Exploring Arterial Smooth Muscle Kv7 Potassium Channel Function using Patch Clamp Electrophysiology and Pressure Myography

Summary

Measurements of Kv7 (KCNQ) potassium channel activity in isolated arterial myocytes (using patch clamp electrophysiological techniques) in parallel with measurements of constrictor/dilator responses (using pressure myography) can reveal important information about the roles of Kv7 channels in vascular smooth muscle physiology and pharmacology.

Abstract

Contraction or relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the walls of resistance arteries determines the artery diameter and thereby controls flow of blood through the vessel and contributes to systemic blood pressure. The contraction process is regulated primarily by cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_cyt), which is in turn controlled by a variety of ion transporters and channels. Ion channels are common intermediates in signal transduction pathways activated by vasoactive hormones to effect vasoconstriction or vasodilation. And ion channels are often targeted by therapeutic agents either intentionally (e.g. calcium channel blockers used to induce vasodilation and lower blood pressure) or unintentionally (e.g. to induce unwanted cardiovascular side effects).

Kv7 (KCNQ) voltage-activated potassium channels have recently been implicated as important physiological and therapeutic targets for regulation of smooth muscle contraction. To elucidate the specific roles of Kv7 channels in both physiological signal transduction and in the actions of therapeutic agents, we need to study how their activity is modulated at the cellular level as well as evaluate their contribution in the context of the intact artery.

The rat mesenteric arteries provide a useful model system. The arteries can be easily dissected, cleaned of connective tissue, and used to prepare isolated arterial myocytes for patch clamp electrophysiology, or cannulated and pressurized for measurements of vasoconstrictor/vasodilator responses under relatively physiological conditions. Here we describe the methods used for both types of measurements and provide some examples of how the experimental design can be integrated to provide a clearer understanding of the roles of these ion channels in the regulation of vascular tone.

Protocol

1. Surgical Excision of the Small Intestinal Mesenteric Vascular Arcade

1. Anesthetize a 300-400 g Sprague-Dawley rat with isoflurane (4%) administered by inhalation.
2. Perform a midline laparotomy to expose the small intestinal mesentery. Exteriorize the small and large intestine through the abdominal incision with great care to avoid trauma to the exposed bowel and mesentery. Gently fan the mesentery out over sterile gauze.
3. Surgically excise the small intestine and a portion of the large intestine, including the caecum (blood vessels carefully cut along the margins and at the origins from the primary branches of the superior mesente....

Discussion

The methods and experimental approaches described here are quite robust and can produce clear and reproducible results when applied with meticulous attention to detail. Good electrophysiological recordings and constriction/dilation of arterial segments are dependent on the health of the cells and artery segments, respectively. Cell preparations can vary from day to day, even using the same protocol. Isolation Solutions can be used for up to 2 weeks, but if the quality of the cell preparation is low on two consequen.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Sodium Chloride	Sigma	S5886	Dissecting Solution: 145 Bath solution for Electrophysiology*: 140 Internal solution for electrophysiology: 10 Isolation solution for myocytes*: 140 Bath solution for pressure myography: 145 Lumen solution for pressure myography: 145
Potassium chloride	Sigma	P5405	Dissecting Solution: 4.7 Bath solution for Electrophysiology*: 5.36 Internal solution for electrophysiology: 135 Isolation solution for myocytes*: 5.36 Bath solution for pressure myography: 4.7 Lumen solution for pressure myography: 4.7
Potassium EGTA	Sigma	E4378	Internal solution for electrophysiology: 0.05
HEPES	Sigma	H9136	Bath solution for Electrophysiology*: 10 Internal solution for electrophysiology: 10 Isolation solution for myocytes*: 10
Disodium hydrogen phosphate	Sigma	S5136	Isolation solution for myocytes*: 0.34
Potassium hydrogen phosphate	Sigma	P5655	Isolation solution for myocytes*: 0.44
Magnesium Chloride	Sigma	M2393	Bath solution for Electrophysiology*: 1.2 Internal solution for electrophysiology: 1 Isolation solution for myocytes*: 1.2
Calcium Chloride	Sigma	C7902	Bath solution for Electrophysiology*: 2 Isolation solution for myocytes*: 0.05
Sodium phosphate	Fisher Scientific	BP331-1	Dissecting Solution: 1.2 Bath solution for pressure myography: 1.2 Lumen solution for pressure myography: 1.2
Magnesium Sulfate	Sigma	M2643	Dissecting Solution: 1.17 Bath solution for pressure myography: 1.17 Lumen solution for pressure myography: 1.17
MOPS	Fisher Scientific	BP308	Dissecting Solution: 3 Bath solution for pressure myography: 3 Lumen solution for pressure myography: 3
Pyruvic acid	Sigma	P4562	Dissecting Solution: 2 Bath solution for pressure myography: 2 Lumen solution for pressure myography: 2
EDTA dihydrate	Research Organics	9572E	Dissecting Solution: 0.02 Bath solution for pressure myography: 0.02 Lumen solution for pressure myography: 0.02
D-Glucose	Sigma	G7021	Dissecting Solution: 5 Bath solution for Electrophysiology*: 10 Internal solution for electrophysiology: 20 Isolation solution for myocytes*: 10 Bath solution for pressure myography: 5 Lumen solution for pressure myography: 5
Bovine serum albumin	Sigma	A3912	Dissecting Solution: 1% Lumen solution for pressure myography: 1%
pH			Dissecting Solution: 7.4 Bath solution for Electrophysiology*: 7.3 Internal solution for electrophysiology: 7.2 Isolation solution for myocytes*: 7.2 Bath solution for pressure myography: 7.4 Lumen solution for pressure myography: 7.4
Osmolarity			Dissecting Solution: 300 Bath solution for Electrophysiology*: 298 Internal solution for electrophysiology: 298 Isolation solution for myocytes*: 298 Bath solution for pressure myography: 300 Lumen solution for pressure myography: 300
*11
Table 1. Components of solutions used in the experiment.