The Role of Potassium Channel Gates in the Electrophysiology of the Human Gastric Smooth Muscle Cell

Abstract

Background: The cell membrane acts as a filter, allowing ions to enter and leave the cell. Ionic channels are responsible for passing ions. This task is the responsibility of the ion channel gates, and ion transfer generates the action potential. Potassium channels play a prominent role in gastrointestinal smooth muscle cells and slow-wave production. Potassium channels are involved in acid secretion and gastric contraction. Gastric functional problems such as reflux disease and motility disorder are classified as electrophysiological disorders. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of potassium channel gates on the electrophysiology of the human gastric smooth muscle cells. Methods: Three states were considered for the potassium channels gate (Including physiological state, 50% blockage, and 90% blockage) to investigate the effect of the status of the gates, and a slow-wave diagram was obtained in these three states. Then, the value and the time of action potential were compared at five indicator points (initial potential, maximum spike potential, minimum valley potential, maximum plateau potential, and resting potential) in slow-wave. Results: The results showed that the maximum effect of the activation parameter of the potassium channel gate (τd,Kni) was in 90% blockage compared to the physiological state, so that the maximum spike potential decreases by 2.43%. Also, a 90% blockage in the fast potassium channel gate inactivation parameter (τf,Kfi) increased the maximum spike potential by 12.6% compared to the physiological state, while the minimum valley potential increased by 3%. In addition, the τf,Kfi parameter reduced the time of occurrence of the maximum plateau potential by 7.9%. Conclusions: Potassium channels affect the slow-wave of the human gastric smooth muscle cell in spike, valley, and plateau phases. Using this method and blocking ion channels by pharmacological agents, the effect of ions in different phases of the slow-wave can be investigated. Also, it can help improve the contractile and motility disorders of the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.