Macroscopic K+ currents in single smooth muscle cells of the rabbit portal vein.

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Abstract
Single Smooth muscle cells isolated from rabbit portal vein were voltage clamped at room temperature using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. These cells exhibited a mean resting potential of -47.9 mV and a mean input resistance of 376 M.OMEGA.. Methods are described in detail. Four components of outward currents have been described in rabbit portal vein cells which reflect the behaviour of distinct K+ channels. The background current may be the one underlying the resting potential. The delayed rectifier K+ current would be the main current responsible for repolarization of the membrane potential during an active response. The oscillatory type of transient outward current appears to be related to a sudden discharge of Ca2+ from internal stores, namely the sarcoplasmic reticulum. On the other hand. Ito seems to depend more on the resting level of intracellular free calcium. Both would also be important for repolarization when the intracellular Ca2+ concentration rises.

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