Effects of calmodulin antagonists on calcium-activated potassium channels in pregnant rat myometrium

1. The effects of W-7, trifluoperazine, and W-5 on Ca2(+)-activated K(+)-channels were investigated with the inside-out patch-clamp method in smooth muscle cells freshly dispersed from pregnant rat myometrium. These drugs are known to have different potencies as calmodulin antagonists. 2. In the presence of 1 microM Ca2+ on the cytoplasmic side ([Ca2+]i), the fraction of time the channel was open (open probability, Po) was about 0.9 and the calmodulin antagonists (1-30 microM) applied to the cytoplasmic face reduced Po to 0.65-0.55 dose-dependently. In the presence of 0.1-0.16 microM Ca2+, when Po was very low (0.02), calmodulin antagonists increased Po. All antagonists used produced almost identical effects at the same concentration. 3. The probability density function of the open time distribution could be described by the sum of two exponentials. W-7 decreased the time constant of slow component of distribution and at 30 microM the slow component disappeared both at 1 and 0.25 microM [Ca2+]i, reflecting the appearance of flickering channel activity. The probability density function of the closed time distribution could be fitted with three exponentials. The time constants of these components were not significantly altered by W-7. 4. Internally applied calmodulin (1-5 microM) did not produce any significant effect on channel activity. 5. The effects of calmodulin antagonists are considered to be due to a direct action of these compounds on the channel, and suggest that channel activation by Ca2+ is not mediated by calmodulin.