Acetylcholine (ACh), histamine, prostaglandin E2 and potassium chloride (KCl) each evoked concentration-dependent spasm of guinea-pig isolated trachealis treated with indomethacin (2.8 microM). 2. Neither tetraethylammonium (TEA; 0.1-10 mM) nor procaine (0.1-10 mM) potentiated these spasmogens. Indeed, procaine (10 mM) depressed the log concentration-effect curves of all the spasmogens while TEA (1-10 mM) caused some depression of the log concentration-effect curve of prostaglandin E2. 3. Intracellular electrophysiological recording was performed in trachealis bathed by normal Krebs solution or by Krebs solution containing 2.8 microM indomethacin. In either medium the majority of trachealis cells exhibited spontaneous electrical slow waves while some cells were electrically quiescent. In either medium the spasmogenic effects of ACh (1 mM) and histamine (0.2 mM) were accompanied by depolarization and abolition of slow wave discharge. In many cases the record of membrane potential subsequently exhibited noise which incorporated fast, hyperpolarizing transients. 4. In the absence and presence of indomethacin, TEA (10 mM) and procaine (5 mM) markedly reduced the membrane noise and hyperpolarizing transients evoked by ACh or histamine without augmenting the evoked tension. 5. It is concluded that slow wave discharge does not depend on prostaglandin synthesis. The membrane noise and hyperpolarizing transients evoked by ACh and histamine represent the opening of membrane K+-channels. While such K+-channel opening may offset spasmogen-induced depolarization it does not moderate the evoked tension.
