Inhibitory effects of potassium channel blockers on carbachol-induced contraction in rat detrusor muscle.

We present accidental findings that potassium channel blockers, such as tetraethyl-ammonium (TEA) or 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), inhibit the sustained tonic contraction induced by carbachol in rat detrusor muscle strips. The relatively lower concentrations (<2 mM) of TEA and 4-AP inhibited phasic and tonic contractions induced by 5 micro M carbachol, whilst the relatively higher concentrations of TEA and 4-AP (>5 mM) potentiated phasic contractions. The potentiation of phasic contraction was not observed in nicardipine pretreated condition. In nicardipine pretreated condition, the concentration-response curves for the negative inotropic effect of potassium channel blockers were shifted to the right by the increasing concentration of carbachol from 0.5 microM to 5 microM. IC50 was changed significantly from 0.19 to 0.64 mM (TEA) and from 0.21 to 0.96 (4-AP). Such inhibitory effects were also observed in Ca2+ depleted condition, where 0.1 mM EGTA and 1 microM thapsigargin were added into Ca2+ free solution. In conclusion, inhibitory effects of potassium channel blockers on carbachol-induced contraction may be ascribed to the direct inhibition of receptor-agonist binding.