Contribution of nifedipine-insensitive voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel to diameter regulation in rabbit mesenteric artery

Synergistic activation of vascular TRPC6 channel by receptor and mechanical stimulation via phospholipase C/diacylglycerol and phospholipase A2/omega-hydroxylase/20-HETE pathways

TRPC6 is a non-voltage-gated Ca(2+) entry/depolarization channel associated with vascular tone regulation and remodeling. Expressed TRPC6 channel responds to both neurohormonal and mechanical stimuli, the mechanism for which remains controversial. In this study, we examined the possible interactions of receptor and mechanical stimulations in activating this channel using the patch clamp technique. In HEK293 cells expressing TRPC6, application of mechanical stimuli (hypotonicity, shear, 2,4,6-trinitrophenol) caused, albeit not effective by themselves, a prominent potentiation of cationic currents (I(TRPC6)) induced by a muscarinic receptor agonist carbachol. This effect was insensitive to a tarantula toxin GsMTx-4 (5 mumol/L). A similar extent of mechanical potentiation was observed after activation of I(TRPC6) by GTPgammaS or a diacylglycerol analog 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG). Single TRPC6 channel activity evoked by carbachol was also enhanced by a negative pressure added in the patch pipette. Mechanical potentiation of carbachol- or OAG-induced I(TRPC6) was abolished by small interfering RNA knockdown of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) or pharmacological inhibition of omega-hydroxylation of arachidonic acid into 20-HETE (20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid). Conversely, direct application of 20-HETE enhanced both OAG-induced macroscopic and single channel TRPC6 currents. Essentially the same results were obtained for TRPC6-like cation channel in A7r5 myocytes, where its activation by noradrenaline or Arg8 vasopressin was greatly enhanced by mechanical stimuli via 20-HETE production. Furthermore, myogenic response of pressurized mesenteric artery was significantly enhanced by weak receptor stimulation dependently on 20-HETE production. These results collectively suggest that simultaneous operation of receptor and mechanical stimulations may synergistically amplify transmembrane Ca(2+) mobilization through TRPC6 activation, thereby enhancing the vascular tone via phospholipase C/diacylglycerol and phospholipase A(2)/omega-hydroxylase/20-HETE pathways.

Is there a role for T-type Ca2+ channels in regulation of vasomotor tone in mesenteric arterioles?

The largest peripheral blood pressure drop occurs in terminal arterioles (<40 microm lumen diameter). L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs) are considered the primary pathway for Ca2+ influx during physiologic activation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Recent evidence suggests that T-type VDCCs are expressed in renal afferent and efferent arterioles, mesenteric arterioles, and skeletal muscle arterioles. T-type channels are small-conductance, low voltage-activated, fast-inactivating channels. Thus, their role in supplying Ca2+ for contraction of VSMC has been disputed. However, T-type channels display non-inactivating window currents, which may play a role in sustained Ca2+ entry. Here, we review the possible role of T-type channels in vasomotor tone regulation in rat mesenteric terminal arterioles. The CaV3.1 channel was immunolocalized in VSMC, whereas the CaV3.2 channel was predominantly expressed in endothelial cells. Voltage-dependent Ca2+ entry was inhibited by the new specific T-type blockers R(-)-efonidipine and NNC 55-0396. The effect of NNC 55-0396 persisted in depolarized arterioles, suggesting an unusually high activation threshold of mesenteric T-type channels. T-type channels were not necessary for conduction of vasoconstriction, but appear to be important for local electromechanical coupling in VSMC. The first direct demonstration of endothelial T-type channels warrants new investigations of their role in vascular biology.

Non-L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels control vascular tone of the rat basilar artery

1. Constriction of cerebral arteries is considered to depend on L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs); however, many previous studies have used antagonists with potential non-selective actions. Our aim was to determine the expression and function of VDCCs in the rat basilar artery. 2. The relative expression of VDCC subtypes was assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Data were correlated with physiological studies of vascular function. Domains I-II of the T channel subtypes expressed in the rat basilar artery were cloned and sequenced. 3. Blockade of L-type channels with nifedipine had no effect on vascular tone. In contrast, in the presence of nifedipine, hyperpolarization of short arterial segments produced relaxation, whereas depolarization of quiescent segments evoked constriction. 4. The mRNA and protein for L- and T-type VDCCs were strongly expressed in the main basilar artery and side branches, with Ca(V)3.1 and Ca(V)1.2 the predominant subtypes. 5. T-Type VDCC blockers (i.e. 1 micromol/L mibefradil, 10 micromol/L pimozide and 100 micromol/L flunarizine) decreased intracellular calcium in smooth muscle cells, relaxed and hyperpolarized arteries, whereas nickel chloride (100 micromol/L) had no effect. In contrast with nifedipine, 10 micromol/L nimodipine produced hyperpolarization and relaxation. 6. When arteries were relaxed with 10 micromol/L U73122 (a phospholipase C inhibitor) in the presence of nifedipine, 40 mmol/L KCl evoked depolarization and constriction, which was significantly reduced by 1 micromol/L mibefradil. 7. Sequencing of domains I-II revealed splice variants of Ca(V)3.1, which may impact on channel activity. 8. We conclude that vascular tone of the rat basilar artery results from calcium influx through nifedipine-insensitive VDCCs with pharmacology consistent with Ca(V)3.1 T-type channels.

Ion channels and calcium signaling in cerebral arteries following subarachnoid hemorrhage

Entry of Ca(2+) through voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) is critical to the regulation of intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in vascular smooth muscle and thus the control of cerebral artery diameter. Increased VDCC activity in cerebral artery myocytes may contribute to decreased cerebral blood flow and the accompanying neurological deficits associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This review will focus on the impact of SAH on VDCCs and K(+)-selective ion channels, two important classes of ion channels located in the plasma membrane of cerebral artery myocytes. SAH may act through a variety of direct and indirect mechanisms to increase the activity of VDCCs promoting cerebral artery constriction and reduced cerebral blood flow. Further, SAH may lead to suppression of K(+) channel activity to cause membrane potential depolarization to enhance VDCC activity. The ability of VDCC blockers or K(+) channel activators to alleviate SAH-induced vasospasm will also be examined.

Role of calcium influx through voltage-operated calcium channels and of calcium mobilization in the physiology of Schistosoma mansoni muscle contractions

We tested the hypothesis that voltage-operated Ca2+ channels mediate an extracellular Ca2+ influx in muscle fibres from the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni and, along with Ca2+ mobilization from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, contribute to muscle contraction. Indeed, whole-cell voltage clamp revealed voltage-gated inward currents carried by divalent ions with a peak current elicited by steps to +20 mV (from a holding potential of -70 mV). Depolarization of the fibres by elevated extracellular K+ elicited contractions that were completely dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and inhibited by nicardipine (half inhibition at 4.1 microM). However these contractions were not very sensitive to other classical blockers of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, indicating that the schistosome muscle channels have an atypical pharmacology when compared to their mammalian counterparts. Futhermore, the contraction induced by 5 mM caffeine was inhibited after depletion of the sarcoplasmic reticulum either with thapsigargin (10 microM) or ryanodine (10 microM). These data suggest that voltage-operated Ca2+ channels do contribute to S. mansoni contraction as does the mobilization of stored Ca2+, despite the small volume of sarcoplasmic reticulum in schistosome smooth muscles.

Emergence of a R-type Ca2+ channel (CaV 2.3) contributes to cerebral artery constriction after subarachnoid hemorrhage

Cerebral aneurysm rupture and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) inflict disability and death on thousands of individuals each year. In addition to vasospasm in large diameter arteries, enhanced constriction of resistance arteries within the cerebral vasculature may contribute to decreased cerebral blood flow and the development of delayed neurological deficits after SAH. In this study, we provide novel evidence that SAH leads to enhanced Ca2+ entry in myocytes of small diameter cerebral arteries through the emergence of R-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs) encoded by the gene CaV 2.3. Using in vitro diameter measurements and patch clamp electrophysiology, we have found that L-type VDCC antagonists abolish cerebral artery constriction and block VDCC currents in cerebral artery myocytes from healthy animals. However, 5 days after the intracisternal injection of blood into rabbits to mimic SAH, cerebral artery constriction and VDCC currents were enhanced and partially resistant to L-type VDCC blockers. Further, SNX-482, a blocker of R-type Ca2+ channels, reduced constriction and membrane currents in cerebral arteries from SAH animals, but was without effect on cerebral arteries of healthy animals. Consistent with our biophysical and functional data, cerebral arteries from healthy animals were found to express only L-type VDCCs (CaV 1.2), whereas after SAH, cerebral arteries were found to express both CaV 1.2 and CaV 2.3. We propose that R-type VDCCs may contribute to enhanced cerebral artery constriction after SAH and may represent a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of neurological deficits after SAH.

Depolarization-induced calcium influx in rat mesenteric small arterioles is mediated exclusively via mibefradil-sensitive calcium channels

1. In this study, intracellular Ca(2+) was measured as the Fura-2 ratio (R) of fluorescence excited at 340 and 380 nm (F(340)/F(380)) in nonpressurized rat mesenteric small arterioles ( (lumen diameter) 10-25 microm). 2. The response to depolarization using 75 mm KCl was an increase in R from a baseline of 0.96+/-0.01 ([Ca(2+)](i) approximately 74 nm) to 1.04+/-0.01 ( approximately 128 nm) (n=80). The response to 75 mm K(+) was reversibly abolished in Ca(2+)-free physiological saline solution, whereas phentolamine (10 microm) or tetrodotoxin (1 microm) had no effects. LaCl(3) (200 microm) inhibited 61+/-9% of the response. 3. A [K(+)]-response curve indicated that the Ca(2+) response was activated between 15 and 25 mm K(+). The data suggest that the Ca(2+) response was caused by the activation of voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels. 4. Mibefradil use dependently inhibited the Ca(2+) response to 75 mm K(+) by 29+/-2% (100 nm), 73+/-7% (1 microm) or 89+/-7% (10 microm). Pimozide (500 nm) use dependently inhibited the Ca(2+) response by 85+/-1%. 5. Nifedipine (1 microm) inhibited the Ca(2+) response to 75 mm K(+) by 41+/-12%. The response was not inhibited by calciseptine (500 nm), omega-agatoxin IVA (100 nm), omega-conotoxin MVIIA (500 nm), or SNX-482 (100 nm). 6. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, it was shown that neither Ca(V)2.1a (P-type) nor Ca(V)2.1b (Q-type) voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels were expressed in mesenteric arterioles, whereas the Ca(V)3.1 (T-type) channel was expressed. Furthermore, no amplification products were detected when using specific primers for the beta(1b), beta(2), or beta(3) auxiliary subunits of high-voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels. 7. The results suggest that the voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channel activated by sustained depolarization in mesenteric arterioles does not classify as any of the high-voltage-activated channels (L-, P/Q-, N-, or R-type), but is likely to be a T-type channel. The possibility that the sustained Ca(2+) influx observed was the result of a T-type window current is discussed.