Calcium sensitivity and energetics of contraction in skinned smooth muscle of the guinea pig taenia coli at altered pH

Urinary bladder contraction and relaxation: physiology and pathophysiology

The detrusor smooth muscle is the main muscle component of the urinary bladder wall. Its ability to contract over a large length interval and to relax determines the bladder function during filling and micturition. These processes are regulated by several external nervous and hormonal control systems, and the detrusor contains multiple receptors and signaling pathways. Functional changes of the detrusor can be found in several clinically important conditions, e.g., lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and bladder outlet obstruction. The aim of this review is to summarize and synthesize basic information and recent advances in the understanding of the properties of the detrusor smooth muscle, its contractile system, cellular signaling, membrane properties, and cellular receptors. Alterations in these systems in pathological conditions of the bladder wall are described, and some areas for future research are suggested.

Measurement of interstitial lactate during hypoxia-induced dilatation in isolated pressurised porcine coronary arteries

Lactate is formed in the coronary arterial wall and in the myocardium as a consequence of ischaemia and infarction. We combined direct measurement of coronary artery diameter and interstitial arterial wall lactate concentration ex vivo in order to ascertain the possible role of lactate in hypoxia-induced vasodilatation. The wall of porcine coronary arteries, precontracted during an intraluminal pressure of 40 mmHg by addition of prostaglandin F2alpha, was cannulated using a microdialysis catheter, and exposed to hypoxia for 60 min, followed by 45 min of reoxygenation. The exchange fraction of [14C]lactate over the microdialysis membrane increased from 0.38 +/- 0.04 to 0.52 +/- 0.05 (P < 0.001) during the study period. Coronary artery diameter increased by 15.5 +/- 2.0 % (n = 20) during hypoxia (P < 0.001, compared to normoxic controls) and interstitial lactate concentration rose from 1.07 +/- 0.21 to 2.50 +/- 0.40 mmol x l(-1) during hypoxia (P < 0.01) and was unchanged in controls. The increase in coronary artery diameter correlated with the increase in interstitial lactate concentration in the period between 30 and 60 min of hypoxia (r = 0.62; P = 0.02). Dichloroacetate (10(-5) M), an agent that reduces lactate generation by activating pyruvate dehydrogenase, abolished hypoxia-induced lactate production, but caused a further increase in coronary arterial diameter (30.2 +/- 4.4 %, n = 9; P < 0.001 vs. hypoxia and no dichloroacetate). Under control conditions, the addition of L-lactate (10(-3)-10(-2) M) increased dose-dependently coronary arterial diameter by 22.0 +/- 4.2 % (n = 5) and interstitial lactate concentration from 0.52 +/- 0.04 to 5.70 +/- 0.66 mmol x l(-1) (P < 0.001). There was a correlation between the increase in coronary artery diameter and interstitial lactate concentration (r = 0.60; P = 0.02). The present observations represent the first direct measurements of metabolites by microdialysis in a blood vessel wall. The lactate concentration may affect, but is not essential for, hypoxia-induced vasodilatation in porcine coronary arteries.

Caldesmon and heat shock protein 20 phosphorylation in nitroglycerin- and magnesium-induced relaxation of swine carotid artery

Nitrovasodilators, high extracellular Mg(2+), and some other relaxing agents can cause smooth muscle relaxation without reductions in myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC) phosphorylation. Relaxations without MRLC dephosphorylation suggest that other regulatory systems, beyond MRLC phosphorylation, are present in smooth muscle. We tested whether changes in caldesmon phosphorylation, heat shock protein 20 (HSP20) phosphorylation, or intracellular pH (pH(i)) could be responsible for relaxation without MRLC dephosphorylation. In unstimulated tissues, caldesmon was phosphorylated 1.02+/-0.10 mol P(i)/mol caldesmon (mean+/-1 S.E.M.), HSP20 was phosphorylated 0.005+/-0.003 mol P(i)/mol HSP20, and estimated pH(i) was 7.21+/-0.07. Histamine stimulation induced a contraction, an intracellular acidosis, but did not significantly change caldesmon or HSP20 phosphorylation. Addition of nitroglycerin induced a relaxation, significantly increased HSP20 phosphorylation to 0.18+/-0.02 mol P(i)/mol HSP20, did not significantly change caldesmon phosphorylation, and pH(i) returned to near unstimulated values. Increase in extracellular Mg(2+) to 10 mM induced a relaxation, but did not significantly change HSP20 or caldesmon phosphorylation. These data suggest that changes in caldesmon phosphorylation, HSP20 phosphorylation, or pH(i) cannot be the sole explanation for relaxation without MRLC dephosphorylation. However, it is possible that HSP20 phosphorylation may be involved in nitroglycerin-induced relaxation without MRLC dephosphorylation.

Effects of cell-permeant calcium chelators on contractility in monkey basilar artery

Vasospasm after traumatic or aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is associated with smooth muscle contraction, a process that results in part from increased intracellular calcium in smooth muscle cells. These experiments tested the hypothesis that chelation of intracellular calcium with the cell-permeant calcium chelator, 1,2-bis-(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetracetic acid acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA-AM), decreases smooth muscle contraction in response to agents that cause contraction by increasing intracellular calcium. Effects of BAPTA-AM on vasoconstriction induced by KCl, prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha), caffeine, and erythrocyte hemolysate were tested on monkey basilar artery under isometric tension. BAPTA-AM, 30 and 100 micromol/L, caused a significant decrease in resting tension in rings with and without endothelium (30 micromol/L; 8+/-6% [n.s.] and 14+/-5%, 100 micromol/L; 19+/-3% and 32+/-6%,p < 0.05, paired t test). Contractions to caffeine were significantly decreased by 30 micromol/L BAPTA-AM and were abolished at 100 micromol/L in rings with and without endothelium (p < 0.05). BAPTA-AM, 100 micromol/L, competitively inhibited contractions to PGF2alpha. BAPTA-AM, 100 micromol/L, significantly decreased the maximum contractions to KCI in rings with and without endothelium (p < 0.05). There were no significant effects of BAPTA-AM on contractions induced by hemolysate in rings with endothelium but in rings without endothelium, BAPTA-AM, 100 micromol/L, significantly inhibited contractions. In rings with endothelium contractions to hemolysate could be significantly reduced by BAPTA-AM plus indomethacin or indomethacin alone, suggesting that hemolysate releases an eicosanoid from the endothelium by a pathway that is not inhibited by BAPTA. These results suggest that the ability of BAPTA-AM to inhibit smooth muscle contractions will depend on the agonists mediating the contraction. In response to erythrocyte hemolysate, loading of endothelial cells with BAPTA-AM increases the release of a vasoconstricting eicosanoid from these cells that counteracts the decreased contraction caused by loading of smooth muscle cells with BAPTA-AM.

The effects of extracellular pH and calcium change on force and intracellular calcium in rat vascular smooth muscle

1. In order to investigate the mechanism whereby changes in external pH (pHo) alter tone in rat mesenteric resistance vessels, we have made simultaneous measurements of tension and intracellular Ca2+ [Ca2+]i. Strips of mesenteric artery were loaded with the Ca(2+)-sensitive indicator indo-1 and superfused with physiological salt solution at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. 2. An increase of pHo from 7.4 to 7.9 produced an increase in tension. This was accompanied by an increase in [Ca2+]i in resting and high-K(+)-depolarized vessels. Acidification to 6.9 reduced tension and was associated with a fall in [Ca2+]i. Over the pHi range examined, 6.6-7.9, parallel changes in [Ca2+]i and tension were found in K(+)-activated vessels. 3. In contrast to the relatively slow change in [Ca2+]i, pHi and tension with change of pHo, depolarization produced rapid changes in [Ca2+]i and tension, consistent with a more direct action on Ca2+ mobilization. 4. Reducing the external [Ca2+] below 1 mM produced a pronounced fall in [Ca2+]i and force. Changes in [Ca2+]i, produced by alteration of external [Ca2+] (Cao2+) were used to examine the relation between [Ca2+]i and tension. A linear relation was found. Alteration of pHo to 6.9 or 7.9 did not significantly change this relation. When the tension data were normalized to their own maxima, no shift in the tension-Ca2+ relation occurred, suggesting little or no effect of pH on the Ca2+ sensitivity of force production by the contractile proteins. 5. To determine further whether the changes in [Ca2+]i produced by alteration of pHo could account for all the changes observed in tension, [Ca2+]i was restored to control levels while maintaining an altered pHo. When this was done, restoration of [Ca2+]i led to restoration of force. Thus, in this preparation, the changes in [Ca2+]i produced by altering pHo in depolarized vessels can account for the changes in vascular tone.

Intracellular alkalinization by NH4Cl increases cytosolic Ca2+ level and tension in the rat aortic smooth muscle

Intracellular pH (pHi) is elucidated to be an important regulator of various cell functions, but the role of pHi in smooth muscle contraction remains to be clarified. The purpose of the present study is to examine the effects of cell alkalinization by exposure to NH4Cl on cytosolic Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) and on muscle tone. We attempted simultaneous measurements of both [Ca2+]i and contractile force in rat isolated thoracic aorta from which the endothelium was removed. NH4Cl (10-80 mM) increased both [Ca2+]i and muscle tone in the presence of external Ca2+. These responses were reproducible. The removal of Ca2+ from the nutrient solution partially inhibited the rise in [Ca2+]i and the smooth muscle contraction induced by NH4Cl. In addition, the Ca2+ channel blocker verapamil also partially attenuated the responses to NH4Cl. The NH4Cl-induced responses were gradually reduced as NH4Cl was repeatedly added in a Ca(2+)-free solution. Norepinephrine (NE, 1 microM) induced a transient increase in [Ca2+]i and sustained contraction in the absence of external Ca2+, and the subsequent application of NE had little effect on [Ca2+]i. After internal Ca2+ stores were depleted by exposure to NE, the subsequent application of NH4Cl induced increases in [Ca2+]i and tension of the aorta in a Ca(2+)-free solution. These results suggest that NH4Cl mainly evokes Ca2+ release from the internal Ca2+ stores that are not linked with adrenergic alpha-receptor and causes Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in the vascular smooth muscle.

pHi, [Ca2+]i, and myosin phosphorylation in histamine- and NH4(+)-induced swine carotid artery contraction

We examined the interaction among changes in pHi, [Ca2+]i, myosin light-chain phosphorylation, and contraction in arterial smooth muscle stimulated by histamine, NH4+, Tris+, and/or changes in extracellular pH (pHo). We loaded swine carotid medial tissues with 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein to measure pHi or aequorin to measure [Ca2+]i. Incubation of tissues in NH4+ increased pHi, [Ca2+]i, myosin phosphorylation, and force. Washout of NH4+ decreased pHi and transiently further increased in [Ca2+]i and force. Incubation of tissues in a similar concentration of Tris+ or increasing pHo also increased pHi; however, there were only modest changes in [Ca2+]i and force. Increasing extracellular pH coincidentally with washout of NH4+ prevented the decrease in pHi but did not affect the NH4+ washout-induced contraction. These data suggest that NH4+ altered [Ca2+]i and contraction by mechanisms other than its effects on pHi. The type of pH buffer did not affect the [Ca2+]i, myosin phosphorylation, or stress response to histamine stimulation. The time course of changes in pHi was much slower than the time course of histamine-induced changes in [Ca2+]i, myosin phosphorylation, and stress. Addition of 10 mmol/L NH4+ concurrently with histamine aborted the histamine-induced decrease in pHi and significantly slowed the histamine-induced increase in [Ca2+]i, myosin phosphorylation, and stress. There was little effect on histamine-induced increases in [Ca2+]i, myosin phosphorylation, or contraction when three other protocols aborted the histamine-induced decrease in pHi. These data show that incubation in NH4+ can alter [Ca2+]i and contraction in both unstimulated and histamine-stimulated smooth muscle. However, these effects were not caused by NH4(+)-dependent changes in pHi.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ca(2+)-insensitive sustained contraction of skinned smooth muscle after acidic ADP treatment

After an acidic treatment in the presence of ADP, Triton X-100-skinned rabbit aortic smooth muscle strips were found to develop a large sustained, Ca(2+)-insensitive tension when returned to a relaxing solution with neutral pH. The presence of ADP during treatment was essential for the manifestation of the Ca(2+)-insensitive contraction. This contraction was reversibly eliminated by withdrawal of MgATP or addition of vanadate and was found to be accompanied by an extraordinarily high level of 20-kDa myosin light-chain (MLC20) phosphorylation. The rate constant for dephosphorylation of MLC20 in treated strips was about one-twenty-fifth that in untreated control, when determined after removal of Ca2+, Mg2+, and ATP. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping of tryptic digests of MLC20 showed that most incorporated phosphate was in the peptides which would be phosphorylated by myosin light-chain kinase. These results provide strong evidence that ADP inactivates myosin light-chain phosphatase under acidic conditions.

The effects of extracellular pH on intracellular pH, Ca2+ and tension of canine tracheal smooth muscle strips

The effects of changes in extracellular pH (pHo) on intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) or intracellular pH (pHi) were measured simultaneously with muscle tension in canine tracheal smooth muscle strips. [Ca2+]i and pHi were measured using the fluorescent dyes fura-2 and BCECF, respectively. During high K(+)-induced contractions (24.2, 36.4 or 72.7 mM) at pH 7.4, pHo was changed to 7.8 or 7.0 with NaOH or HCl, respectively. Induced changes in pHi were equal to approximately 50% of the changes in pHo. Alkalinization significantly increased [Ca2+]i and enhanced muscle contraction at all concentrations of K+ but did not alter the relationship between muscle tension and [Ca2+]i. Acidification significantly decreased [Ca2+]i without changing muscle tone; hence, the muscle tension-[Ca2+]i relationship was shifted to the left. These results suggest that changes in pHo can alter airway smooth muscle tone by changing [Ca2+]i and pHi.

Effects of pHi on isometric force and [Ca2+]i in porcine coronary artery smooth muscle

During ischemia or hypoxia, alterations in pHi may play a significant role in alteration of vessel wall function. We studied the effects of altering pHi on isometric force and [Ca2+]i in porcine coronary artery. pHi was altered at constant pHo by use of NH4Cl and measured with the fluorescent dye BCECF. [Ca2+]i was monitored with fura 2 and ratiometric fluorescence measurements. Addition of NH4Cl elicited a concentration-dependent (2 to 30 mmol/L) sustained increase in isometric force in unstimulated tissues. In tissues stimulated with KCl (29 mmol/L) or U46619 (1 mumol/L), addition of NH4Cl elicited a rapid but transient decrease followed by a sustained increase in force above the initial stimulated levels. Removal of NH4Cl was associated with a transient decrease and increase followed by a prolonged depression of force and slow recovery to initial levels. Addition of NH4Cl elicited a rapid monotonic increase in pHi and then a slow recovery toward initial levels; washout of NH4Cl led to a rapid acidification followed by recovery. In contrast to the steady state effects of NH4Cl on force, its effects on [Ca2+i were in the opposite direction. During the sustained increase in force elicited by NH4Cl alkalinization, [Ca2+]i was substantially decreased, whereas when force was depressed during the acidification elicited by NH4Cl washout, [Ca2+i was increased to values observed before addition of NH4Cl. The initial transients in force elicited by NH4Cl addition or washout were also associated with opposite changes in [Ca2+]i. Thus, the effects on force of the NH4Cl-induced changes in pHi are associated with changes in the Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus rather than mediated through changes in [Ca2+]i.

Effects of pH and inorganic phosphate on force production in alpha-toxin-permeabilized isolated rat uterine smooth muscle

1. Strips of longitudinal smooth muscle isolated from rat uterus were permeabilized using crude alpha-toxin from the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. This treatment rendered the surface membrane permeable to small molecular weight substances. Simultaneous measurements of tension and calcium concentration ([Ca2+]) (using indo-1 fluorescence) were used to investigate the effects of pH and inorganic phosphate concentration ([Pi]) on Ca(2+)-activated force generated by the contractile proteins. 2. Raising the [Pi] from 1 to 11 mM at a pH of 7.2 depressed both maximal and submaximal Ca(2+)-activated force. This effect of Pi was concentration dependent having the majority of its effect by 6 mM. 3. Further experiments at a submaximal [Ca2+] showed that Ca(2+)-activated force was enhanced by raising [Pi] from 6 to 11 mM suggesting that Pi increased the Ca2+ sensitivity of tension production. Based on these results, calculations indicate that the apparent affinity constant of Ca2+ for the contractile proteins increased from 4 x 10(6) M-1 to 6 x 10(6) M-1 on raising [Pi] from 1 to 11 mM. 4. Lowering pH from 7.2 to 6.7 at a [Pi] of 1 mM potentiated Ca(2+)-activated force with a small depression in the apparent Ca2+ sensitivity of tension production. This effect of pH on maximum (100 microM Ca2+) and submaximum (0.3 microM Ca2+) Ca(2+)-activated force was observed over a range of acidic pHs (7.0-6.7). 5. Increasing pH from 7.2 to 7.7 at a [Pi] of 1 mM depressed Ca(2+)-activated force with no effect on Ca2+ sensitivity of tension production. 6. Spontaneous contractions in intact rat myometrium are abolished under hypoxic conditions. Under these same conditions intracellular [Pi] rises and pH falls. The results of this study suggest that taken individually neither the effect of a rise in [Pi] nor a fall in pH on Ca(2+)-activated force generated by the contractile proteins can account for the effect of hypoxia on spontaneous contractions.

Effects of manipulations of cytoplasmic pH on the mechanical responses of isolated porcine coronary arteries

Isolated porcine coronary arteries contracted transiently when exposed to 20 mM Na salts of organic acids (acetate, propionate, butyrate and lactate) at constant external pH (pH0 = 7.4). The peak of these phasic contractions, completely inhibited by 1 mM amiloride, amounted to about 10% of that elicited by depolarization with 50 mM K0. The slope of the relaxing branch of the phasic contractions induced by 20 mM acetate in HEPES buffered physiological salt solution decreased from 1.05 +/- 0.12 to 0.49 +/- 0.07 mN/min (S.E.M.; n = 14), when Na0 was reduced from 137 to 20 mM. In Na free HEPES-buffered PSS only sustained contractions were obtained. The EC50 values for the concentration-response curves for contractions induced by K-propionate (2-20 mM) in Tris-PSS were 8.2 +/- 0.5 mM, n = 6. After total isoosmotic replacement of external Na+ by sucrose in bicarbonate-buffered PSS, contractions induced by 20 mM K-propionate had the same height as those induced with 50 mM K0+. Longlasting exposure to 0 Ca0 PSS did not affect significantly contractions induced by 20 mM propionate. During an exposure to procaine (10(-4) M) acetate-induced contractions were transiently and significantly enhanced, when induced in bicarbonate buffered PSS, but not in HEPES buffered PSS. In normally polarized PCA preparations 20 mM NH4+ induced both sustained relaxations and polyphasic responses; in depolarized PCA preparations only polyphasic responses were evoked. The time course of the polyphasic responses to application and removal of weak bases (NH(4+)-pulse technique) or to removal and reintroduction of CO2/HCO3- paralleled exactly the expected pHi perturbations, as they have been described in a great variety of cells and tissues, alkalinization leading however to relaxation, acidification to contraction. In presence of NH4+, a transient relaxation (phase 1) was immediately followed by an overshooting contraction (phase 2); at removal of NH4+ a rebound contraction (phase 3) was observed, reaching a peak and changing thereafter to a relaxation (phase 4), the slope of which was sensitive to variation of the external Na0 concentration. These mechanical effects were abolished by 1 hr exposure to 0 Ca PSS. Phase 2 was enhanced 2-5 fold in presence of TEA, Ba ions, Na3 VO4 or beta-methyldigoxin. Contractile responses of PCA preparations activated by various agonists (acetylcholine, histamine and serotonin) to pHi manipulations were similar and generally amplified when compared to unactivated preparations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Uterine contraction and physiological mechanisms of modulation

Control of the smooth muscle in the uterus (the myometrium), is of vital importance during pregnancy and parturition. It is therefore understandable that several physiological mechanisms (neuronal, hormonal, metabolic, and mechanical) play a role in the control of myometrial activity. As our knowledge of the mechanism of uterine contraction has increased much in recent years, it is now possible to begin to explain, in some detail, how the contractile activity may be modulated. A detailed account of the mechanism of contraction in the uterus is therefore given, followed by examples of modulation of this process for each of the four physiological methods listed above. Examples have been chosen to illustrate either general or particular mechanisms of modulation. The goal of many working in this field is to understand these processes and thus prevent preterm labor and uterine dysfunction in term labor, which are still significant clinical problems.

The effects of intracellular and extracellular alkalinization on contractions of the isolated rat uterus

The effects of changing pH on a spontaneously active smooth muscle, the myometrium, is examined. We show, for the first time in any smooth muscle, that the frequency of contraction is greatly increased when intracellular pH is raised. Three weak bases, trimethylamine, diethylamine and ammonium, were used to raise intracellular pH (pHi), at constant external pH, in isolated uteri of pregnant and non-pregnant rats. Each base increased spontaneous uterine contractile activity, particularly by raising the frequency, in a concentration-dependent manner. At the highest concentrations (40-50 mM) frequency was so increased that a maintained contraction resulted. Intracellular alkalinization during a high-K-maintained uterine contraction produced a small, but significant, fall in force. When external pH was increased, the results were greatly influenced by gestational state; in uteri from non-pregnant animals there was no effect whereas uteri from pregnant rats were found to be extremely sensitive to a raised external pH above 7.4; spontaneous contractions were reduced. In pregnant uteri, when both internal and external pH were elevated, spontaneous contractions were immediately reduced, thus the effects of external pH predominated. These findings may have significance in labour.

Higher Ca2+ sensitivity of triton-skinned guinea pig mesenteric microarteries as compared with large arteries

Small mesenteric resistance arteries and the main branch of the mesenteric artery (outer in situ diameter 115 +/- 3 microns [n = 76] and greater than 1,000 microns, respectively) were skinned with 1% Triton X-100. Both preparations were mounted as rings for circumferential force measurement in an EGTA solution (free Ca2+, less than 10 nM; calmodulin, 0.3 microM; pH 6.7). Force-pCa curves were obtained by increasing free Ca2+ (0.05 to 30 microM). The resulting dose-dependent contractions, after normalization to maximal force development (arteries, 21.4 +/- 2.4 [n = 3]; arterioles, 15.3 +/- 2.1 mN/mm2 [n = 5]) were fitted to sigmoidal force-pCa curves. Values of ED50 and of the cooperativity factor h were 6.08 and 2.39 in arterioles and 5.64 and 1.64 in arteries. The higher Ca2+ sensitivity of arteriolar preparations remained at pH 7.0 at higher calmodulin concentrations and after inhibition of smooth muscle phosphatase with okadaic acid. Total myosin light chain kinase activity in crude arteriolar extracts (using [gamma-32P] ATP and isolated gizzard light chains as substrates) was approximately 25% of arterial kinase. Both kinase preparations had identical Ca2+ sensitivities. Likewise, total arteriolar phosphatase activity (using 32P-labeled gizzard light chains) was approximately 25% of the arterial activity; both phosphatases had an identical sensitivity toward okadaic acid. The ratio of kinase/phosphatase activities was identical in both tissues. Extracts of both tissues contained two isozymes of the myosin heavy chain as determined with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Influence of temperature and extracellular pH on contractile responses in isolated human hand veins

The effects of moderate cooling and extracellular pH changes on concentration-response relationships for noradrenaline (NA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) were investigated in isolated human hand veins. pH changes were achieved by altering the NaHCO3 content of the Krebs solution. Cooling to 24 degrees reduced the maximum contractile responses to K+ (124 mM), NA and PGF2 alpha by 20-30%, whereas that to 5-HT was unchanged. The NA and 5-HT potencies were increased 8-10 times, whereas the PGF2 alpha potency was unaffected. A shift from alkalotic (pH 7.6) to acidotic (pH 6.9) conditions did not influence the contractile response to 124 mM K+, whereas the responses to NA, 5-HT and PGF2 alpha were inhibited with regard to both potency and maximum contraction. When related to neutral pH, acidosis significantly reduced only the 5-HT potency (4 times), whereas alkalosis selectively increased the NA and PGF2 alpha potencies (3 times). In the presence of prazosin (10(-7) M) cooling to 24 degrees significantly increased the NA potency, whereas no such increase was seen in the presence of rauwolscine (10(-7) M). Alkalosis significantly increased the NA potency in the presence of either antagonist. In conclusion, temperature and extracellular pH influenced the contractile responses to NA, 5-HT and PGF2 alpha in a differentiated manner. Alkalosis appeared to increase the response to both alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation, whereas cooling preferentially increased that to alpha 2-adrenoceptor stimulation.

H(+)-induced vasodilation of rat aorta is mediated by alterations in intracellular calcium sequestration

Acidosis induces vasodilation both in vivo and in vitro. Although it is commonly surmised that acidosis alters contractility by affecting contractile proteins and calcium entry, the exact role of these mechanisms in acidosis-induced vasodilation has not been determined. In the present study, we demonstrated that a novel mechanism, involving increased calcium sequestration into intracellular sites sensitive to norepinephrine, mediates the vasodilation associated with relatively modest decreases in pH. The effects of changing pH from 7.4 to 7.0 on tension development, 45Ca fluxes, and the norepinephrine-releasable intracellular calcium stores were studied in isolated rat aorta. Acute acidification produced marked endothelium-independent dilations of aortic rings that had been precontracted with norepinephrine. In contrast, this maneuver had only modest effects on contractions elicited by 80 mM KCl or phorbol ester. Acidification in this range did not alter basal or norepinephrine-stimulated undirectional 45Ca influx, nor did it reduce the norepinephrine-induced net gain in 45Ca content. Furthermore, neither norepinephrine-stimulated 45Ca efflux nor the peak contractile response to norepinephrine in calcium-free buffer was affected, although in this setting, the duration of the phasic contractile response was shortened. When calcium was restored to tissues exposed to norepinephrine in calcium-free buffer, acidification slowed the rate of tension development without altering 45Ca uptake, thus changing the relation between tension development and calcium entry. These effects of acidification were shown to be associated with an increase in the amount of calcium sequestered into the norepinephrine-sensitive intracellular calcium store. These findings clearly indicate that acidification, within a range that has no effect on other aspects of smooth muscle activation, elicits vasodilation by stimulating intracellular calcium sequestration. This action may represent a predominant mechanism whereby acidosis alters vascular smooth muscle contractility.

Effects of hypoxia on high-energy phosphagen content, energy metabolism and isometric force in guinea-pig taenia caeci

1. Previously, Ishida, Takagi & Urakawa (1984) reported that, in the presence of high K+ (45.4 mM) under hypoxia (95% N2-5% CO2 bubbling), tension and ATP content of the smooth muscle of the guinea-pig taenia caeci increased concomitantly when the glucose concentration was raised. Tension and energy metabolism of the taenia seemed to be closely correlated. In the present experiments, we investigated the metabolic changes during the relaxation phase after the taenia was exposed to hypoxia in the presence of high K+ by measuring the content of phosphagen, inorganic phosphate (Pi) and lactate in the tissue. Oxygen consumption and lactate release from the tissue were also determined to estimate the rate of ATP synthesis. 2. Under hypoxic conditions, high-K(+)-induced tension decreased to one-tenth of maximum in aerobic conditions (95% O2-5% CO2 bubbling); increasing the calcium concentration from 2.5 to 10 mM had no effect. To test receptor-associated stimuli, carbachol or histamine (both 5 microM) had little effect on tension in hypoxia. The calcium ionophore A23187 (10 microM) also did not produce any significant contraction in the presence of high K+ under hypoxia. 3. Hypoxia in the presence of high K+ elicited a rapid decrease in phosphocreatine, approximately in parallel with the decrease in tension. The ATP content decreased gradually while Pi content increased. Lactate content increased rapidly and then partially decreased. 4. The rate of ATP synthesis estimated from the oxygen consumption and lactate release of the taenia was linearly correlated with tension development under aerobic and hypoxic conditions. 5. These results suggest that the decrease in tension of the taenia observed under hypoxic conditions is due to an inhibition of energy metabolism, and not due to an oxygen-sensing step in excitation-contraction coupling.

Effects of variations in extracellular pH on spontaneous contractile activity and response to nerve stimulation in smooth muscle from rat urinary bladder

The effects of variations in extracellular pH have been studied on rat detrusor muscle in vitro. At pH 7.4 a continuous low amplitude spontaneous contractile activity was found. At pH 6.75 the contractions became more regular with periods of relaxation between the contractions which had increased in amplitude. At pH 7.85 the reverse was found. The results are interpreted as a membrane effect of pH. No effect of pH on amplitudes of high-K(+)-induced contractures was found. Carbachol dose-response relations and maximal contraction amplitude to carbachol was similar at pH 7.4 and 6.75. A significant depression in response to nerve stimulation was, however, noted at pH 6.75. We suggest that, while the force output of the activated detrusor smooth muscle cell is unaffected by changes in extracellular pH, a prejunctional inhibition of nerve induced contraction might occur at low pH.

Shortening velocity, myosin light chain phosphorylation and Ca2+ dependence of force during metabolic inhibition in smooth muscle of rat portal vein

The concentration-response relation for Ca2+ (0.2-5.0 mM) of high-K+ contractures (40 mM) in the rat portal vein during respiratory inhibition by 0.2 mM cyanide was investigated. A reduction of force in the presence of cyanide to about 30% of control was associated with a leftward shift of the normalized concentration-response relation. When force at the plateau of high-K+ contractures (at about 2 min) was reduced to 65 +/- 2% due to the addition of cyanide, the maximal shortening velocity (Vmax) was 94 +/- 5% of control (n = 6). In electrically (AC) stimulated preparations giving short tetanic contractions, a reduction of active force to 58 +/- 2% of control in the presence of cyanide was associated with a reduction of Vmax to 83 +/- 5% (n = 7). Phosphorylation of the 20-kDa regulatory light chains (LC20) of the myosin molecule was studied in the relaxed state and at the plateau of high-K+ contractures for comparison with the mechanical data. Both control and cyanide-treated preparations showed 9% LC20 phosphorylation in nominally Ca2+-free solution (n = 6). After activation the level of phosphorylation increased to 30 +/- 3% (n = 9) in the control veins. In cyanide-treated veins, where force was reduced to 42 +/- 6% compared to a preceding control period, the phosphorylation level was 17 +/- 2% (n = 7). The study suggests that the mechanical changes caused by inhibition of cellular respiration may involve the combined effect of several metabolic alterations, including decreased LC20 phosphorylation during contraction, but apparently not decreased intracellular Ca2+ concentration or sensitivity of the contractile system to Ca2+.