A voltage-dependent outward current with fast kinetics in single smooth muscle cells isolated from rabbit portal vein

1. Single smooth muscle cells were isolated enzymatically from the rabbit portal vein. They were voltage-clamped at room temperature using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. 2. When cells were bathed in physiological salt solution, depolarization from a holding potential of -70 mV elicited a time-dependent outward current which reached a maximum within 0.2-0.5 s, but when a more negative holding potential was used, an additional outward current could be activated. The current (Ifo) developed rapidly, was transient and seemed to be carried by potassium ions (K+). 3. The steady-state inactivation plot for Ifo was steeply voltage-dependent between -90 and -60 mV, current being 50% inactivated at -78 mV. The activation threshold was around -65 mV. The activation and inactivation kinetics were fast and voltage-dependent. When the test potential was -35 mV, peak current occurred after about 15 ms and the decay was complete within 250 ms. Recovery from inactivation was maximal after 1 s at -100 mV but was about five times slower at -70 mV. 4. The outward current Ifo was blocked completely by 4-aminopyridine (5 mM) or phencyclidine (0.1 mM), but was insensitive to tetraethylammonium ions (32 mM), apamin (0.1 microM), charybdotoxin from the venom of Leiurus quinquestriatus (0.1 microM), toxin-I from the venom of Dendroaspis polylepis (1 microM) or the putative K+ channel opener, cromakalim (10 microM). 5. The steady-state inactivation range and activation threshold, kinetics of activation and inactivation all showed a marked dependence on the concentration of divalent cations in the bathing solution. This effect was consistent with the hypothesis that Ifo was affected by membrane surface potential. The current did not seem to be Ca2+-activated. 6. Ifo closely resembled the A-current which has been described previously in neurones but not in smooth muscle.