Changes in electrical properties of guinea pig smooth muscle membrane by experimental bladder outflow obstruction

The changes in membrane electrical properties of guinea pig bladder smooth muscle following experimental bladder outflow obstruction were studied by means of an intracellular microelectrode technique. The results of this study can be summarized as follows. 1) Bladder outflow obstruction resulted in a threefold increase in bladder weight after 4-8 wk. 2) The resting membrane potential was unchanged with obstruction; however, the obstructed smooth muscle membrane was more quiescent, with less spontaneous electrical activity compared with control tissue. 3) The membrane constants, space constant and time constant, were both reduced in the obstructed bladders. 4) There was no detectable difference in membrane depolarization induced by high extracellular K+ solution between control and obstructed bladders. 5) Both the membrane depolarization induced by K(+)-free solution or ouabain-containing Krebs solution and ouabain-sensitive membrane hyperpolarization by K(+)-containing solution after application of K(+)-free solution were significantly increased in the obstructed bladders. 6) Low extracellular Cl- solution evoked greater membrane depolarization in obstructed bladders. These results suggest that bladder outflow obstruction results in suppression of the cell-to-cell transfer of electrical activity and activation of a membrane electrogenic Na(+)-K+ pump mechanism in guinea pig detrusor.