Electrical coupling of circular muscle to longitudinal muscle and interstitial cells of Cajal in canine colon.

1. Electrical communication between circular muscle, longitudinal muscle and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) was investigated; the hypothesis was tested that the resting membrane potential (RMP) gradient in the circular muscle of canine colon is caused by electrical coupling to neighbouring cells. 2. Isolated longitudinal muscle exhibited spike-like action potentials at a RMP of -45 mV with a frequency and amplitude of 20 cycles/min and 12 …