Electrical Activity of Single Smooth Muscle Cells of the Mesenteric Artery produced by Splanchnic Nerve Stimulation in the Guinea Pig

Abstract

RECENTLY, action potentials have been recorded from single smooth muscle cells present in the blood vessels of frogs^1,2, turtles³ and rats⁴. Trail⁴ found that the potential waves and spikes recorded from small mesenteric arteries of rats “were abolished by i.v. injection of ganglion-blocking chemicals and increased by splanchnic nerve stimulation”. In the experiments recorded here small mesenteric arteries in anæsthetized guinea pigs have been used. Spontaneous discharges and a discrete response to a single electrical stimulus applied to the splanchnic nerve have been seen. The discrete response resembled the junction potential recorded from cells in the vas deferens when the hypogastric nerve is stimulated^5,6 and will also be called a junction potential.