Voltage-dependent inward currents of interstitial cells of Cajal from murine colon and small intestine

• Published in: The Journal of physiology 2002-06, Vol.541 (3), p.797-810
• Main Authors: Chul Kim, Young, Don Koh, Sang, Sanders, Kenton M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester - pharmacology; Animals; Calcium Channel Agonists - pharmacology; Calcium Channel Blockers - pharmacology; Calcium Channels - physiology; Calcium Signaling - physiology; Cells, Cultured; Colon - cytology; Colon - physiology; Dihydropyridines - pharmacology; Electrophysiology; In Vitro Techniques; Intestine, Small - cytology; Intestine, Small - physiology; Ion Channel Gating - physiology; Membrane Potentials - physiology; Mibefradil - pharmacology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; Muscle, Smooth - cytology; Muscle, Smooth - physiology; Nickel - pharmacology; Original; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Sodium - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-3751; 1469-7793
• DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2002.018796

Electrical slow waves in gastrointestinal (GI) muscles are generated by pacemaker cells, known as interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). The pacemaker conductance is regulated by periodic release of Ca 2+ from inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP 3 ) receptor-operated stores, but little is known about how slow waves are actively propagated. We investigated voltage-dependent Ca 2+ currents in cultured ICC from the murine colon and small intestine. ICC, identified by kit immunohistochemistry, were spontaneously active under current clamp and generated transient inward (pacemaker) currents under voltage clamp. Depolarization activated inward currents due to entry of Ca 2+ . Nicardipine (1 μM) blocked only half of the voltage-dependent inward current. After nicardipine, there was a shift in the potential at which peak current was obtained (-15 mV), and negative shifts in the voltage dependence of activation and inactivation of the remaining voltage-dependent inward current. The current that was resistant to dihydropyridine ( I VDDR ) displayed kinetics, ion selectivity and pharmacology that differed from dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca 2+ currents. I VDDR was increased by elevating extracellular Ca 2+ from 2 to 10 m m , and this caused a +30 mV shift in reversal potential. I VDDR was blocked by Ni 2+ (100 μM) or mebefradil (1 μM) but was not affected by blockers of N-, P- or Q-type Ca 2+ channels. Equimolar replacement of Ca 2+ with Ba 2+ reduced I VDDR without effects on inactivation kinetics. BayK8644 had significantly less effect on I VDDR than on I VDIC . In summary, two components of inward Ca 2+ current were resolved in ICC of murine small intestine and colon. Since slow waves persist in the presence of dihydropyridines, the dyhydropyridine-resistant component of inward current may contribute to slow wave propagation.