Potassium concentration is reduced in cultured rabbit tracheal smooth muscle cells after withdrawal of serum.

Comparison of elemental concentrations in growth-arrested airway smooth muscle cells with those in their proliferating counterpart showed that potassium (K(+)) was significantly reduced, whereas concentrations of other elements sodium (Na(+)), magnesium (Mg(2+)), phosphorus (P), and chlorine (Cl(-)) remained unchanged. Reduced K(+)concentration was associated with a change in the cells from a spindle shape to a flattened form. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.