Abstract
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a social hygienic problem, which is characterized by sudden involuntary contraction of the detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) cells. From several experimental studies, it is found that DSM cells from various species including human generate spontaneous action potentials (sAPs) [1, 2], an important concept to initiate spontaneous phasic contraction activity. A primary physiological understanding for unstable urinary bladder contraction is hyperexcitability due to changes in intrinsic ionic mechanisms of DSM cells. A transient rise in cytoplasmic calcium [Ca2+]i is an important reason behind this cellular contraction event. The Ca2+ influx via L-type calcium (Ca2+) channel is essential for the rising phase of the DSM action potential (AP), whereas various potassium (K+) channels mediate the repolarization and after hyperpolarization (AHP) period of the AP, respectively [2,8]. In various smooth muscle cells, inward rectifying channel (Ih) has been playing an important role in regulating resting membrane potential (RMP) and basal tone. By using the whole cell voltage clamp method, Ih channel currents have been recorded in smooth muscle cells from various animals. The modulating role of Ih channel is also well documented in other excitatory cells like neuronal and cardiac tissues. Therefore, a detailed biophysical study of Ih channel is essential to investigate DSM cell's excitability towards bladder overactivity.
Published Version
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