Measurement and simulation of noninactivating Ca current in smooth muscle cells

An attempt was made to obtain electrophysiological evidence for continuous influx of Ca ion through voltage-dependent Ca channel (VDCC) in smooth muscle during long depolarization, for example in high K solution. Noninactivated Ca current [ICa(ni)] remaining after the accomplishment of voltage-dependent inactivation by prolonged depolarization for approximately 1 min was detected by three means under whole cell voltage clamp in several types of smooth muscle cells. The measurement of ICa(ni) was performed by micropuff application of Cd2+ or Ca2+ in the presence or absence of 5 mM extracellular Ca, respectively, or jump of extracellular Ca concentration [( Ca]o). The current-voltage relationship of ICa(ni) evaluated by these means had a peak at approximately -10 mV. The peak amplitude ranged from 5 to 25 pA, depending on whether the cells were isolated from guinea pig urinary bladder, ureter, vas deferens, taenia caecum, or rabbit portal vein. The ICa(ni) may be large enough to explain sustained contraction in high K solution, at least in these smooth muscle tissues. A window current simulated from the steady-state activation and inactivation curves and the maximum conductance of Ca current (ICa) in these cells suggests a theoretical basis for the observed ICa(ni).