Biomaterial Database

Membrane properties of the smooth muscle of guinea-pig ureter. 1967

H Kuriyama, and T Osa, and N Toida

1. The membrane properties of the guinea-pig ureter were studied in physiological Krebs solution by intra- and extracellular stimulating methods.2. The mean membrane potential was 50 mV. Action potentials triggered by external stimulation were composed of repetitive spikes and a plateau phase.3. The effects of intracellular polarization on the membrane activity elicited by extracellular stimulation were observed. Anodal polarization enhanced the amplitude and the maximum rate of rise of the spike while cathodal polarization reduced them. The number of the spikes, the duration and amplitude of the plateau phase were not changed by polarization of any direction.4. The spikes triggered by intracellular stimulation were mostly graded, but repetitive spikes sometimes continued even after cessation of the stimulation. The effective membrane resistance was 15-23 MOmega and the time constant was 2-3 msec.5. Conduction velocity (V), chronaxie, time constant (tau) and space constant (lambda) of the tissue were measured by extracellular stimulation. These values were as follows: V, 3-6 cm/sec; chronaxie, 20-40 msec; tau, 200-300 msec; lambda, 2.5-3 mm. The conduction of excitation might be related to the cable properties of the tissue.6. The relative refractory period measured by extracellular stimulation was as long as 30 sec. During the relative refractory period dissociation of the slow depolarization and the spikes was observed by successive stimuli.7. The plateau phase was prolonged and the frequency of the spontaneous discharges was increased by treatment with Ba(2+). Tetrodotoxin had no effect on spike activity nor on the plateau phase, but Mn(2+) blocked the membrane activity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008345	Manganese	A trace element with atomic symbol Mn, atomic number 25, and atomic weight 54.94. It is concentrated in cell mitochondria, mostly in the pituitary gland, liver, pancreas, kidney, and bone, influences the synthesis of mucopolysaccharides, stimulates hepatic synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids, and is a cofactor in many enzymes, including arginase and alkaline phosphatase in the liver. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual 1992, p2035)
D008564	Membrane Potentials	The voltage differences across a membrane. For cellular membranes they are computed by subtracting the voltage measured outside the membrane from the voltage measured inside the membrane. They result from differences of inside versus outside concentration of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other ions across cells' or ORGANELLES membranes. For excitable cells, the resting membrane potentials range between -30 and -100 millivolts. Physical, chemical, or electrical stimuli can make a membrane potential more negative (hyperpolarization), or less negative (depolarization).	Resting Potentials,Transmembrane Potentials,Delta Psi,Resting Membrane Potential,Transmembrane Electrical Potential Difference,Transmembrane Potential Difference,Difference, Transmembrane Potential,Differences, Transmembrane Potential,Membrane Potential,Membrane Potential, Resting,Membrane Potentials, Resting,Potential Difference, Transmembrane,Potential Differences, Transmembrane,Potential, Membrane,Potential, Resting,Potential, Transmembrane,Potentials, Membrane,Potentials, Resting,Potentials, Transmembrane,Resting Membrane Potentials,Resting Potential,Transmembrane Potential,Transmembrane Potential Differences
D009130	Muscle, Smooth	Unstriated and unstriped muscle, one of the muscles of the internal organs, blood vessels, hair follicles, etc. Contractile elements are elongated, usually spindle-shaped cells with centrally located nuclei. Smooth muscle fibers are bound together into sheets or bundles by reticular fibers and frequently elastic nets are also abundant. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Muscle, Involuntary,Smooth Muscle,Involuntary Muscle,Involuntary Muscles,Muscles, Involuntary,Muscles, Smooth,Smooth Muscles
D009991	Oscillometry	The measurement of frequency or oscillation changes.	Oscillometries
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D004594	Electrophysiology	The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D000200	Action Potentials	Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli.	Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia