The role of caveolins, signature proteins of caveolae, in arterial Ca2+ regulation is unknown. We investigated modulation of Ca2+ homeostasis by caveolin-1 and caveolin-3 using smooth muscle cells from rat cerebral resistance arteries. Membrane current and Ca2+ transients were simultaneously measured with voltage-clamped single cells. Membrane depolarization triggered Ca2+ current and increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). After repolarization, elevated [Ca2+]i returned to the resting level. Ca2+ removal rate was determined from the declining phase of the Ca2+ transient. Application of caveolin-1 antibody or caveolin-1 scaffolding domain peptide, corresponding to amino acid residues 82–101 of caveolin-1, significantly slowed Ca2+ removal rate at a measured [Ca2+]i of 250 nM, with little effect at a measured [Ca2+]i of 600 nM. Application of caveolin-3 antibody or caveolin-3 scaffolding domain peptide, corresponding to amino acid residues 55–74 of caveolin-3, also significantly slowed Ca2+ removal rate at a measured [Ca2+]i of 250 nM, with little effect at a measured [Ca2+]i of 600 nM. Likewise, application of calmodulin inhibitory peptide, autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide, and cyclosporine A, inhibitors for calmodulin, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, and calcineurin, also significantly inhibited Ca2+ removal rate at a measured [Ca2+]i of 250 nM but not at 600 nM. Application of cyclopiazonic acid, a sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase inhibitor, also significantly inhibited Ca2+ removal rate at a measured [Ca2+]i of 250 nM but not at 600 nM. Our results suggest that caveolin-1 and caveolin-3 are important in Ca2+ removal of resistance artery smooth muscle cells.
Endothelium‐dependent vasodilation in cerebral resistance arteries: effects of age and estrogen status (680.8)
