The actions of extracellular magnesium on isolated human detrusor muscle function

The effects of increasing the extracellular magnesium concentration ([Mg]) on the in vitro mechanical and electrophysiological properties of isolated human detrusor smooth muscle have been investigated. Raising extracellular Mg reduced the magnitude of the electrically-induced phasic contractions as well as spontaneous contractions. A similar increase in the [Mg] reduced the magnitude of the inward Ca2+ current associated with the action potential as well as shifting the activation curve to more positive potentials. Spontaneous oscillations of intracellular Ca2+ could be observed in some isolated cells and such activity was also abolished by raising the extracellular [Mg]. It is proposed that the contractile effects of raised extracellular Mg are mediated by an action on the inward Ca2+ current and that these observations suggest a means whereby normal and abnormal detrusor contractions might be effectively regulated.