Two calcium currents in a smooth muscle cell line.

Membrane currents in small cells of a smooth muscle cell line (A10) derived from embryonic rat thoracic aorta were monitored by the patch electrode whole-cell voltage clamp technique. Three currents, two divalent cation currents, and a Ca2+-activated K+ current have been observed. The latter is readily abolished pharmacologically, allowing the characterization of the divalent cation currents. With a holding potential of -50 mV, a single divalent current, which inactivates slowly, is elicited on depolarization of the membrane potential to values positive to ca. -10 mV. The second divalent cation current is only observed when the holding potential is negative to -55 mV and the membrane is pulsed to values positive to ca. -35 mV. This current is rapidly inactivating, peaking in approximately 5 ms and decaying with a t1/2 of ca. 15 ms at 0 mV when conveyed by Ba2+. The rapidly inactivating divalent cation current is depressed by substitution of Ba2+ for Ca2+ in the bathing solution and is highly insensitive to organic Ca2+ channel blockers. The slowly inactivating channel has more typical characteristics of Ca2+ channels; it is more permeable to Ba2+ than to Ca2+ and is sensitive to modulation by dihydropyridines. These data demonstrate the presence of two distinctly different Ca2+ channels in A10 cells.