Endothelin increases single-channel calcium currents in coronary arterial smooth muscle cells

Shai D. Silberberg, Thomas C. Poder, Antonio E. Lacerda

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Endothelin (ET), a newly identified vasoconstrictor peptide produced by endothelial cells, depends on extracellular calcium for its action [(1988) Nature 332, 411-415]. It is not yet known whether the increase in calcium influx induced by ET results from a direct effect on the Ca2+ channels or is secondary to a reduction in membrane potential. To address this question, we studied the effects of ET on single-channel calcium currents of freshly dissociated porcine coronary artery smooth muscle cells using the cell-attached mode of the patch-clamp technique. We show that ET increases Cal+-channel activity with no effect on channel open time or conductance. The ability of bath-applied ET to increase single-channel calcium currents in the cell-attached mode is evidence that the peptide acts via a second messenger system.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)68-72
Number of pages5
JournalFEBS Letters
Volume247
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Apr 1989
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • (Vascular smooth muscle, Coronary artery)
  • Ca channel
  • Endothelin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

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