Membrane properties of the smooth muscle of guinea-pig ureter

Abstract

1. The membrane properties of the guinea-pig ureter were studied in physiological Krebs solution by intra- and extracellular stimulating methods.2. The mean membrane potential was 50 mV. Action potentials triggered by external stimulation were composed of repetitive spikes and a plateau phase.3. The effects of intracellular polarization on the membrane activity elicited by extracellular stimulation were observed. Anodal polarization enhanced the amplitude and the maximum rate of rise of the spike while cathodal polarization reduced them. The number of the spikes, the duration and amplitude of the plateau phase were not changed by polarization of any direction.4. The spikes triggered by intracellular stimulation were mostly graded, but repetitive spikes sometimes continued even after cessation of the stimulation. The effective membrane resistance was 15-23 MOmega and the time constant was 2-3 msec.5. Conduction velocity (V), chronaxie, time constant (tau) and space constant (lambda) of the tissue were measured by extracellular stimulation. These values were as follows: V, 3-6 cm/sec; chronaxie, 20-40 msec; tau, 200-300 msec; lambda, 2.5-3 mm. The conduction of excitation might be related to the cable properties of the tissue.6. The relative refractory period measured by extracellular stimulation was as long as 30 sec. During the relative refractory period dissociation of the slow depolarization and the spikes was observed by successive stimuli.7. The plateau phase was prolonged and the frequency of the spontaneous discharges was increased by treatment with Ba(2+). Tetrodotoxin had no effect on spike activity nor on the plateau phase, but Mn(2+) blocked the membrane activity.