Effects of cicletanine on whole‐cell currents of single smooth muscle cells from the guinea‐pig portal vein

Smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig portal vein were dispersed by enzymatic treatment and recordings of membrane currents were made in the whole-cell mode by the patch-clamp technique. The effects of extracellular application of cicletanine-hydrochloride on the whole-cell currents of isolated smooth muscle cells from the guinea-pig portal vein were studied in solutions containing a normal concentration of calcium (2.5 mM). 2. Cicletanine, 10 to 100 microM, reduced the voltage-dependent inward calcium current with an IC50 of 250 microM. These effects of cicletanine were reversible. 3. The action of cicletanine on calcium currents can be interpreted as a decrease of the availability of calcium channels but not by an alteration of the time course or voltage-dependency of inactivation. 4. The control calcium current was enhanced by application of Bay K 8644. On this enhanced inward current, cicletanine also exerted inhibitory effects which were not use-dependent. 5. Cicletanine, 1 to 100 microM, did not enhance outward potassium currents. 6. It is concluded that at least one component of the vasorelaxant effects of cicletanine is produced by inhibition of calcium currents.