Potassium and ANO1/ TMEM16A chloride channel profiles distinguish atypical and typical smooth muscle cells from interstitial cells in the mouse renal pelvis.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Although atypical smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the proximal renal pelvis are thought to generate the pacemaker signals that drive pyeloureteric peristalsis, their location and electrical properties remain obscure.

Experimental approach

Standard patch clamp, intracellular microelectrode and immunohistochemistry techniques were used. To unequivocally identify SMCs, transgenic mice with enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) expressed in cells containing α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were sometimes used.

Key results

Atypical SMCs were distinguished from typical SMCs by the absence of both a transient 4-aminopyridine-sensitive K(+) current (I(KA) ) and spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) upon the opening of large-conductance Ca(2+) -

SUBMITTER: Iqbal J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3413871 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature