Calcium and potassium currents in canine gastric smooth muscle cells

Membrane ionic currents were recorded in single smooth muscle cells dissociated from circular muscle of dog stomach (corpus region). When studied under voltage clamp with K+ in the patch electrode, depolarization to potentials more positive than -40 mV, from a holding potential of -70 or -80 mV, evoked transient inward current followed by outward current. Evidence that the outward current was due to K+ came from analysis of deactivation tail currents, which reversed direction close to the K+ equilibrium potential. In addition, the outward current was reduced by tetraethylammonium (TEA, 1-5 mM) applied to the external surface of cells. The Ca(2+)-channel blocker Cd2+ blocked the inward current and also reduced outward current, suggesting Ca(2+)-activated K+ current contributed to the outward current. The voltage-activated inward current was studied in isolation with Cs+ and TEA in the recording electrode to block K+ current. In standard bathing solution containing 2.5 mM Ca2+, the inward current activated between -50 and -40 mV, with peak inward current at +10 mV. The depolarization-activated inward current was blocked by nifedipine and enhanced by BAY K 8644, providing evidence that it was Ca2+ current. The Ca2+ current showed transient and sustained components, both of which showed similar voltage activation and inactivation ranges. The half-inactivation potential was approximately -37 mV. These results provide evidence that smooth muscle cells from the canine gastric corpus possess K+ and Ca2+ channels. Based on the voltage dependence of activation and inactivation and sensitivity to dihydropyridines, L-type Ca2+ channels predominate in canine gastric corpus smooth muscle.