P2 receptor-mediated afferent arteriolar vasoconstriction during calcium blockade

Experiments were performed to determine the role of L-type calcium channels on the afferent arteriolar vasoconstrictor response to ATP and UTP. With the use of the blood-perfused juxtamedullary nephron technique, kidneys were perfused at 110 mmHg and the responses of arterioles to α,β-methylene ATP, ATP, and UTP were determined before and during calcium channel blockade with diltiazem. α,β-Methylene ATP (1.0 μM) decreased arteriolar diameter by 8 ± 1% under control conditions. This response was abolished during calcium channel blockade. In contrast, 10 μM UTP reduced afferent arteriolar diameter to a similar degree before (20 ± 4%) and during (14 ± 4%) diltiazem treatment. Additionally, diltiazem completely prevented the vasoconstriction normally observed with ATP concentrations below 10 μM and attenuated the response obtained with 10 μM ATP. These data demonstrate that L-type calcium channels play a significant role in the vasoconstrictor influences of α,β-methylene ATP and ATP but not UTP. The data also suggest that other calcium influx pathways may participate in the vasoconstrictor response evoked by P2 receptor activation. These observations support previous findings that UTP-mediated elevation of intracellular calcium concentration in preglomerular vascular smooth muscle cells relies primarily on calcium release from intracellular pools, whereas ATP-mediated responses involve both voltage-dependent calcium influx, through L-type calcium channels, and the release of calcium from intracellular stores. These results support the argument that P2X and P2Y receptors influence the diameter of afferent arterioles through activation of disparate signal transduction mechanisms.