-Kuk
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Myeong-Chan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Ki Whan
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Woon
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Sang Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000643:Ammonium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D019346:Sodium Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D019789:Tetraethylammonium / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D051036:Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels; D000643:Ammonium Chloride; D002110:Caffeine; D019346:Sodium Acetate; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D009529:Nicardipine; D002118:Calcium