Oxytocin regulates the plasma membrane Ca2+ transport in rat myometrium

Analysis of decay kinetics of the cytosolic calcium transient induced by oxytocin in rat myometrium smooth muscle cells

The method of kinetic analysis of the relaxation phase of the mechanical response of the smooth muscle previously proposed by Burdyga and Kosterin was applied to study the dynamics of the decay of oxytocin-induced calcium transients in cytosol of the rat myometrium smooth muscle cell detected by a fluorescence signal generated by a calcium-sensitive probe fluo-4 using a laser scanning confocal microscope. The experimental data were well linearized in the coordinates ln [(F_m - F)/F] vs lnt (F and F_m are the current fluorescence intensity of the calcium probe and the fluorescence intensity at the maximum of the calcium transient, respectively, while t is the time). The empirical parameters n and τ were determined by which the maximal normalized relaxation rate V_n was calculated for five different ROIs (regions of interest) in the myocyte cytosol. It proved to be almost the same for all ROIs. The maximal normalized relaxation rate calculated from the fluorescence intensity was always lower than that calculated from the corresponding calcium concentration, i.e. the cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration in the relaxation phase decreases faster than the corresponding fluorescence intensity. The value of the maximal normalized relaxation rate calculated both from the fluorescence intensity and from the force of oxytocin-induced contractions of isolated rat uterus longitudinal smooth muscles (according to Tsymbalyuk and Kosterin) was exactly the same. This indicates that in the relaxation phase, the decreasing curves of both the fluorescence intensity and the contraction forces coincide.

Structural and dynamic origins of ESR lineshapes in spin-labeled GB1 domain: the insights from spin dynamics simulations based on long MD trajectories

Site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) ESR is a valuable tool to probe protein systems that are not amenable to characterization by x-ray crystallography, NMR or EM. While general principles that govern the shape of SDSL ESR spectra are known, its precise relationship with protein structure and dynamics is still not fully understood. To address this problem, we designed seven variants of GB1 domain bearing R1 spin label and recorded the corresponding MD trajectories (combined length 180 μs). The MD data were subsequently used to calculate time evolution of the relevant spin density matrix and thus predict the ESR spectra. The simulated spectra proved to be in good agreement with the experiment. Further analysis confirmed that the spectral shape primarily reflects the degree of steric confinement of the R1 tag and, for the well-folded protein such as GB1, offers little information on local backbone dynamics. The rotameric preferences of R1 side chain are determined by the type of the secondary structure at the attachment site. The rotameric jumps involving dihedral angles χ1 and χ2 are sufficiently fast to directly influence the ESR lineshapes. However, the jumps involving multiple dihedral angles tend to occur in (anti)correlated manner, causing smaller-than-expected movements of the R1 proxyl ring. Of interest, ESR spectra of GB1 domain with solvent-exposed spin label can be accurately reproduced by means of Redfield theory. In particular, the asymmetric character of the spectra is attributable to Redfield-type cross-correlations. We envisage that the current MD-based, experimentally validated approach should lead to a more definitive, accurate picture of SDSL ESR experiments.

Oxytocin mobilizes calcium from a unique heparin-sensitive and thapsigargin-sensitive store in single myometrial cells from pregnant rats

Intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was monitored using the fluorescence from the dye Fura-2-AM in single myometrial cells from pregnant rats. Oxytocin and acetylcholine applied to the cell evoked an initial peak in [Ca2+]i followed by a smaller sustained rise which was rapidly terminated upon removal of acetylcholine or persisted after oxytocin removal. A Ca2+ channel blocker (oxodipine) and external Ca2+ removal decreased both the transient and sustained rises in [Ca2+]i suggesting that Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels participated in the global Ca2+ response induced by oxytocin. However, the initial peak in [Ca2+]i produced by oxytocin was mainly due to Ca2+ store release: it was abolished by inclusion of heparin [which blocks inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) receptors] in the pipette (whole-cell recording mode of patch-clamp) and external application of thapsigargin (which blocks sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPases). In contrast, the transient Ca2+ response induced by oxytocin was unaffected by ryanodine. Moreover, caffeine failed to induce a rise in [Ca2+]i but reduced the oxytocin-induced transient Ca2+ response. The later sustained rise in [Ca2+]i produced by oxytocin was due to the entry of Ca2+ into the cell as it was suppressed in external Ca(2+)-free solution. The Ca2+ entry pathway is permeable to Mn2+ ions, in contrast to that described in various vascular and visceral smooth muscle cells. Oxytocin-induced Ca2+ release is blocked by the oxytocin antagonist d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2,Thr4,Tyr-NH2(9)]OVT. The prolonged increase in [Ca2+]i after oxytocin removal is rapidly terminated by addition of the oxytocin antagonist suggesting that oxytocin dissociation from its receptor is very slow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium ion homeostasis in smooth muscle

Ca2+ plays an important role in the regulation of smooth-muscle contraction. In this review, we will focus on the various Ca(2+)-transport processes that contribute to the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. Mainly the functional aspects will be covered. The smooth-muscle inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor and ryanodine receptor will be extensively discussed. Smooth-muscle contraction also depends on extracellular Ca2+ and both voltage- and Ca(2+)-release-activated plasma-membrane Ca2+ channels will be reviewed. We will finally discuss some functional properties of the Ca2+ pumps that remove Ca2+ from the cytoplasm and of the Ca2+ regulation of the nucleus.

The Ca(2+)-transport ATPases from the plasma membrane

The initial studies on the plasma membrane (PM) Ca(2+)-transport ATPases were made in the erythrocyte, a structure that can not be taken as representing a typical eukaryotic cell. In other cell types however, the study of the PM Ca(2+)-transport ATPase is complicated by the simultaneous expression of related Ca(2+)-pumps in intracellular stores. Whereas there are as yet no known specific inhibitors for the PM Ca(2+)-transport ATPase, a number of selective inhibitors for the endo(sarco)plasmic reticulum Ca2+ pumps have been described: thapsigargin, cyclopiazonic acid and 2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-benzohydroquinone. With the recent introduction of the molecular biological approach, it became quickly obvious that a family of at least 5 different PM Ca(2+)-transport ATPase genes govern the tissue-dependent expression of PM Ca2+ pumps. Moreover alternative splicing of the primary gene transcripts was found to further enhance the number of pump variants. The PM Ca(2+)-transport ATPase are subject to modulatory control by calmodulin, by acidic phospholipids, and by the known families of protein kinases. Each of the ensuing effects are mutually related and interdependent. The wide variety PM Ca2+ pump isoforms and their regulation by such an intricate modulatory network allows the distinct tissues to adapt most adequately to the prevailing tissue and stimulus specific requirements.

Oxytocin pretreatment of pregnant rat uterus inhibits Ca2+ uptake in plasma membrane and sarcoplasmic reticulum

Myometrium from rats in varying stages of pregnancy (from 17 to 22 days) was treated with oxytocin (0.1-10 microM) and plasma membranes and sarcoplasmic reticulum were isolated using a Percoll gradient. When the myometrium had been treated with oxytocin, Ca2+ uptake was reduced by 29.4% in the plasma membrane and by 32.6% in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The inhibitory action of oxytocin was highly dependent upon the stage of gestation: Only membranes from rats close to term (21-22 days) exhibited reduced Ca2+ transport activity after hormone treatment. This effect correlated highly with a significant decrease in the serum progesterone level of these animals. In plasma membrane vesicles, oxytocin reduced the maximal velocity of the Ca2+ pump without significantly affecting the affinity for Ca2+. Oxytocin did not affect the passive permeability of the plasma membranes, nor their proportion of sealed inside-out vesicles nor the amount of Ca2(+)-pump protein in these membranes. In addition, oxytocin caused no change in the passive permeability of the membrane nor in the rate of inositol trisphosphate-induced Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. These results suggest that there is a specific action of oxytocin on the activity of the myometrial plasma membrane and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pumps which may contribute to the maintenance of an elevated intracellular calcium level during parturition.

Ca2+ extrusion across plasma membrane and Ca2+ uptake by intracellular stores

The aim of this review is to summarize the various systems that remove Ca2+ from the cytoplasm. We will initially focus on the Ca2+ pump and the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger of the plasma membrane. We will review the functional regulation of these systems and the recent progress obtained with molecular-biology techniques, which pointed to the existence of different isoforms of the Ca2+ pump. The Ca2+ pumps of the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum will be discussed next, by summarizing the discoveries obtained with molecular-biology techniques, and by reviewing the physiological regulation of these proteins. We will finally briefly review the mitochondrial Ca(2+)-uptake mechanism.