The ?1-agonist phenylephrine inhibits voltage-gated Ca2+-channels in vascular smooth muscle cells of rabbit ear artery

A novel inhibitor of receptor-mediated calcium entry (RMCE) is described. SK&F 96365 (1-(beta-[3-(4-methoxy-phenyl)propoxy]-4-methoxyphenethyl)-1H- imidazole hydrochloride) is structurally distinct from the known ‘calcium antagonists’ and shows selectivity in blocking RMCE compared with receptor-mediated internal Ca2+ release. Human platelets, neutrophils and endothelial cells were loaded with the fluorescent Ca2(+)-indicator dyes quin2 or fura-2, in order to measure Ca2+ or Mn2+ entry through RMCE as well as Ca2+ release from internal stores. The IC50 (concn. producing 50% inhibition) for inhibition of RMCE by SK&F 96365 in platelets stimulated with ADP or thrombin was 8.5 microM or 11.7 microM respectively; these concentrations of SK&F 96365 did not affect internal Ca2+ release. Similar effects of SK&F 96365 were observed in suspensions of neutrophils and in single endothelial cells. SK&F 96365 also inhibited agonist-stimulated Mn2+ entry in platelets and neutrophils. The effects of SK&F 96365 were independent of cell type and of agonist, as would be expected for a compound that modulates post-receptor events. Voltage-gated Ca2+ entry in fura-2-loaded GH3 (pituitary) cells and rabbit ear-artery smooth-muscle cells held under voltage-clamp was also inhibited by SK&F 96365; however, the ATP-gated Ca2(+)-permeable channel of rabbit ear-artery smooth-muscle cells was unaffected by SK&F 96365. Thus SK&F 96365 (unlike the ‘organic Ca2+ antagonists’) shows no selectivity between voltage-gated Ca2+ entry and RMCE, although the lack of effect on ATP-gated channels indicates that it discriminates between different types of RMCE. The effects of SK&F 96365 on functional responses of cells thought to be dependent on Ca2+ entry via RMCE were also studied. Under conditions where platelet aggregation is dependent on stimulated Ca2+ entry via RMCE, the response was blocked by SK&F 96365 with an IC50 of 15.9 microM, which is similar to the IC50 of 8-12 microM observed for inhibition of RMCE. Adhesion and chemotaxis of neutrophils were also inhibited by SK&F 96365. SK&F 96365 is a useful tool to distinguish RMCE from internal Ca2+ release, and to probe the role of RMCE in mediating functional responses of cells. However, SK&F 96365 is not as potent (IC50 around 10 microM) or selective (also inhibits voltage-gated Ca2+ entry) as would be desirable, so caution must be exercised when using this compound.

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Increased intracellular Na+ augments mobilization of Ca2+ from SR in vascular smooth muscle cells

AJP Cell Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpcell.1994.266.1.c311 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 266 (1) ◽

pp. C311-C317 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

M. L. Borin ◽

R. M. Tribe ◽

M. P. Blaustein

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽

Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Muscle Cells ◽

Tetraacetic Acid ◽

Free Medium ◽

Atpase Inhibitor ◽

Voltage Gated ◽

Ca2 Channels

The effect of a rise in intracellular Na+ concentration ([Na+]cyt) on the amount of Ca2+ in intracellular stores was studied in vascular smooth muscle cells from the A7r5 line. The relative amount of stored Ca2+ was estimated in fura 2-loaded cells by the rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) evoked by Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). To improve the detection of released Ca2+, extrusion of Ca2+ from the cytosol was minimized by using nominally Na+/Ca(2+)-free medium containing 0.5 mM La3+ [for vasoconstrictor experiments, the medium contained 0.5 mM ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid and no La3+]. Ca2+ release was triggered by thapsigargin (TG), an SR Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor, and by the vasoconstrictors arginine vasopressin (AVP) and serotonin (5-HT). Incubation with 1-3 mM ouabain for 20 min, which raises [Na+]cyt from 4.4 to 9.0 mM, increased "resting" [Ca2+]cyt only slightly (from 87 to 122 nM). However, ouabain greatly augmented the release of Ca2+ evoked by TG [from 639 nM (control) to 1,021 nM], by AVP (from 993 to 1,597 nM), and by 5-HT (from 559 to 1,486 nM). Ouabain-induced augmentation of TG-evoked Ca2+ release was not affected by 10 microM verapamil; this implies that the effect of ouabain was not due to Ca2+ entry through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. The response to TG was not augmented when ouabain was applied for 20 min in Na(+)-free medium (Na+ replaced by equimolar N-methyl-D-glucamine) to prevent [Na+]cyt from rising.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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