Effects of sodium vanadate on the smooth muscle of the guinea-pig vas deferens.

Effects of sodium vanadate on electrical and mechanical activities of smooth muscle of the guinea-pig vas deferens were investigated. Sodium vanadate of concentrations higher than 5 X 10(-6) M caused an elevation of basal tension and, at concentrations higher than 5 X 10(-4) M, initiated spontaneous contractions. These effects were not blocked by treatments with reserpine, tetrodotoxin or phentolamine. Treatment with ouabain also did not block the tension development by sodium vanadate. Sodium vanadate caused slight depolarization of membrane and potentiated spike activities. The phasic contraction of potassium contracture was potentiated by sodium vanadate in a similar manner to pretreatment with 15 mM K+ or with ouabain, both treatments occasioning slight depolarization. Sodium vanadate also caused tension development in K-depolarized preparetions. Contrastingly, drug-induced contractions were not significantly affected by sodium vanadate. It is suggested that sodium vanadate acts directly on smooth muscles and causes tension development without relation to Na, K-ATPase activity. Changes in the membrane electrical activities may be part of the cause of contraction. However, it can also initiate tension development without membrane potential changes, presumably acting on intracellular Ca binding sites.