Effects of the calcium channel facilitator, CGP 28,392, on different modes of contraction in smooth muscle of rabbit and rat aortae and guinea-pig taenia caeci

Mechanisms for Ca signaling in vascular smooth muscle: resolved from 45Ca uptake and efflux experiments

Established cell lines are now widely used in experiments concerning vascular smooth muscle (VSM) function; however, considerable evidence suggests that cultured VSM cells are functionally different from VSM cells in intact blood vessels. In order to test the hypothesis that calcium signaling mechanisms are comparable in these two preparations, we developed a new method for high resolution 45Ca efflux studies in A7r5 cells. Briefly, this method involves plating cells in the lumen of a tubular glass efflux chamber and, after loading the cells with 45Ca, perfusing the chamber with a physiological saline solution and collecting the effluent. Using this method we found that the plasma membrane in cultured cells is not rate limiting for calcium efflux, since the efflux curves from both permeabilized and intact cells are kinetically the same. We also found the plasma membrane is not rate limiting in whole aortic segments by using a depolarizing solution followed by dihydropyridine solution. Thus, we demonstrated that the data obtained from cells or tissues with intact membranes reveal information about the intracellular stores (sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria). Combining efflux data with a detailed kinetic model of cellular Ca transport allows least-squares estimation of the rate constants for release and uptake of Ca2+ by intracellular stores with a high degree of confidence (CV < 25%) as well as the Ca2+ contents and transmembrane fluxes associated with these stores. Quantitative comparison of results obtained from A7r5 cells with those we previously obtained for rabbit aortic segments reveals marked similarities and suggests that A7r5 cells serve as excellent model experiments for VSM cell Ca2+ homeostasis.

Different pathways of calcium sensitization activated by receptor agonists and phorbol esters in vascular smooth muscle

1. It has been shown that receptor agonists and activators of protein kinase C, phorbol esters, increase Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile elements in vascular smooth muscle. To discover if protein kinase C is involved in the agonist-mediated Ca2+ sensitization, we examined the effects of receptor agonists in the rat isolated aorta in which protein kinase C activity had been diminished by pretreatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate for 24 h. 2. In the aorta with protein kinase C activity, a high concentration (1 microM) of 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate induced contraction and a low concentration (100 nM) potentiated high K(+)-induced contraction. In addition, prostaglandin F2 alpha induced greater contractions than high K+ at a given cytosolic Ca2+ level. The maximally effective concentrations of noradrenaline and endothelin-1 also induced greater contraction than high K+. In the aorta without protein kinase C activity, the contraction induced by 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate and its potentiation of the high K(+)-induced contraction were abolished. However, prostaglandin F2 alpha, noradrenaline and endothelin-1 still induced a greater contraction than high K+. 3. In the aorta without protein kinase C activity, noradrenaline, endothelin-1 and prostaglandin F 2 alpha, but not 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate, induced contractions in the presence of the Ca2+ channel blocker, verapamil, or in the absence of external Ca2+, by increasing Ca2+ sensitivity. 4. In the permeabilized preparations, inhibition of protein kinase C activity abolished the effect of potentiation of the Ca(2+)-induced contraction by 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate although the potentiation of the contraction by prostaglandin F2 alpha did not change. 5. These results suggest that there are two pathways for Ca2+ sensitization in rat aorta; a protein kinase C-dependent pathway which is activated by phorbol esters, and a protein kinase C-independent pathway which is activated by receptor agonists.

Loading of fura-2/AM with an aid of DFP on single smooth muscle cells prepared from guinea pig taenia coli

Procedures for loading fura 2 acetoxymethyl ester (fura 2/AM) into smooth muscle cells isolated from guinea pig taenia coli have been investigated. It was difficult to load these cells with fura 2 in the absence of diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP). The presence of DFP, a potent cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitor during the loading, significantly enhanced the incorporation of the fura 2 into the cells. More than 80% of the single cells treated with DFP and fura 2/AM were viable. DFP did not affect the ability of the cell to shorten in response to either Ca2+ or carbachol (CCh). The single cells contracted transiently with caffeine and the intracellular Ca2+ concentration increased simultaneously. The results indicate that the amount of fura 2/AM incorporated into the single smooth muscle cells depends on the activity of ChE or various serine proteases located outside the cells and suppression of these enzymes induces more efficient incorporation, which permits shorter incorporation periods. Since the presence of DFP may shorten the incubation time significantly, the viability of these cells is improved. The procedure might be applicable for measuring simultaneously the contraction of cells and the behavior of intracellular Ca2+ in the same cells.

Studies on the alignment of fibroblasts in uniform applied electrical fields

Uniform electrical fields have been applied to human gingival fibroblasts by means of uniform ionic currents passed through a thin chamber. Cells were observed to align in fields between 0.1 and 1.5 V/mm but did not display directed motion toward the anode or the cathode of the chamber. Statistical analysis of directional data was used to distinguish threshold levels of orientation at low field intensities, to quantify the dependence of alignment on time and field intensity, and to analyze differences between alignment of cells treated with the Ca2+ transport modifiers A23187, verapamil, and lanthanum. Alignment occurred at a steady rate and was dependent in a saturating fashion on field strength. The Ca2+ ionophore A23187 had a significant inhibitory effect on cell alignment in applied electrical fields; however, the Ca2+ channel blockers lanthanum and verapamil did not have a significant effect on alignment.

Inhibitory effects of caffeine on contractions and calcium movement in vascular and intestinal smooth muscle

1. The mechanism of the inhibitory effect of caffeine was investigated using vascular smooth muscle of rabbit aorta and intestinal smooth muscle of taenia isolated from guinea-pig caecum. 2. Caffeine, 0.5-10 mM, relaxed the sustained contraction induced by 65.4 mM KCl or 10(-6) M noradrenaline in aorta, and by 45.4 mM KCl or 10(-6) M carbachol in taenia. The inhibitory effect of caffeine on the high K+-induced contraction was antagonized by external Ca2+ but not by the Ca2 channel activators, Bay K 8644 (10(-7) M) or CGP 28,392 (10(-7) M). Forskolin (2 x 10(-7) M) potentiated the inhibitory effect of caffeine on the noradrenaline-induced contraction but not on the high K+- or carbachol-induced contraction. Caffeine induced a time- and concentration-dependent increase in the cyclic AMP content of aorta and forskolin caused a further augmentation. 3. 45Ca2+ uptake was increased by high K+ or noradrenaline in aorta and by high K+ or carbachol in taenia. The increments were inhibited by caffeine at concentrations needed to inhibit muscle contractions. 4. 45Ca2+ in the cellular releasable site in aorta was decreased either by noradrenaline or by caffeine. Simultaneous application of noradrenaline and caffeine did not induce an additive decrease. 5. In aorta treated with a Ca2+-free solution, caffeine induced only a small contraction. Noradrenaline induced a greater contraction which was inhibited by caffeine. After washout of caffeine and noradrenaline, the second application of noradrenaline induced a transient contraction suggesting that caffeine does not deplete the noradrenaline-sensitive store. 6. It was concluded that caffeine has multiple sites of action in smooth muscle. Caffeine releases Ca2+ from a store which is apparently not sensitive to noradrenaline. Caffeine may inhibit noradrenalineinduced Ca2' release. Caffeine itself induces only a small contraction possibly because it decreases the Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile filaments and/or increases Ca2+ extrusion. Further, caffeine seems to inhibit stimulated Ca2+ influx. Cyclic AMP may be only partly responsible for the inhibitory effect of caffeine.

Calcium release in smooth muscle

In smooth muscle, maintenance of the contractile response is due to Ca2+ influx through two types of Ca2+ channel, a voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel and a receptor-linked Ca2+ channel. However, a more transient contraction can be obtained by release of Ca2+ from a cellular store, possibly the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In spike generating smooth muscle (e.g., guinea-pig taenia caeci), spike discharges may trigger the release of cellular Ca2+ by activating a Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release mechanism. Caffeine directly activates this mechanism in the absence of a triggered Ca2+ influx. In contrast to this, maintained depolarization may not only release but also refill the Ca2+ store. Drug-receptor interactions also release Ca2+ from a cellular store. This release may be elicited with inositol trisphosphate produced by receptor-linked phosphoinositide turnover. In non-spike generating smooth muscle (e.g., rabbit thoracic aorta), maintained membrane depolarization does not release but, instead, fills the Ca2+ store. However, caffeine and receptor-agonists release the Ca2+ store - possibly by activating the Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release mechanism and phosphoinositide turnover, respectively. The Ca2+ store in smooth muscle is filled by Ca2+ entry through voltage dependent Ca2+ channels and also by resting Ca2+ influx in the absence of receptor-agonists. The Ca2+ entering the cells through these pathways may be accumulated by the Ca2+ store and may activate the contractile filaments.

Effect of DFP on loading of fura 2/AM and quin 2/AM into single smooth muscle cells prepared from guinea pig taenia coli

The effect of diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), a potent cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitor, on loading quin 2 acetoxymethyl ester (quin 2/AM) and fura 2/AM into smooth muscle cells isolated from guinea pig taenia coli was investigated spectrofluorometrically. The presence of DFP during the loading permitted the incorporation of quin 2 into the cells, so that it became possible to measure intracellular Ca2+ concentrations using the ester of this dye. Also, DFP significantly enhanced the incorporation of fura 2 into the cells. These results indicate that loading of quin 2/AM and fura 2/AM into the smooth muscle cells may depend on the suppression of ChE or various serine protease activities outside cells.

Use of tension measurements to delineate the mode of action of vasodilators

Direct experimental procedures to delineate the modes of inhibition of drugs on vascular smooth muscle contractility are described. In isolated rabbit aortic strips, high concentrations of KCl and norepinephrine induce sustained contractions that depend upon Ca2+ influx mediated by selective activation of voltage-dependent and receptor-linked Ca2+ channels, respectively. In the absence of external Ca2+, norepinephrine also induces a transient contraction that is dependent upon release of cellular bound Ca2+. The contractile responses are differentially susceptible to vasodilators acting on different mechanisms. The Ca2+ channel blockers selectively inhibit KCl-induced contraction. The selective inhibitors of norepinephrine-induced contraction include nitro compounds, atrial natriuretic peptide, acetylcholine and other stimulants of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, beta-adrenergic agonists, forskolin, adenosine, and metabolic inhibitors. The nonselective inhibitors of these contractions include the inhibitors of contractile filaments, such as calmodulin inhibitors, and the inhibitors with multiple sites of action, such as papaverine. Although the inhibitors of Ca2+ release from storage site, such as ryanodine, may not inhibit these contractions, these inhibitors inhibit the norepinephrine-induced transient contraction in Ca2+-free solution. Thus, primary evaluation (screening) of drugs affecting vascular smooth muscle contraction can be performed by analyzing their effects on contractile responses of isolated rabbit aorta. Furthermore, methods to define more detailed sites of action of drugs are also described.