Biomaterial Database

Rectifying properties of the membrane of single freshly isolated smooth muscle cells. 1980

J J Singer, and J V Walsh

Single smooth muscle cells freshly isolated from the stomach muscularis of the toad Bufo marinus were studied under direct microscopic observation using intracellular microelectrodes. The deviation of the membrane potential from rest was recorded when steps of current were injected into the cell. Outward-going rectification was consistently observed both in the presence of 1.8 mM and higher external concentrations of Ca2+. There was no indication of inward-going rectification even under conditions favoring its demonstration, i.e., when the external concentration of K+ was high (108 mM) and Cl-, low (39.6 mM). In the presence of tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA), there was a marked decrease in the rectification normally observed with depolarizing currents, suggesting that a K+ conductance contributes to the outward-going rectification. This K+ conductance increased by almost two orders of magnitude over the range from -20 to 0 mV, and displayed an e-fold increase with a depolarization as small as 4-7 mV. In response to hyperpolarizing currents, the membrane potential did not always reach a plateau but at times continued to become more negative. The feasibility of the depletion of ions from the caveolae as an explanation for this observation is discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
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
D011188	Potassium	An element in the alkali group of metals with an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte that plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.
D002024	Bufo marinus	A species of the true toads, Bufonidae, becoming fairly common in the southern United States and almost pantropical. The secretions from the skin glands of this species are very toxic to animals.	Rhinella marina,Toad, Giant,Toad, Marine,Giant Toad,Giant Toads,Marine Toad,Marine Toads,Toads, Giant,Toads, Marine
D002463	Cell Membrane Permeability	A quality of cell membranes which permits the passage of solvents and solutes into and out of cells.	Permeability, Cell Membrane
D002712	Chlorides	Inorganic compounds derived from hydrochloric acid that contain the Cl- ion.	Chloride,Chloride Ion Level,Ion Level, Chloride,Level, Chloride Ion
D004553	Electric Conductivity	The ability of a substrate to allow the passage of ELECTRONS.	Electrical Conductivity,Conductivity, Electric,Conductivity, Electrical
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
D012508	Sarcolemma	The excitable plasma membrane of a muscle cell. (Glick, Glossary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1990)	Sarcolemmas
D013757	Tetraethylammonium Compounds	Quaternary ammonium compounds that consist of an ammonium cation where the central nitrogen atom is bonded to four ethyl groups.	Tetramon,Tetrylammonium,Compounds, Tetraethylammonium