1 Smooth muscle cells of the rat portal vein were dispersed by enzymatic treatment and recordings of whole-cell membrane potassium currents were made by the voltage-clamp technique. In isolated cells by use of combined voltage-and current-clamp the effect of BRL 38227 on membrane potential and ionic currents was also studied.2 BRL 38227 (0.1 to 10 JM) induced a non-inactivating potassium current (IKCO) which developed slowly (900 s to 300 s, respectively) to its full size. These effects of BRL 38227 were reversible. 3 In addition to its K-channel opening properties, BRL 38227 (1 to 10 JIM) inhibited the amplitude and changed the activation and inactivation characteristics of a slowly-inactivating, calcium influxindependent, outward potassium current (ITO). 6 The induction of IKCO by BRL38227 and the associated hyperpolarization were suppressed by glibenclamide (1 to 10 JIM) in a concentration-dependent manner. Glibenclamide (1 JIM) had no effect on the inhibition of ITO by BRL 38227 (1 JIM).

The hypothesis that protein kinase C (PKC) is able to regulate the whole cell Ca-activated K (KCa) current independently of PKC effects on local Ca release events was tested using the patch-clamp technique and freshly isolated rat tail artery smooth muscle cells dialyzed with a strongly buffered low-Ca solution. The active diacylglycerol analog 1,2-dioctanoyl- sn-glycerol (DOG) at 10 μM attenuated the current-voltage ( I- V) relationship of the KCa current significantly and reduced the KCacurrent at +70 mV by 70 ± 4% ( n = 14). In contrast, 10 μM DOG after pretreatment of the cells with 1 μM calphostin C or 1 μM PKC inhibitor peptide, selective PKC inhibitors, and 10 μM 1,3-dioctanoyl- sn-glycerol, an inactive diacylglycerol analog, did not significantly alter the KCa current. Furthermore, the catalytic subunit of PKC (PKCC) at 0.1 U/ml attenuated the I- Vrelationship of the KCa current significantly, reduced the KCacurrent at +70 mV by 44 ± 3% ( n = 17), and inhibited the activity of single KCa channels at 0 mV by 79 ± 9% ( n = 6). In contrast, 0.1 U/ml heat-inactivated PKCC did not significantly alter the KCacurrent or the activity of single KCa channels. Thus these results suggest that PKC is able to considerably attenuate the KCa current of freshly isolated rat tail artery smooth muscle cells independently of effects of PKC on local Ca release events, most likely by a direct effect on the KCa channel.

Apparent motion of a sound source can be induced by a moving visual target. The direction of the perceived motion of the sound source is the same as that of the visual target, but the subjective velocity of the sound source is 25-50% of that of the visual target measured under the same conditions. Eye tracking of the light target tends to enhance the apparent motion of the sound, but is not a prerequisite for its occurrence. The findings are discussed in connection with the 'visual capture' or 'ventriloquism' effect.

SUMMARY1. Smooth muscle cells, enzymatically isolated from the antrum of the guinea-pig stomach, were voltage clamped at room temperature using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. In physiological salt solution (PSS), step depolarization from a holding potential of -90 mV elicited inward calcium current (ICa) followed and superimposed by outward potassium current.2. Outward current was divided into components depending on the presence of extracellular Ca2+ and others which were not activated as a result of Ca2+ influx.Ca2+-dependent components were (1) 3. It. activated with a threshold around -30 mV, was fully available at -90 mV and completely inactivated at -10 mV. The time course of both activation and inactivation of Ito at different potentials could be described by single exponential functions. Time constants of activation decreased from 35 ms at -10 mV to 10 ms at + 40 mV. The time constant of inactivation was about 2 s and only weakly voltage dependent. Time constants for exponentially developing recovery from inactivation

Danish seining is an important fishing method used to harvest demersal species. Knowledge about the size selectivity of different demersal species with this type of fishing gear is therefore of importance for managing the exploitation of marine resources. However, there are only limited data on size selection in cod ends in this fishery. Sea trials were therefore carried out to collect size selectivity data for Atlantic Cod Gadus morhua, Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus, and Witch Flounder Glyptocephalus cynoglossus for a diamond‐mesh cod end. For all three species, the data were best described by a double logistic selection curve, implying that two different size selection processes occur in the cod end. The double selection process could be explained by an additional selection process occurring through slack meshes. The results imply that the escapement of 46% and 34% of the larger Atlantic Cod and Haddock (those above 48 cm), respectively, would be through wide‐open or slack meshes. Since these mesh states are only likely to be present in the latest stage of the fishing process (e.g., when the cod end is near the surface), a large fraction of the bigger fish probably escaped near the surface, which might influence their likelihood of survival. Furthermore, based on the models established for explaining the experimental size selection, we were able to predict the effect of changing the mesh size on cod end size selection in the Danish seine fishery. Received December 9, 2015; accepted February 18, 2016