Skip to main content
PMC home page
The Journal of Physiology logoLink to The Journal of Physiology
. 1966 Sep;186(1):27–41. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1966.sp008018

Electrical properties of the smooth muscle membrane of the guinea-pig vas deferens

Y Hashimoto, Mollie E Holman, J Tille
PMCID: PMC1395887  PMID: 5950227

Abstract

1. The effects of polarizing current on single smooth muscle cells of the isolated guinea-pig vas deferens have been studied by means of a bridge circuit in which the same electrode was used to pass current and record membrane potential.

2. Most cells had polarization resistances from 15 to 37 MΩ.

3. Depolarizing currents caused graded spikes up to a maximum amplitude of 75 mV.

4. Self-regenerative spikes occurred in some cells if the membrane was depolarized by > 35 mV.

5. Currents of long duration and sufficient intensity caused a repetitive discharge.

6. Spikes arising from excitatory junction potentials were always `all-or-none' in contrast to the graded responses to intracellular stimulation.

7. Electrotonic potentials declined much more rapidly than spontaneous excitatory junction potentials (EJPs); thus the time course of the EJP cannot be determined by the passive electrical properties of the smooth muscle cell membrane.

Full text

PDF
27

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BOYD I. A., MARTIN A. R. Membrane constants of mammalian muscle fibres. J Physiol. 1959 Oct;147:450–457. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1959.sp006255. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BURNSTOCK G., HOLMAN M. E. Spontaneous potential at sympathetic nerve endings in smooth muscle. J Physiol. 1962 Mar;160:446–460. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1962.sp006858. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BURNSTOCK G., HOLMAN M. E. The transmission of excitation from autonomic nerve to smooth muscle. J Physiol. 1961 Jan;155:115–133. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1961.sp006617. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. DEL CASTILLO J., KATZ B. On the localization of acetylcholine receptors. J Physiol. 1955 Apr 28;128(1):157–181. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1955.sp005297. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. FRANK K., FUORTES M. G. Stimulation of spinal motoneurones with intracellular electrodes. J Physiol. 1956 Nov 28;134(2):451–470. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1956.sp005657. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Ferroni A., Blanchi D., Meda E. M. Membrane constants and sodium conductance of a single muscle fibre. Experientia. 1965 Jul 15;21(7):389–390. doi: 10.1007/BF02139757. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. HODGKIN A. L. Ionic movements and electrical activity in giant nerve fibres. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1958 Jan 1;148(930):1–37. doi: 10.1098/rspb.1958.0001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. JOHNSON E. A., TILLE J. Investigations of the electrical properties of cardiac muscle fibres with the aid of intracellular double-barrelled electrodes. J Gen Physiol. 1961 Jan;44:443–467. doi: 10.1085/jgp.44.3.443. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. KATZ B., MILEDI R. THE MEASUREMENT OF SYNAPTIC DELAY, AND THE TIME COURSE OF ACETYLCHOLINE RELEASE AT THE NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1965 Feb 16;161:483–495. doi: 10.1098/rspb.1965.0016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. KURIYAMA H. ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE MOTOR INNERVATION OF THE SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS IN THE GUINEA-PIG VAS DEFERENS. J Physiol. 1963 Nov;169:213–228. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1963.sp007251. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. KURIYAMA H., TOMITA T. THE RESPONSES OF SINGLE SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS OF GUINEA-PIG TAENIA COLI TO INTRACELLULARLY APPLIED CURRENTS, AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE SPONTANEOUS ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY. J Physiol. 1965 May;178:270–289. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1965.sp007627. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. MARTIN A. R., PILAR G. DUAL MODE OF SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION IN THE AVIAN CILIARY GANGLION. J Physiol. 1963 Sep;168:443–463. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1963.sp007202. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. MERRILLEES N. C., BURNSTOCK G., HOLMAN M. E. CORRELATION OF FINE STRUCTURE AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE INNERVATION OF SMOOTH MUSCLE IN THE GUINEA PIG VAS DEFERENS. J Cell Biol. 1963 Dec;19:529–550. doi: 10.1083/jcb.19.3.529. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. NAGAI T., PROSSER C. L. Electrical parameters of smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol. 1963 May;204:915–924. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1963.204.5.915. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. SPERELAKIS N., TARR M. WEAK ELECTRONIC INTERACTION BETWEEN NEIGHBORING VISCERAL SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS. Am J Physiol. 1965 Apr;208:737–747. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1965.208.4.737. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Physiology are provided here courtesy of The Physiological Society

RESOURCES