Prostaglandin E2 inhibits the large‐conductance voltage‐ and Ca2+‐activated K+ channels in guinea pig urinary bladder smooth muscle (865.7)

Abstract

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is an important signaling molecule that has been shown to be involved in the regulation of urinary bladder smooth muscle (UBSM) contractility in both rodents and humans. However, the underlying mechanism by which PGE2 evokes UBSM contractions is not well understood. Here, we investigated whether large conductance voltage‐ and Ca2+‐activated K+ (BK) channels mediate the stimulatory effects induced by PGE2 on guinea pig UBSM contractility. We used a combined experimental approach including patch‐clamp electrophysiology, live‐cell Ca2+ imaging, and isometric UBSM tension recordings to investigate BK channel regulation by PGE2 at both cellular and tissue levels. PGE2 increased the spontaneous phasic contractions of UBSM isolated strips in a concentration‐dependent manner (10 nM‐10 µM). BK channel inhibition with paxilline attenuated the PGE2‐induced UBSM phasic contractions, suggesting that BK channels are among the targets of PGE2. Our data also indicate that PGE2 (10 µM) caused an inhibition of the amplitude and frequency of spontaneous transient BK currents and increased the intracellular Ca2+ levels in freshly‐isolated UBSM cells. Thus, for the first time we have revealed a novel mechanism by which BK channels mediate the PGE2 stimulatory effects on guinea pig UBSM contractions.Grant Funding Source: Supported by NIH R01 DK084284 grant to Georgi V. Petkov.