Some evidence against the involvement of arachidonic acid in muscarinic suppression of voltage-gated calcium channel current in guinea-pig ileal smooth muscle cells

Actions and Mechanisms of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Voltage-Gated Ion Channels

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) act on most ion channels, thereby having significant physiological and pharmacological effects. In this review we summarize data from numerous PUFAs on voltage-gated ion channels containing one or several voltage-sensor domains, such as voltage-gated sodium (Na_V), potassium (K_V), calcium (Ca_V), and proton (H_V) channels, as well as calcium-activated potassium (K_Ca), and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. Some effects of fatty acids appear to be channel specific, whereas others seem to be more general. Common features for the fatty acids to act on the ion channels are at least two double bonds in cis geometry and a charged carboxyl group. In total we identify and label five different sites for the PUFAs. PUFA site 1: The intracellular cavity. Binding of PUFA reduces the current, sometimes as a time-dependent block, inducing an apparent inactivation. PUFA site 2: The extracellular entrance to the pore. Binding leads to a block of the channel. PUFA site 3: The intracellular gate. Binding to this site can bend the gate open and increase the current. PUFA site 4: The interface between the extracellular leaflet of the lipid bilayer and the voltage-sensor domain. Binding to this site leads to an opening of the channel via an electrostatic attraction between the negatively charged PUFA and the positively charged voltage sensor. PUFA site 5: The interface between the extracellular leaflet of the lipid bilayer and the pore domain. Binding to this site affects slow inactivation. This mapping of functional PUFA sites can form the basis for physiological and pharmacological modifications of voltage-gated ion channels.

Inhibitory effects of SKF96365 on the activities of K(+) channels in mouse small intestinal smooth muscle cells

In order to investigate the effects of SKF96365 (SKF), which is a non-selective cationic channel blocker, on K⁺ channel currents, we recorded currents through ATP sensitive K⁺ (I_KATP), voltage-gated K⁺ (I_Kv) and Ca²⁺ activated K⁺ channels (I_BK) in the absence and presence of SKF in single small intestinal myocytes of mice with patch-clamp techniques. SKF (10 µM) reversibly abolished I_KATP that was induced by cromakalim (10 µM), which is a selective ATP sensitive K⁺ channel opener. These inhibitory effects were induced in a concentration-dependent and voltage-independent manner. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was 0.85 µM, which was obviously lower than that reported for the muscarinic cationic current. In addition, SKF (1 µM ≈ the IC₅₀ value in I_KATP suppression) reversibly inhibited the I_Kv that was induced by repetitive depolarizing pulses from −80 to 20 mV. However, the extent of the inhibitory effects was only ~30%. In contrast, SKF (1 µM) had no significant effects on spontaneous transient I_BK and caffeine-induced I_BK. These results indicated that SKF inhibited ATP sensitive K⁺ channels and voltage-gated K⁺ channels, with the ATP sensitive K⁺ channels being more sensitive than the voltage-gated K⁺ channels. These inhibitory effects on K⁺ channels should be considered when SKF is used as a cationic channel blocker.

In-vitro characterization of the pharmacological effects induced by (-)-α-bisabolol in rat smooth muscle preparations

The present study deals with the pharmacological effects of the sesquiterpene alcohol (-)-α-bisabolol on various smooth-muscle preparations from rats. Under resting tonus, (-)-α-bisabolol (30-300 µmol/L) relaxed duodenal strips, whereas it showed biphasic effects in other preparations, contracting endothelium-intact aortic rings and urinary bladder strips, and relaxing these tissues at higher concentrations (600-1000 µmol/L). In preparations precontracted either electromechanically (by 60 mmol/L K(+)) or pharmacomechanically (by phenylephrine or carbachol), (-)-α-bisabolol showed only relaxing properties. The pharmacological potency of (-)-α-bisabolol was variable, being higher in mesenteric vessels, whereas it exerted relaxing activity with a lesser potency on tracheal or colonic tissues. In tissues possessing spontaneous activity, (-)-α-bisabolol completely decreased spontaneous contractions in duodenum, whereas it increased their amplitude in urinary bladder tissue. Administered in vivo, (-)-α-bisabolol attenuated the increased responses of carbachol in tracheal rings of ovalbumin-sensitized rats challenged with ovalbumin, but was without effect in the decreased responsiveness of urinary bladder strips in mice treated with ifosfamide. In summary, (-)-α-bisabolol is biologically active in smooth muscle. In some tissues, (-)-α-bisabolol preferentially relaxed contractions induced electromechanically, especially in tracheal smooth muscle. The findings from tracheal rings reveal that (-)-α-bisabolol may be an inhibitor of voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels.

Mechanism of arachidonic acid modulation of the T-type Ca2+ channel alpha1G

Arachidonic acid (AA) modulates T-type Ca(2+) channels and is therefore a potential regulator of diverse cell functions, including neuronal and cardiac excitability. The underlying mechanism of modulation is unknown. Here we analyze the effects of AA on the T-type Ca(2+) channel alpha(1G) heterologously expressed in HEK-293 cells. AA inhibited alpha(1G) currents within a few minutes, regardless of preceding exposure to inhibitors of AA metabolism (ETYA and 17-ODYA). Current inhibition was also observed in cell-free inside-out patches, indicating a membrane-delimited interaction of AA with the channel. AA action was consistent with a decrease of the open probability without changes in the size of unitary currents. AA shifted the inactivation curve to more negative potentials, increased the speed of macroscopic inactivation, and decreased the extent of recovery from inactivation at -80 mV but not at -110 mV. AA induced a slight increase of activation near the threshold and did not significantly change the deactivation kinetics or the rectification pattern. We observed a tonic current inhibition, regardless of whether the channels were held in resting or inactivated states during AA perfusion, suggesting a state-independent interaction with the channel. Model simulations indicate that AA inhibits T-type currents by switching the channels into a nonavailable conformation and by affecting transitions between inactivated states, which results in the negative shift of the inactivation curve. Slow-inactivating alpha(1G) mutants showed an increased affinity for AA with respect to the wild type, indicating that the structural determinants of fast inactivation are involved in the AA-channel interaction.

Ca(2+) channel properties in smooth muscle cells of the urinary bladder from pig and human

Ca(2+) channel properties of pig and human bladder smooth muscle were investigated utilizing standard whole-cell patch clamp techniques. Both the amplitude obtained and the current density of Ca(2+) channel current evoked by step depolarization were larger in human than in pig myocytes. The inward currents were sensitive to an L-type Ca(2+) channel antagonist, nifedipine, the effects of which were not significantly different between species. In both species, prior application of ATP (0.1 mM) had no effect on activation of this voltage-sensitive channel current, while a muscarinic receptor agonist, carbachol (0.1 mM), significantly attenuated the amplitude of this current. Furthermore, inclusion of GDP-beta-S or Heparin in the pipette abolished or had no effect on the suppression of Ca(2+) current by carbachol, respectively. These results forward the pig as a good model for the human in detrusor Ca(2+) channel properties, especially with regard to neural modulation, although voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channels seem to make greater contribution in human bladder physiology.

Arachidonic acid both inhibits and enhances whole cell calcium currents in rat sympathetic neurons

We recently reported that arachidonic acid (AA) inhibits L- and N-type Ca(2+) currents at positive test potentials in the presence of the dihydropyridine L-type Ca(2+) channel agonist (+)-202-791 in dissociated neonatal rat superior cervical ganglion neurons [Liu L and Rittenhouse AR. J Physiol (Lond) 525: 291-404, 2000]. In this first of two companion papers, we characterized the mechanism of inhibition by AA at the whole cell level. In the presence of either omega-conotoxin GVIA or nimodipine, AA decreased current amplitude, confirming that L- and N-type currents, respectively, were inhibited. AA-induced inhibition was concentration dependent and reversible with an albumin-containing wash solution, but appears independent of AA metabolism and G protein activity. In characterizing inhibition, an AA-induced enhancement of current amplitude was revealed that occurred primarily at negative test potentials. Cell dialysis with albumin minimized inhibition but had little effect on enhancement, suggesting that AA has distinct sites of action. We examined AA's actions on current kinetics and found that AA increased holding potential-dependent inactivation. AA also enhanced the rate of N-type current activation. These findings indicate that AA causes multiple changes in sympathetic Ca(2+) currents.

Participation of nitric oxide synthase and cyclo-oxygenase in the signal transduction pathway of ileal muscarinic acetylcholine receptors

Parasympathetic activation of ileal motility is essential for intestinal physiology. We have previously demonstrated that carbachol activates muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) of rat intestine and stimulates ileal motility via phospholipase C. This activation induces phosphoinositide turnover and intracellular calcium mobilization. We show here that carbachol stimulation of rat ileal motility is potentiated by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl arginine. Thus, we confirm that carbachol increases, in a dose-dependent manner, the activity of a NOS isoform that depends on calcium-calmodulin binding. Its product, nitric oxide (NO), activates not only guanylyl cyclase, inducing cGMP synthesis, but also cyclo-oxygenase, producing prostaglandin E(2). The prostanoid probably cooperates with NO to induce ileal smooth muscle relaxation.

Microtubule cytoskeleton involvement in muscarinic suppression of voltage-gated calcium channel current in guinea-pig ileal smooth muscle

1. Effects of agents, which affect microtubule polymerization-depolymerization cycle, on Ba2+ current (IBa) flowing through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and carbachol (CCh)-induced sustained suppression of IBa were examined in whole-cell voltage-clamped smooth muscle cells of guinea-pig ileum. 2. offchicine (100 microM) and vinblastine (100 microM), microtubule depolymerizers, increased the ampitude of IBa. Lumicolchicine (100 microM), an inactive analogue of colchicine, had no effect on IBa. 3. Taxol (1 - 100 microM), a microtubule polymerizer, decreased IBa in a concentration-dependent manner and accelerated the rate of inactivation of IBa. Baccatin III (100 microM), an inactive analogue of taxol, had no effect on IBa. 4. Colchicine (100 microM) and vinblastine (100 microM), but not lumicolchicine (100 microM), decreased or abolished the sustained component of CCh (10 microM)-induced IBa suppression. 5. Pretreatment with taxol (10 - 100 microM) resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in IBa and the action of CCh on IBa. The inhibitory effects of taxol and CCh on IBa were not additive. 6. Colchicine (100 microM) or taxol (100 microM) had no effect on voltage-gated K+ channel current or CCh-induced non-selective cationic channel current. 7. These results suggest that polymerization of microtubules leads to suppression of Ca2+ channel activity, and that muscarinic sustained suppression of Ca2+ channel current is mediated by a signal transduction element which involves microtubule cytoskeleton.

Inhibitors of spasmogen-induced Ca2+ channel suppression in smooth muscle cells from small intestine

1. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were made from smooth muscle cells isolated from the longitudinal muscle layer of guinea-pig ileum. Carbachol (acting at muscarinic receptors) or histamine (acting at H1 histamine receptors) suppressed Ca2+ channel current. The effect of either agonist had an initial transient component followed by a sustained component. 2. Wortmannin inhibited transient and sustained components of carbachol-induced Ca2+ channel current suppression: half-effective inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were 1.1 microM and 0.6 microM for the two components respectively. Wortmannin also inhibited the transient phase of carbachol-induced cationic current (IC50 1.6 microM) and Ca2+-dependent K+-current (IC50 1.7 microM). Wortmannin did not appear to produce any direct block of cationic channels or Ca2+ channels. 3. Intracellular application of the phospholipase inhibitor D609 (tricyclodecan-9-ylxanthogenate) inhibited transient and sustained components of histamine action on the Ca2+ channel current: the IC50 was about 130 microM for both components. Carbachol action on Ca2+ channels was also inhibited by D609. D609 had no significant direct blocking effect on Ca2+ channels, cationic channels activated by carbachol, or Ca2+-activated K+-current in response to flash-photolysis of caged-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. 4. Micromolar concentrations of wortmannin and D609 are inhibitors of both components of spasmogen-induced Ca2+ channel suppression. The data suggest that both components are mediated by a common, or similar, signal transduction element which is a phospholipase C (PLC) or phospholipase D (PLD) isoform.