Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Measurement of whole-cell calcium current in voltage-clamped vascular muscle cells

  • Invited Paper
  • Published:
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The direct measurement of transmembrane calcium current in single vascular muscle cells has been accomplished recently using the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique. The small size of the vascular muscle cell and the proportionately smaller magnitude of its inward calcium current necessitate refined instrumentation, but also make the vascular muscle cell an ideal candidate for whole-cell voltage-clamp recording. Calcium current in vascular muscle cells appears to have some, but not all, characteristics in common with calcium currents similarly isolated in neuronal and cardiac cells, including voltage-dependent activation and steady-state inactivation of calcium current, the presence of two current types, and sensitivity to inorganic and organic calcium channel modulating drugs. Future voltage-clamp analysis of calcium currents in vascular muscle is needed to further our understanding of the control of the calcium channels in physiological and pathophysiological states.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Warshaw DM, Szarek JL, Hubbard M, Evans JN: Pharmacology and force development of single freshly isolated bovine carotid artery smooth muscle cells. Circ Res 58:399–406, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  2. Worley JF, Deitmer JW, Nelson MT: Single nisoldipine-sensitive calcium channels in smooth muscle cells isolated from rabbit mesenteric artery. Proc Natl Acad Sci 83:5746–5750, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  3. Sturek M, Hermsmeyer K: Calcium and sodium channels in spontaneously contracting vascular muscle cells. Science 233:475–478, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bean BP, Sturek M, Puga A, Hermsmeyer K: Calcium channels in muscle cells isolated from rat mesenteric arteries: Modulation by dihydropyridine drugs. Circ Res 59:229–235, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  5. Loirand G, Pacaud P, Mironneau C, Mironneau J: Evidence for two distinct calcium channels in rat vascular smooth muscle cells in short-term primary culture. Pflugers Arch 407:566–568, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  6. Toro L, Stefani E: Ca and K current in cultured vascular muscle cells from rat aorta. Pflugers Arch 408:417–419, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  7. Caffrey JM, Josephson IR, Brown AM: Calcium channels of amphibian stomach and mammalian aorta smooth muscle cells. Biophys J 49:1237–1242, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  8. Byrne NG, Large WA: The action of noradrenaline on single smooth muscle cells freshly dispersed from the guinea-pig pulmonary artery. Br J Pharmac 91:89–94, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  9. Droogmans G, Declerck I, Casteels R: Effect of adrenergic agonists on Ca-channel currents in single vascular smooth muscle cells. Pflugers Arch 409:7–12, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ohya Y, Terada K, Kitamura K, Kuriyama H: D600 blocks the Ca channel from the outer surface of the smooth muscle cell membrane of the rabbit intestine and portal vein. Pflugers Arch 408:80–82, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  11. Yatani A, Seidel CL, Allen J, Brown AM: Whole-cell and single-channel calcium currents of isolated smooth muscle cells from saphenous vein. Circ Res 60:523–533, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  12. Rhodin JA: Architecture of the vessel wall. In: Bohr DF, Somlys AP, Sparks HV (eds). Handbook of Physiology Sect. 2, Vol. 2. Williams and Wilkins Co., 1980

  13. Toro L, Gonzalez-Roblas A, Stefani E: Electrical properties and morphology of single vascular smooth muscle cells in culture. Am J Physiol 257:C763-C443, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hermsmeyer K: Electrogenic ion pumps and other determinants of membrane potential in vascular muscle (The 27th Annual Bowditch Lecture). The Physiologists 25(6):454–465, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hamill OP, Marty A, Naker S, Sakmann B, Sigworth FJ: Improved patch-clamp techniques for high-resolution current recording from cells and cell-free membrane patches. Pflugers Arch 39:85–100, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  16. Marty A, Neher E: Tight-seal whole-cell recording. In Single-Channel Recording, eds. Sakmann B and Neher E, Plenum Press (New York)

  17. Tsien RW. Calcium channels in excitable cell membranes. Ann Rev Physiol 45:341–358, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  18. Bean BP: Two kinds of calcium channels in canine atrial cells. J Gen Physiol 86:1–30, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  19. Rusch NJ, Hermsmeyer K: Calcium currents of different magnitudes in vascular muscle cells from normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats (Abstract). Fed Proc 45:764, 1986

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Black Rd., 53226, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Nancy J. Rusch & Kent Hermsmeyer

  2. Providence Medical Center, Chiles Research Institute, 97213, Portland, Oregon, USA

    Nancy J. Rusch & Kent Hermsmeyer

Authors
  1. Nancy J. Rusch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kent Hermsmeyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rusch, N.J., Hermsmeyer, K. Measurement of whole-cell calcium current in voltage-clamped vascular muscle cells. Mol Cell Biochem 80, 87–93 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00231007

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00231007

Key words

Search

Navigation