THE ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF THE SMOOTH MUSCLE CELL MEMBRANE

Abstract

In myometrium from pregnant cat, repetitive action potentials have been recorded during contraction. Using intracellular electrodes the depolarizations averaged 35 mv. Maximum rate of depolarization was 1-2 v/sec and the action potential duration varied from 250 milliseconds to much longer periods. Membrane reversal of up to 10 mv sometimes occurred. Total resistance decreased during depolarization and recovered during repolarization. Typical biphasic potentials were also recorded with extracellular electrodes. Their amplitude (peak to peak) varied from 0.3 to several millivolts and their duration (peak to peak) from 10-40 milliseconds. Reduction of external sodium concentration to as little as one-ninth normal (choline chloride or sucrose replacement) did not reduce the amplitudes of the resting or action potentials measured intracellularly or extracellularly, but decreased the action potential frequency. Membrane reversal still occurred with intracellular electrodes and the maximum rate of depolarization was unchanged. The rate of repolarization was decreased so that the total duration of the action potential was 150 to 200 milliseconds. With extracellular electrodes, the peak to peak amplitudes were increased and the durations were unchanged. Further reduction of external sodium concentration to less than 15-20 meq/liter caused a contraction without further change in action potential configuration. Gradual relaxation and slowing of the repetition rate of action potentials occurred and resulted eventually in complete mechanical and electrical inactivity. Rabbit taenia coli were also studied and their electrical properties contrasted to those of cat myometrium. The conclusions were reached that: (1) the available evidence opposes the hypotheses that an inward sodium current accounts for depolarization in smooth muscle and (2) smooth muscles differed in their electrical properties and mechanisms of ion distribution not only from striate muscles but also from one another.