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Membrane potential and current responses to neurotensin in the longitudinal muscle of the rectum of the fowl
Author(s) -
Komori Seiichi,
Matsuoka Takaaki,
Kwon SeongChun,
Takewaki Tadashi,
Ohashi Hidenori
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1992.tb14525.x
Subject(s) - depolarization , membrane potential , voltage clamp , neurotensin , current clamp , pipette , biophysics , chemistry , egta , resting potential , electrophysiology , patch clamp , reversal potential , endocrinology , medicine , biology , calcium , biochemistry , neuropeptide , receptor , organic chemistry
1 The effects of neurotensin (NT) on membrane potential and membrane current of the longitudinal smooth muscle of chicken rectum were investigated by intracellular recording and whole‐cell voltage clamp. 2 NT (3 n m −1.2 μ m ), when applied via the bathing medium, produced a concentration‐dependent membrane depolarization with an EC 50 of 18 ± 2 n m ( n = 7) which was accompanied by an increase in the membrane conductance. The effect was biphasic: an initial, rapid depolarization reached a peak within 2–3 min and then declined to a lower but still elevated level which was sustained until washout. 3 Excitatory junction potentials (e.j.ps), which were non‐adrenergic non‐cholinergic (NANC) in nature, were decreased in amplitude and total duration in the presence of NT (0.6 μ m ). The depression of the e.j.p. was due mainly to the reduction of the membrane resistance. 4 When NT was applied locally by means of pressure ejection from a micropipette containing NT, some cells responded with a membrane depolarization and some failed to respond, whereas e.j.ps could invariably be elicited from all of them. 5 In single muscle cells enzymatically isolated from the muscle and dialyzed under voltage clamp at — 50 mV with a CsCl‐rich solution, NT (5 or 10 μ m ) produced an inward current. NT‐induced inward currents were obtained with inclusion of 10 m m EGTA in the pipette solution and their reversal potential was around 0 mV. In cells dialyzed under voltage clamp at 0 mV with a KCl‐rich solution, NT (5 μ m ) produced a brief outward current followed by abolition of spontaneous transient outward currents. 6 The present results suggest that the membrane depolarization, which may arise from activation of non‐selective cation channels, and release of calcium from internal stores produced by neurotensin are responsible for its contractile activity in the longitudinal smooth muscle of chicken rectum. Further, the depolarizing effect may provide support for the involvement of NT in the NANC transmission in this preparation.