The effects of variations in external K + and Ca 2+ concentrations on electrical and mechanical activity of the isolated rat portal vein were studied using a sucrose-gap technique. Spontaneous activity in normal Krebs solution consists of bursts of action potentials accompanied by phasic contractions. • Information about the electrophysiological properties of vascular smooth muscle and the relationship between electrical and mechanical activity will provide a basis for better understanding of the action of drugs on blood vessels. This paper mainly describes results obtained by simultaneous recordings of electrical and mechanical activity of the rat portal vein. This vessel was introduced as a suitable preparation for studying electrical activity of vascular smooth muscle by Funaki and Bohr (1) working with intracellular microelectrodes. A sucrose-gap technique has been used for recording electrical activity in the present investigation. The effects of changes in the external ionic environment on membrane potential, frequency and pattern of spike discharge, and tension development, and on the normal correlation of these parameters have been studied. Another paper deals more specifically with the actions of drugs.Results pertaining to the current study have been presented in preliminary form (2, 3).
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