Effect of tetraethyl ammonium ion on the electrical activity of smooth muscle cell

Role of K+ channels in spontaneous electrical and mechanical activity of smooth muscle in the guinea-pig mesotubarium

1. The spontaneous electrical and mechanical activity and the efflux rate of 86Rb+ in the guinea-pig mesotubarium were studied in the presence of agents interacting with K+ channels. 2. Tetraethylammonium (TEA, 10 mM) increased the amplitude of the action potentials while having no consistent effect on the frequency or amplitude of spontaneous contractions. 3. 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP, 1-5 mM) caused a graded increase in the duration of the contractions and of the electrical slow waves, and a decrease in the duration of the relaxed period between contractions. At 4 mM-4-AP or more the cell was unable to repolarize from the slow wave and the membrane depolarized to -26 mV from the normal resting potential of -63 mV. The rate of 86Rb+ efflux in the presence of 5 mM-4-AP was higher than that at 60 mM-K+, where the membrane potential is -24 mV. 4. 4-AP (5 mM) evoked a contracture in Ca(2+)-free solution, containing 1 mM-EGTA, both at the normal [K+]o of 5.9 mM and at 60 mM-K+, suggesting release of intracellular Ca2+. 5. Apamin (0.1-1 microM) and charybdotoxin (1-10 nM), blockers of Ca(2+)-dependent K+ channels, were without effects on the spontaneous electrical and mechanical activity. 6. The K+ channel opener pinacidil (10 microM) inhibited the spontaneous contractions and hyperpolarized the membrane by about 7 mV. The permeability to 86Rb+ was increased by a factor of 1.4. 7. It is concluded that different K+ channels are involved in the generation of spikes and slow waves: one sensitive to TEA and responsible for repolarization of the individual action potential, and another sensitive to 4-AP and responsible for repolarization of the slow wave. The duration of the relaxed period can be influenced by activation of K+ channels sensitive to pinacidil.

Two components of potassium current activated by depolarization of single smooth muscle cells from the rabbit portal vein

1. Using the patch-clamp technique at 20-23 degrees C membrane currents were recorded from single smooth muscle cells enzymatically isolated from the rabbit portal vein. Single-channel currents were observed in outside-out patches excised from these. 2. Outward current elicited upon depolarization from -70 mV was not activated as a result of Ca2+ influx. It could be divided into two components: an inactivating, 4-aminopyridine- and phencyclidine-sensitive low-noise current (IdK), and a non-inactivating, tetraethylammonium (TEA)- and charybdotoxin-sensitive high-noise current (IcK). 3. IdK activated with a threshold around -40 mV and was carried by K+. It was substantially inhibited by 4-aminopyridine (5 mM) or phencyclidine (0.1 mM) but was insensitive to TEA+ (4 mM), charybdotoxin (0.1 microM) or apamin (0.1 microM). Upon stepping to 0 mV it reached a maximum within about 0.2 s. The time course of its activation could be described by a fourth-order single exponential; the time constants of these exponentials changed e-fold every 56 mV. It inactivated in a time- and voltage-dependent manner with a fast and slow component, and was about 50% available at -30 mV. From single-channel recordings in isolated patches single channels underlying this current have a small unitary conductance (around 5 pS). 4. IcK did not inactivate significantly over 6 s. It activated with a less negative threshold than IdK, usually near 0 mV when the pipette solution contained 0.8 mM-EGTA with no added calcium. It was blocked by TEA (4 mM) or charybdotoxin (0.1 microM), but not by 4-aminopyridine (5 mM), phencyclidine (0.1 mM) or apamin (0.1 microM). Estimates of the single-channel conductance from the noise variance of the whole-cell current IcK indicated a value at +80 mV of 115 pS, very similar to that of the large-conductance Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels studied in these cells using single-channel recording. 5. The results suggest that outward current evoked by depolarization from the resting potential can be carried by 100 pS Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels and by small-conductance delayed-rectifier K+ channels. It is likely that opening of both types of channel contributes to the repolarization phase of the action potential in this smooth muscle.

Calcium action potentials in single freshly isolated smooth muscle cells

The ionic basis of the action potential was investigated using intracellular microelectrodes in single smooth muscle cells freshly isolated from the stomach of the toad Bufo marinus. When [Ca2+]0 was elevated (> 8mM), action potentials were readily elicited, which had similar characteristics to those found in many tissue preparations of visceral smooth muscle. There was a decrease in membrane resistance at the peak of the action potential and during the undershoot. The following evidence indicated that the inward current is carried by Ca2+: 1) Raising [Ca2+]0 from 15 to 49.6 mM in the presence of 18.2 mM tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) increased the maximum rate of rise and the overshoot amplitude, the latter by 15 mV, i.e., 29.5 mV/10-fold change in [Ca2+]0. Changing [Na2+]0 from 11.8 to 81.8 mM had no significant effect on the maximum rate of rise or the overshoot. 2) The action potentials were blocked by 8 mM Mn2+ ([Ca2+]0 = 14.6 mM) but not by 14.3 microM tetrodotoxin (TTX) ([Na2+]0 = 100 mM). 3) Action potentials could be elicited when [Ba2+]0 or [Sr2+]0 were present in high concentrations ([Ca2+]0 less than or equal to 31 microM,[Na2+]0 = 11.8 mM). Both the maximum rate of rise and overshoot amplitude of the action potential increased as the membrane potential became more negative, suggesting increased activation of the inward current. Both TEA and Ba2+ prolonged the action potential, suggesting that a K+ current is responsible for repolarization. Action potentials could also be elicited on anode break at elevated [K+]0 (91 mM).

Effects of tetraethylammonium chloride on contractile, membrane and cable properties of rabbit artery muscle

1. Two types of effects of tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) have been found in the smooth muscle cells of the rabbit main pulmonary artery. (a) With rapid onset of action TEA depolarizes the cell membrane, increases the membrane resistance, causes anomalous rectification and occasionally spike potentials in response to externally applied depolarizing current pulses and produces tonic contractions. (b) During prolonged (greater than 30 min) incubation in TEA phasic contractions develop progressively and the vascular strips respond to electrical stimulation with synchronized and powerful contractions. 2. There is a linear relationship between log concentration TEA and depolarization over the range of 10-100 mM-TEA. TEA (10 and 30 mM) raises the membrane resistance and decreases the core resistance. The latter effect appeared to develop more slowly than the former. 3. During short exposure to TEA part of the smooth muscle cells respond to depolarizing current pulses with spike potentials of variable amplitude and duration. These spikes are very sensitive to inhibition by verapamil or nickel chloride but are not affected by tetrodotoxin. The amplitude of electrotonic potentials, increased by TEA, is slightly further elevated by verapamil or nickle chloride. 4. TEA (10 mM) increases the mechanical response to low and intermediate potassium concentrations but has no effect on maximal contractions to high potassium. The slope of the line relating log potassium concentration to membrane potential is decreased by TEA. 5. TEA (10 mM) shifts the concentration response curve for the contractile effect of noradrenaline to the left and increases the maximum of noradrenaline-induced contractions. In the presence of TEA, noradrenaline reduces the membrane potential to markedly lower values than under control conditions. 6. It is concluded that the rapidly occurring effects of TEA on the vascular smooth muscle cells of the rabbit main pulmonary artery are a decrease in potassium and an increase in calcium conductance. The latter effect may be related to a blockade of potassium channels; however, we cannot rule out the possibility that TEA affects calcium conductance independent of its presumed action on potassium channels. The slowly developing effects of TEA may be ascribed to the formation of gap junctions and/or (less likely) to an intracellular accumulation of TEA.

A study of the canine gastric action potential in the presence of tetraethylammonium chloride

1. The effects of tetraethylammonium (TEA) ion on the action potential of isolated longitudinal muscle of the dog antrum were used to gain some insight into the mechanism of generation of the plateau potential of the action potential complex. The double sucrose gap was used. 2. In concentrations of TEA up to 5 mM, the amplitude of the upstroke potential was increased. In 10mM-TEA there was also an increase in the amplitude of the plateau potential and in the maximum rate of rise of the upstroke potential. 3. Concentrations of TEA (3 mM and greater) increased the duration of the action potential. Five mM-TEA produced spike potentials which occurred only during the plateau potential of the action potential. Each spike caused a contraction. 4. The steady-state voltage-current relation was studied in normal Krebs solution and in TEA containing Krebs solution. In normal Krebs solution the voltage response was not a linear function of the applied current when outward current pulses were used. In TEA solution the voltage response was a linear function of the entire range of applied depolarizing current. 5. In low concentrations of TEA (2-4 mM), when the steady-state voltage-current relation was linear, constant current pulses were applied between action potentials and during the plateau potential to determine if there were a decrease in membrane slope resistance during the plateau. It was found that the amplitude of the electrotonic potential recorded during the plateau was significantly less than the amplitude of the electrotonic potential recorded between action potentials. 6. The rate of repolarization of the plateau potential was studied in normal Krebs solution and in 2 mM-TEA Krebs solution. The rate of repolarization of the plateau potential was slowed in TEA Krebs solution. 7. It is concluded that there is an increase in the membrane conductance during the plateau potential. The repolarization following the plateau potential is due to a TEA-sensitive outward current.

Ionic currents in the guinea-pig taenia coli

Short segments of portions of taenia coli of the guinea-pig averaging 54 mum X 219 mum X ca. 200 mum have been studied by a double sucrose-gap voltage-clamp technique. 2. The average total capacitance was 0-4 muF, corresponding to approximately 10(4) cells, if a specific membrane capacitance of 3 muF/cm2 were assumed. 3. A significant resistance, averaging 11-4omega, was in series with the membrane, and seriously limited the accuracy of the voltage control possible. 4. On depolarization, an early transient inward current was followed by a late maintained outwary current. 5. The late current was carried mainly by K+, because its direction could be reversed if the preparation were first depolarized in isotonic K2SO4 and held back to the original resting potential. 6. After appropriate corrections for residual capacitative and leakage currents, a reversal potential for the late current (Eb) was determined to be 15-20 mV more negative than the natural resting potential. It was not affected by the amplitude or the duration of the activating voltage step, but could be changed by prolonged applications of holding current. 7. At rest, the ratio of PNa:PK was 0-16:1; for Eb it was 0-05:1. 8. The reversal potential for the transient early inward current (Ea) averaged 22 mV in Krebs-bicarbonate solution, but was shifted to about 35 mV when the late current was first suppressed with tetraethylammonium ion. The shift suggested that there was some overlap of the early and late currents. 9. Reduction of [Na+]o to 50% of normal, or replacement of all Na+ with dimethyldiethanol ammonium ion and choline ion, failed to cause any significant shifts in the reversal potential of the early current or reduce the magnitude of the early current. 10. Reduction of [Ca2+]o to 0-25 or 0-1 of the normal caused shifts of the Ea toward the negative and reductions in the early current. These changes can occur without changes in the maximum chord conductance of the early current, such as might happen in ordinary Krebs-bicarbonate solution, or in preparations which had been depolarized by prior treatment with isotonic K2SO4 and then held back to the original membrane voltage. 11. Increase of [Ca2+]o to 5 times normal increased the early inward current, and the maximum chord conductances of the early and late currents, but did not shift the Ea. 12. In preparations pretreated with TEA, increasing [Ca2+]o to 5 times normal shifted Ea toward 45 mV. 13. The various observations are interpreted to mean that the early current in the taenia coli is carried principally by influx of Ca2+, and not by Na+.

Effects of tetraethylammonium chloride on the membrane activity of guinea-pig stomach smooth muscle

1. The effects of tetraethylammonium (TEA) on the membrane activity of the antral circular muscle of the guinea-pig stomach were investigated with micro-electrode and double sucrose gap methods.2. In a concentration of 1-1.5 x 10(-3) g/ml. (3-5 mM), the membrane potential was not influenced; the membrane resistance measured by inward current pulses remained the same but the rectifying property of the membrane was suppressed.3. TEA (1-1.5 x 10(-3) g/ml.) enhanced the spike amplitude markedly even from fibres which generated graded responses.4. TEA (1-1.5 x 10(-3) g/ml.) did not increase the maximum rate of rise of the spike but decreased the maximum rate of fall of the spike markedly.5. In Na-free (Tris or sucrose) solution, in K-deficient and excess-K solutions, TEA (1-1.5 x 10(-3) g/ml.) suppressed the rectifying property of the membrane and enhanced the spike amplitude.6. Atropine (10(-6) g/ml.) had no effect on the enhancement of the spike amplitude produced by TEA.7. The minimum concentration of Ca ions required for the effect of TEA on the spike amplitude was one fifth of the normal concentration. TEA also enhanced the spike amplitude in Sr-Krebs.8. The possible role of TEA on the membrane activity is considered to be due to suppression of the K conductance when the membrane is depolarized. Alternative possible roles of TEA on the spike amplitude are also discussed.