Effects of factors inhibiting tension development on oxygen consumption of guinea pig taenia coli in high K medium

Aerobic metabolism on muscle contraction in porcine gastric smooth muscle

Exposure to chronic hypoxic conditions causes various gastric diseases, including gastric ulcers. It has been suggested that gastric smooth muscle contraction is associated with aerobic metabolism. However, there are no reports on the association between gastric smooth muscle contraction and aerobic metabolism, and we have investigated this association in the present study. High K⁺- and carbachol (CCh)-induced muscle contractions involved increasing O₂ consumption. Aeration with N₂ (hypoxia) and NaCN significantly decreased high K⁺- and CCh-induced muscle contraction and O₂ consumption. In addition, hypoxia and NaCN significantly decreased creatine phosphate (PCr) contents in the presence of high K⁺. Moreover, decrease in CCh-induced contraction and O₂ consumption was greater than that of high K⁺. Our results suggest that hypoxia and NaCN inhibit high K⁺- and CCh-induced contractions in gastric fundus smooth muscles by decreasing O₂ consumption and intracellular PCr content. However, the inhibition of CCh-induced muscle contraction was greater than that of high K⁺-induced muscle contraction.

Effects of metabolic inhibition on phosphorylation levels of PKC isoforms in the guinea pig taenia caeci

We investigated which isoform of protein kinase C (PKC) is responsible to metabolic inhibition in the guinea pig taenia caeci with respect to their phosphorylation levels. By Western blot analysis using isoform-specific antibodies, at least four isoforms of PKC, alpha, beta2, epsilon and zeta were identified in the taenia. Prolonged metabolic inhibition of hypoxia, hypoxia+glucose depletion, and addition of cyanide (all in the presence of high K+) for more than 60 min, but not glucose-depletion only, elicited dephosphorylation of PKCs, alpha, beta2 and epsilon, except zeta. Ca2+ depletion from the medium prevented the dephosphorylation of PKCs induced by hypoxia, and apparently inhibited the dephosphorylation induced by hypoxia+glucose depletion. Acute treatment with hypoxia for 10-30 min elicited a gradual dephosphorylation of PKCbeta2, but not of other tested PKC isoforms. Considering the ATP level under various metabolic conditions reported previously, PKCbeta2 is suggested to be primarily responsible to hypoxia, and its dephosphorylation is closely associated with the alteration of adenylate compounds in the cell. Re-oxygenation after prolonged hypoxia did not restore the phosphoryation level of any tested PKCs, suggesting that the dephosphorylation of PKCs is associated with the irreversible damage of the cell under hypoxia. Presumably, the dephosphorylaton of PKCs, particularly PKCbeta2, plays a role in the signal transduction pathway under metabolic inhibition of the taenia, as reported in proliferative and pathophysiological processes in many other cells.

Compartmentation of ATP synthesis and utilization in smooth muscle: roles of aerobic glycolysis and creatine kinase

The phosphocreatine content of smooth muscle is of similar magnitude to ATP. Thus the function of the creatine kinase system in this tissue cannot simply be regarded as an energy buffer. Thus an understanding of its role in smooth muscle behavior can point to CK function in other systems. From our perspective CK function in smooth muscle is one example of a more general phenomenon, that of the co-localization of ATP synthesis and utilization. In an interesting and analogous fashion distinct glycolytic cascades are also localized in regions of the cell with specialized energy requirements. Similar to CK, glycolytic enzymes are known to be localized on thin filaments, sarcoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane. In this chapter we will describe the relations between glycolysis and smooth muscle function and compare and contrast to that of the CK system. Our goal is to more fully understand the significance of the compartmentation of distinct pathways for ATP synthesis with specific functions in smooth muscle. This organization of metabolism and function seen most clearly in smooth muscle is likely representative of many other cell types.

Possibility of metabolic control of membrane excitation

In the guinea pig taenia coli, when glycogen is depleted by repeating Ca-induced contracture in excess K solution containing no glucose, the tension cannot be maintained. The decrease in tension is accompanied by reduction of high energy phosphate compounds and oxygen consumption. When substrate is readmitted to the glycogen-depleted preparation in the presence of 2.4 mM Ca and 20 mM K, the first response is hyperpolarization of the membrane and relaxation, and this is followed by depolarization and development of contracture. The latter response is blocked by verapamil, suggesting that energy supply increases the Ca conductance of the plasma membrane. The early response is considered to be due to activation of electrogenic Ca pump, since this is not affected by ouabain as well as removal of Na and K. ATP produced by substrate readmission is probably preferentially utilized for Ca pump activation to reduce the intracellular Ca. The recovery of tension is likely to be brought about by ATP supply not only to the contractile machinery but also to the plasma membrane to remove inactivation of Ca conductance. It is postulated that as the energy source is depleted, energy consumption is automatically limited by suppressing Ca influx, as a self-defence mechanism. Since beta HB is as effective as glucose in the recovery of these processes, and also in the activation of electrogenic Na pump, the metabolic pathway of oxidative phosphorylation alone can support these functions without a contribution of the glycolytic pathway.

The inhibitory effect of monensin on high K-induced contraction in guinea-pig taenia coli

This study deals with the effects of monensin, a Na ionophore, on contraction, cellular Na content, oxygen consumption and tissue ATP content of smooth muscle of the guinea-pig taenia coli depolarized by high K (62.7 mM) solution. The application of monensin (10(-8) -10(-6) M) had little effect on the phasic component of the K contraction while it decreased the tonic component. The inhibitory effect of monensin, unlike that of verapamil, was not antagonized by raising the concentration of external Ca. Under hypoxic conditions, the inhibitory action of monensin (10(-7) M) was greatly reduced. The removal of Na (choline or sucrose substitution) from the high K solution did not attenuate the inhibitory effect of hypoxia or monensin. Monensin (10(-7) M) produced only a small increase in cellular Na in the depolarized muscle. The K-induced increase in the rate of oxygen consumption was suppressed by monensin (10(-6) M). In high K solution, but not in normal solution, monensin (10(-6) M) decreased the tissue ATP content. These results suggest that the relaxing action of monensin is mainly due to the inhibition of aerobic energy metabolism of the smooth muscle of guinea-pig taenia coli.

Properties of contractions induced by ouabain and K+-free solution in guinea pig taenia coli

The properties of contractions induced by ouabain and by K depletion were studied in comparison with those induced by other stimulants in guinea pig taenia coli. Ouabain 7.5 X 10(-6) M and K depletion produced biphasic contractions with similar time courses. Both contractions were slightly inhibited by low (0.25 mM) and high (7.5 mM) Ca concentrations, while the high K contraction was strongly inhibited by low Ca and potentiated by high Ca. Contractions induced by ouabain and K depletion were highly sensitive to lowering of the temperature and abolished at 15 degrees C, although contractions induced by carbachol 1.1 X 10(-7) M and histamine 5 X 10(-7) M were still observed below 15 degrees C. In Cl deficient solution substituted by SO4 or propionate, contractions induced by ouabain and K depletion were potentiated, while contractions induced by high K, carbachol and histamine were suppressed. These results indicate a striking similarity between contractions induced by ouabain and K depletion suggesting a common mechanism for both contractions.

The inhibitory effect of papaverine on respiration-dependent contracture of guinea pig taenia coli in high-K medium. III. The differential effect of papaverine and rotenone on DT diaphorase

The differential effects of papaverine (Pap) and rotenone (Rot) were studied on the highly respiration-dependent contracture of guinea pig taenia coli in 40 mM potassium (40-K) medium, on isolated DT diaphorase activity and on mitochondrial respiration. The inhibition of guinea pig taenia coli to the 40-K induced tension by Rot (5 x 10(-7)M) was fully reversed by the addition of a water soluble vitamin K3 (VK3) derivative or menadione sodium bisulfite (MSB). A low concentration (10(-7)--10(-6)M) of Pap which had no effect on the 40-K induced tension inhibited the VK3 restored tension from the Rot suppression, corresponding to a Pap inhibition of the isolated DT diaphorase. Inhibition of the effective concentration of Pap to the 40-K induced tension development was never reversed by addition of VK3 or MSB. In taenia coli, both MSB and VK3 established a bypass of the Rot sensitive site on the mitochondrial respiratory chain by means of the DT diaphorase system. The difference in washout-efficacy between Pap and Rot on the inhibition of 40-K induced tension was ascribed to a difference in their mitochondrial binding properties.

The inhibitory effect of papaverine on respiration-dependent contracture of guinea pig taenia coli in high-K medium. I. The relationship between contracture and respiration

Papaverine (Pap) inhibited a tonic tension development in guinea pig taenia coli induced by an elevation of the potassium concentration of the medium to 40 mM (40-K). The ID50 of Pap was 4.5 x 10(-6) M. Inhibition of the 40-K induced tonic tension by Pap was dependent on the calculated concentration of non-ionized form, but not the ionized form. Inhibition of the tonic tension by Pap and various metabolic inhibitors was not antagonized by raising the Ca++ concentration in the medium. Results obtained from simultaneous measurement of the 40-K induced O2 consumption and tension illustrated that the inhibition of O2 consumption rapidly induced the inhibition of the tension. Furthermore, glucose removal, amytal or Pap resulted in a progressive relationship between the inhibition of O2 consumption and the inhibition of tension. The inhibition of Pap as determined by O2 consumption was not reversed by application of 10(-4) M 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP). These results plus graphical analysis of the mechanical response suggest that Pap may penetrate the cell membrane and inhibit mitochondrial respiration, thereby inhibiting this very respiration-dependent contracture.

Effect of anoxia on isotonic shortening induced by high-K medium in rat uterus

The effect of anoxia on the shortening induced by high-K medium was investigated in isolated rat uterus. The shortening induced by high-K medium was maintained for 75 min or more under normoxia in the initial load (0.35 g). Under normoxia 1, 2, 2.5, and 3 g load to the uterus reduced the maximum shortening induced by high-K medium to 93, 65, 18 and 3%, respectively. Under anoxia the high-K-induced shortening in the initial load was not so affected and it was maintained at least for 60 min. However, against 0.7 and 1 g load to the uterus, the maximum shortening reduced greatly to 14 and 13% under anoxia. Effects of anoxia on the shortenings induced by high-K medium in guinea pigs taenia coli and longitudinal muscle from ileum were also studied. Our observations support the theory that the shortening of the light loaded muscle under anoxia is maintained by only a little force and the muscle may not be so dependent on metabolic energy.

The regulation of respiration of guinea pig taenia coli in high-K medium: the role of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide, adenosine diphosphate and Ca++

In an attempt to elucidate the regulation mechanism of respiration in the smooth muscle cell, we investigated the roles of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NAD), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and Ca++ in the muscle respiration using the tissues and subcellular fractions from guinea pig taenia coli. The tension in the strips of taenia coli increased with a concomitant increase in O2 consumption in high-K medium (40 mM K) containing 2.5 mM Ca. 10(-3) M amytal and 10(-5)M ouabain decreased the high-K induced tension and O2 consumption of the muscle. 10(-4)M 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) relieved the decreased respiration induced by ouabain, but not that with amytal. From these data it is suggested that NADH-linked respiration plays an important role in the respiration of the muscle. Ca++ in concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 mM in the high-K medium resulted in an increase in tension and in O2 concumption progressively. In spectrophotometric observations of subcellular fractions of the taenia coli, ADP increased in absorbance change at 340 m mu. Such occurred in mitochondrial fractions and was initiated by the addition of NADH. Therefore it is deduced that the increase in ADP level of the cytoplasm is primarily due to a contraction triggered by Ca++ thus stimulating respiration. On the other hand, at 0.1 mM of Ca++ concentration, the muscle strip increased O2 consumption without tension development in high-K medium. In the spectrophotometric observations, Ca++ and Sr++ increased the absorbance change in the homogenate and in the mitochondrial fraction. Hence, it seems that one part of the Ca++ entering into the smooth muscle treated with the high-K increased O2 consumption in mitochondia independent of an increase in muscle tension. From these results it is concluded that NADH-linked respiration plays an important role in the smooth muscle respiration in high-K medium and that ADP and Ca++ also play a role in regulating respiration.