Key result
Increased potassium permeability resistant to standard blockers likely drives opossum esophageal inhibitory junction potentials.
Population
Opossum esophageal circular smooth muscle
Design
Preclinical
Authors
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No immediate clinical implications in humans; leaves open the channel's identity and relevance to esophageal motility disorders.
The inhibitory junction potential in opossum esophageal circular smooth muscle is mediated by an unusual potassium channel that is resistant to common potassium channel blockers.
Jury et al. (1985) studied this question. Potassium conductance blocking agents (TEA, 4-AP, Apamin, Quinine) was evaluated on Membrane potential, membrane resistance, and inhibitory junction potential (IJP) amplitude. The inhibitory junction potential in opossum esophageal circular smooth muscle is likely due to a selective increase in potassium ion permeability that is resistant to typical potassium channel blockers.
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