Patch and whole cell voltage-clamp of single mammalian visceral and vascular smooth muscle cells
Author
Bolton, T.B.
Lang, R.J.
Takewaki, T.
Benham, C.D.
Attention
2299/3485
Abstract
Dispersal of the constituent cells of mammalian visceral and vascular smooth muscles has permitted recordings both of membrane currents under whole-cell voltage clamp, and of currents through single ionic channels using the patch-clamp technique. A rectangular depolarizing step applied to a single cell under voltage clamp yielded a net inward current followed by a net outward current in normal physiological solution. In isolated, inside-out patches of cell membrane a calcium- and potential-sensitive K channel (100 pS conductance) and a calcium-insensitive, potential-sensitive K+ channel (50 pS conductance) with slow kinetics have so far been identified and characterized.