Role of calcium-activated potassium currents in CNP-induced relaxation of gastric antral circular smooth muscle in guinea pigs

AIM: To investigate ion channel mechanism in CNP-induced relaxation of gastric circular smooth muscle in guinea pigs.METHODS: Spontaneous contraction of gastric smooth muscle was recorded by a four -channel physiograph. The whole cell patch-clamp technique was used to record calciumactivated potassium currents and membrane potential in the gastric myocytes isolated by collagenase.RESULTS: C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) markedly inhibited the spontaneous contraction in a dose-dependent manner in gastric circular smooth muscle in guinea pigs.Ly83583, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, weakened CNPinduced inhibition on spontaneous contraction but Zaparinast, an inhibitor of cGMP sensitive phosphoesterase,potentiated CNP-induced inhibition in gastric circular smooth muscles. The inhibitory effects of CNP on spontaneous contraction were blocked by tetrathylammonium (TEA), a nonselective potassium channel blocker. CNP hyperpolarized membrane potential from -60.0 mV±2.0 mV to -68.3 meV±3.0 mV in a single gastric myocyte. CNP increased calcium-activated potassium currents (Ik(ca)) in a dose-dependent manner in gastric circular myocytes. CNP also increased the spontaneously transient outward currents (STOCs). Ly83583 partly blocked CNP-induced increase of calcium-activated potassium currents, but Zaparinast potented the effect.CONCLUSION: CNP inhibits spontaneous contraction, and potassium channel may be involved in the process in gastric circular smooth musde of guinea pigs. CNP-induced increase of Ik(ca) is mediated by a cGMP dependent pathway.

Photochemistry of insecticide imidacloprid: direct and sensitized photolysis in aqueous medium

The direct and sensitized photodegradations of imidacloprid, 1-(6-chloro-3-pyridinylmethyl)-N-nitro-2-imidazolidinimine, were investigated in aqueous solution and with and without various photo-sensitizers. Results of the study revealed that the intensity of lamp-house and irradiation wavelength had significant effects on the photolysis of imidacloprid. Complete degradation of 20 mg/L imidacloprid in aqueous phase was observed in 40 min under ultraviolet(UV) irradiation system, suggesting the ultraviolet ray played significant role in direct photolysis of imidacloprid. The additions of various photo-sensitizers lead to improve the degradation efficiency of imidacloprid under the irradiation of black light fluorescent lamp. TiO 2 was the most efficient in the photo-catalytic degradation of imidacloprid among other photo-sensitizers in used this study. However, addition of acetone inhibited the photolysis of imidacloprid under the irradiation of UV, indicating the occurrence of competition between acetone and imidacloprid for photos. Mineralization of the imidacloprid was examined to clarify the final photochemical degradation products of the insecticide which were CO 2, Cl- and NO- 3. Complete photo-oxidation of nitrogen to NO- 3 occurred very slowly via the intermediate formation of NH+ 4 and NO- 2.