Responses of enzymatically isolated mammalian vascular smooth muscle cells to pharmacological and electrical stimuli.

A modified method for enzymatically isolating mammalian vascular smooth muscle cells has been developed and tested for ferret portal vein smooth muscle. This method produces a high proportion of fully relaxed cells and these cells appear to have normal pharmacological responsiveness. The ED50 values for both alpha stimulation and potassium depolarization are not significantly different in the isolated cells from those obtained from intact strips of ferret portal vein, suggesting that the enzymatic treatment does not destroy receptors or alter the electrical responsiveness of the cells. It was also possible to demonstrate a vasodilatory action of papaverine, nitroprusside and adenosine directly on the isolated cells indicating that the pathways involved are intact in the isolated cells. This method should be of considerable usefulness, particularly in combination with the new fluorescent indicators and cell sorter techniques which require isolated cells.