Imaging of Ca2+ release by caffeine and 9-methyl-7-bromoeudistomin D and the associated activation of large conductance Ca2+-dependent K+ channels in urinary bladder smooth muscle cells of the guinea pig

Ca2+ release by caffeine and 9-methyl-7-bromoeudistomin D (MBED) and the concomitant activation of large conductance Ca2+-dependent K+ (BK) channels were analyzed using confocal Ca2+ imaging and whole cell voltage-clamp methods in guinea pig urinary bladder smooth muscle cells. Puff application of 3 or 10 mM caffeine for several seconds (2 - 5 s) elicited a large increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and induced a phasic outward current at a holding potential of -40 mV. The phasic outward current was the summation of spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) due to marked activation of BK channels and was followed by a short cessation of STOCs. Although the increase in superficial [Ca2+]i by caffeine was faster than that in global [Ca2+]i, the peak [Ca2+]i was identical in these areas. Puff application of 100 microM MBED also markedly enhanced STOCs for a few seconds. This response to MBED was not observed when stored Ca2+ was depleted by caffeine. The increase in [Ca2+]i by MBED occurred mainly in superficial areas. Longer application of 100 microM MBED for 2 min did not induce significant global [Ca2+]i increase but decreased the amount of Ca2+ release and cell shortening during the subsequent application of 10 mM caffeine. These results indicate that short application of MBED releases Ca2+ preferentially from superficial storage sites, presumably due to its slow approach to deeper sites. MBED may be a good pharmacological tool to manipulate selectively the superficial Ca2+ stores related to STOCs.

Ca2+ images and K+ current during depolarization in smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig vas deferens and urinary bladder

1. Electrical events and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]) imaged using fluo-3 and laser scanning confocal microscopy were simultaneously monitored in single smooth muscle cells freshly isolated from guinea-pig vas deferens or urinary bladder. 2. Images obtained every 8 ms, during stepping from -60 to 0 or +10 mV for 50 ms under voltage clamp, showed that a rise in [Ca2+] could be detected within 20 ms of depolarization in five to twenty small (< 2 micrometer diameter) 'hot spots', over 95 % of which were located within 1.5 micrometer of the cell membrane. Depolarization at 30 s intervals activated hot spots at the same places. 3. Cd2+ or verapamil abolished both hot spots and Ca2+-activated K+ current (IK,Ca). Caffeine almost abolished hot spots and markedly reduced IK,Ca. Cyclopiazonic acid, which raised basal global [Ca2+], decreased the rise in hot spot [Ca2+] and IK,Ca amplitude during depolarization. These results suggest that Ca2+ entry caused Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR). 4. Under voltage clamp, hot spot [Ca2+] closely paralleled the rise in IK,Ca and reached a peak within 20 ms of the start of depolarization, but the rise in global [Ca2+] over the whole cell area was much slower. Step depolarization to potentials positive to -20 mV caused hot spots to grow in size and coalesce, leading to a rise in global [Ca2+] and contraction. Ca2+ hot spots also occurred during the up-stroke of an evoked action potential under current clamp. 5. It is concluded that the entry of Ca2+ in the early stages of an action potential evokes CICR from discrete subplasmalemma Ca2+ storage sites and generates hot spots that spread to initiate a contraction. The activation of Ca2+-dependent K+ channels in the plasmalemma over hot spots initiates IK,Ca and action potential repolarization.

Characteristics of Ca2+ release for activation of K+ current and contractile system in some smooth muscles

Characteristics of Ca2+ release from stores were investigated in strips from ileum and portal vein and in isolated myocytes from ileum and urinary bladder of the guinea pig with use of caffeine and 9-methyl-7-bromoeudistomin D (MBED), a potent releaser of Ca2+ from skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum. In skinned strips, 1-30 mM caffeine elicited a transient contraction, but 10-300 microM MBED did not. Pretreatment with 100 microM MBED did not affect the subsequent caffeine-induced contraction. In single cells loaded with indo 1-acetoxymethyl ester, 10 mM caffeine increased cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration, whereas 100 microM MBED elicited a small or no increase. Under whole cell clamp, spontaneous transient outward currents through Ca(2+)-dependent K+ (BK) channels were first enhanced and then suppressed by 30 microM MBED or 5 mM caffeine. The amplitude of Ca(2+)-dependent transient K+ current on depolarization was reduced by MBED and caffeine (50% inhibitory concentrations = 20 microM and 1 mM, respectively). Other currents and single BK channel activity were not significantly affected by MBED. The Ca2+ release from stores responsible for BK channel activation may be resolved from that for the activation of the contractile system by MBED in these smooth muscle cells.

Effects of ONO-1101, a novel beta-antagonist, on action potential and membrane currents in cardiac muscle

Direct effects of ONO-1101 ¿(-)-[(S)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]methyl-3-[4-[(S) -2-hydroxy-3-(2-morpholino carbonylamino)ethylamino] propoxy]phenylpropionate monohydrochloride), a novel beta-antagonist, on action potential parameters and membrane currents, and its beta adrenoceptor antagonism were examined in cardiac muscle. Action potential-parameters in papillary muscle of reserpinized animals and membrane currents recorded from single myocytes obtained from guinea pig and rabbit hearts were not affected by 1 to 100 microM ONO-1101. On the other hand, ONO-1101 markedly inhibited the potentiation of Ca current by isoproterenol in single cardiac myocytes of the guinea pig. The concentration-response relationship of Ca current for isoproterenol was shifted to the right. This effect resembled that of esmolol, which is also a beta adrenoceptor antagonist. A Schild plot analysis revealed the slope and pA2 value of each antagonist (ONO-1101, 0.94, 8.0; and esmolol, 0.98, 7.3, respectively) and demonstrated that ONO-1101 is about 5 times more potent than esmolol as a beta-antagonist. Two other effects of isoproterenol: 1) potentiation of delayed rectifier K current and 2) activation of chloride current, were also inhibited by ONO-1101. The time required for 50% removal of beta-antagonism of ONO-1101 and esmolol after the washout was estimated as 4 and 6 min, respectively, in depolarized papillary muscle. These results suggest that ONO-1101 is a potent beta-antagonist whose effects were removed quickly by washout. When applied at what is thought to be a clinical dosage, ONO-1101 had no direct effects on action potential-parameters and membrane currents in cardiac muscle. These characteristics of ONO-1101 suggest that this agent may be effective in clinical use.