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Hypertension pp 189–200Cite as

Measuring T-Type Calcium Channel Currents in Isolated Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1527))

Abstract

Patch clamp electrophysiology is a powerful tool that has been important in isolating and characterizing the ion channels that govern cellular excitability under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. The ability to enzymatically dissociate blood vessels and acutely isolate vascular smooth muscle cells has enabled the application of patch clamp electrophysiology to the identification of diverse voltage dependent ion channels that ultimately control vasoconstriction and vasodilation. Since intraluminal pressure results in depolarization of vascular smooth muscle, the channels that control the voltage dependent influx of extracellular calcium are of particular interest. This chapter describes methods for isolating smooth muscle cells from resistance vessels, and for recording, isolating, and characterizing voltage dependent calcium channel currents, using patch clamp electrophysiological and pharmacological protocols.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    Ivana Y. Kuo

  2. Department of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia

    Caryl E. Hill

Authors
  1. Ivana Y. Kuo
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  2. Caryl E. Hill
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ivana Y. Kuo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

    Rhian M. Touyz

  2. Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Department of Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Ernesto L. Schiffrin

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Kuo, I.Y., Hill, C.E. (2017). Measuring T-Type Calcium Channel Currents in Isolated Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. In: Touyz, R., Schiffrin, E. (eds) Hypertension. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1527. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6625-7_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6625-7_15

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6623-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6625-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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