Fenamates potentiate the alpha 1-adrenoceptor-activated nonselective cation channels in rabbit portal vein smooth muscle.

The agonistic action of fenamates on the alpha 1-adrenoceptor-activated cationic current (Icat) in rabbit portal vein smooth muscle was investigated with the whole-cell patch clamp technique. At -50 mV, the fenamates (100-500 microM) increased Icat dose-dependently, up to several fold. This increase was not accompanied by changes in the reversal potential and strongly inhibited by 500 microM Cd2+ or 10 mM procaine. The enhancing effect of fenamates was also observed on the cationic current activated by intracellularly applied GTP gamma S. These results suggest that fenamates may be useful as a new class of activator for receptor-operated cation channels in smooth muscle.