Slow wave and spike action potentials recorded in cell cultures from the muscularis externa of the guinea pig small intestine

Intracellular recordings were obtained to investigate whether slow wave and spike type action potentials are present in cell cultures of the muscularis externa from the guinea pig small intestine. The muscularis externa of the small intestine was dissociated by using specific purified enzymes and gentle mechanical dissociation. Cells were plated on cover slips and maintained in culture for up to 4 weeks. Dissociated cells obtained in this way reorganized themselves in a few days to form small cell clumps showing spontaneous movements. Intracellular recordings of these clumps displayed both spike and slow wave type action potentials. Spikes were observed on top of some slow waves and were abolished by the addition of nifedipine or the removal of extracellular calcium. Slow waves, however, were nifedipine insensitive and temperature sensitive, and were abolished by octanol (a gap junction blocker) and forskolin (an adenyl cyclase activator). Slow waves were never observed in small clumps (<50 microm), suggesting that a critical mass of cells might be required for their generation. These observations demonstrated for the first time the presence of nifedipine-insensitive slow waves in cell cultures of the muscularis externa from the guinea pig small intestine. Cell cultures allow rigorous control of the immediate environment for the cells and this should facilitate future studies on the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for the slow waves in the gastrointestinal tract.