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Effects of carbenoxolone on syncytial electrical properties and junction potentials of guinea-pig vas deferens

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Abstract

The effects of the putative gap junction blocker carbenoxolone on smooth muscle syncytial properties and junction potentials were studied in guinea pig vas deferens (GPVD). Treatment with 50 μM carbenoxolone reversibly and significantly increased input resistance (R in) (by 682.5 ± 326.0 %, P < 0.05) and abolished cable potentials within 6–7 mins of incubation, without disturbing resting membrane potential. Carbenoxolone reversibly and significantly increased the amplitude of spontaneous excitatory junction potentials (sEJPs) by 96.9 ± 35.45% (P < 0.05), shifted their amplitude distribution rightwards, and reduced their frequency of occurrence by 58.17 ± 17.7% (P < 0.05), without altering their time courses. Similarly, carbenoxolone increased the amplitude of evoked excitatory junction potentials (eEJPs) by 17.7 ± 5.88% and τ decay by 19.43 ± 8.29% (P < 0.05). Our results indicate that carbenoxolone alters the electrical properties and junctional potentials of the GPVD by a mechanism consistent with a relatively specific block of gap junctions. These results suggest that gap junction mediated cell-to-cell communication may significantly modulate the electrical properties and junctional potentials of the GPVD and consequently the physiological functioning of this tissue.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge financial support provided by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), India (SP/SO/B-11/2000), and by IIT-Bombay under the Cross Disciplinary Research Grant. We would like to express special thanks to Swati Gawade, School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT-B for her able assistance with data analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedical Engineering Group, School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India

    D. Palani, P. Ghildyal & Rohit Manchanda

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  1. D. Palani
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  2. P. Ghildyal
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  3. Rohit Manchanda
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Correspondence to Rohit Manchanda.

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Palani, D., Ghildyal, P. & Manchanda, R. Effects of carbenoxolone on syncytial electrical properties and junction potentials of guinea-pig vas deferens. Naunyn-Schmied Arch Pharmacol 374, 207–214 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-006-0109-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-006-0109-7

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