Characterization of ionic currents of circular smooth muscle cells of the canine pyloric sphincter.

1. The ionic currents of circular muscle cells from canine pyloric sphincter were characterized using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. 2. Subpopulations of circular muscle cells from the myenteric and submucosal halves of the circular layer were isolated and studied separately to determine whether differences in the currents expressed by these cells could explain differences in electrical behaviour observed in situ. 3. Resting potentials of isolated cells were about 20 mV positive to cells in intact muscles. Polarization under current clamp to the level of tissue resting potentials caused spontaneous discharge of action potentials in many cells. 4. Outward current measured under voltage clamp could be divided into a voltage-dependent component and a voltage- and Ca(2+)-dependent component. The latter was affected by manipulations of external [Ca2+], nifedipine and dialysis of cells with EGTA. 5. A few cells exhibited a channel that was activated with hyperpolarization. These channels produced inward current at potentials positive to the potassium reversal potential, EK, and reversed at -13 mV. 6. Inward currents, recorded from Cs(+)-loaded cells, were characterized by a transient phase and a sustained phase that persisted throughout the test depolarization. The inward current was reduced by nifedipine but in some cells a nifedipine-resistant component was observed. 7. There were no fundamental differences in the ionic currents recorded from circular muscle cells from the myenteric and submucosal regions, suggesting that the electrical activity of the tissue must be dependent upon structural characteristics (i.e. electrical coupling, fibre bundle dimensions, etc.) of the tissue. 8. The ionic conductance characterized can be related to many of the excitable events recorded from pyloric muscles.