(Hypertension. 1995;26:1051-1055.)
© 1995 American Heart Association, Inc.
Articles |
From the Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Vermont, Burlington.
Correspondence to John A. Bevan, Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405-0068.
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Key Words: calcium potassium muscle, smooth, vascular muscle contraction
| Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
It is well accepted that a rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration is the key requirement for vascular smooth muscle contraction. This rise results from Ca2+ influx from the extracellular space, Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, or both. The contribution from each site varies greatly among different blood vessels and with the contractile influence.3 4 5
Ca2+ release from intracellular stores is an important component for contractions induced by a variety of agonists.6 7 8 9 At least two mechanisms have been proposed for Ca2+ release from the SR. The major trigger for this release is IP3, one of the products of the hydrolysis of membrane phosphatidylinositides.5 10 The other mechanism is known as Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release. The latter has been observed in both nonvascular and vascular smooth muscle,11 12 13 although it is favored to function in the excitation-contraction coupling of skeletal and cardiac muscle.14 15
Shear stress can cause Ca2+ release in endothelial cells.16 Shear stress by intraluminal flow has been shown to produce vascular contraction in several isolated vessels.17 18 19 20 21 Flow contraction is endothelium-independent1 and associated with depolarization22 and an increase in 45Ca2+ influx in part through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels.20 23 However, many aspects of the mechanism of flow contraction have not been elucidated.
In the present study we investigated whether Ca2+ release from the SR contributes to flow-induced contraction in vascular smooth muscle. Our results indicate that in the RFV Ca2+ release from the SR, presumably via the phosphatidylinositol pathway, contributes to flow- and histamine- but not raised K+-induced contractions.
| Methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Mandibular segments of the RFV were isolated. The standard myograph technique described previously by Bevan and Joyce17 18 was used. Changes in isometric tension were recorded with a force displacement transducer (UL-2GR) and displayed on a chart recorder (SOLTEC 1242, model 43 TD).
Flow-dependent responses were achieved as described previously.17 18 In brief, PSS was infused into the lumen of the mounted segment by a syringe infusion pump (model 22, Harvard Apparatus) through a glass micropipette whose tip was positioned within about 0.3 mm of one open end of the segment. Veins were always infused in the direction of normal blood flow.
All experiments were carried out on endothelium-denuded ring preparations. Endothelial cells were removed by gentle rubbing of the intimal surface with rough plastic tubing. Endothelium removal was assumed to be successful if the relaxation to acetylcholine (3 µmol/L) was lost. It was verified in some experiments by scanning electron microscopy.
Experimental Protocols
Effects of Ryanodine
Flow (10 to 80 µL/min)induced contractions were examined
before and after pretreatment with ryanodine (1 to 10 µmol/L for 30
minutes), the SR Ca2+ release channel
opener.24 25 Effects of ryanodine on responses to 25
mmol/L K+ and 300 nmol/L histamine were also compared.
Effects of Depleting the SR
To empty the SR, we exposed tissues to 20 mmol/L caffeine in
Ca2+-free PSS for 30 minutes and washed them every
15 minutes, during which we added CPA (1 µmol/L), the
Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor,25 to
block the uptake of Ca2+ by the SR
Ca2+ pump. The loss of caffeine-induced
contraction was considered an indication that the SR was empty.
Responses to flow (40 µL/min), K+ (25 mmol/L), and
histamine (300 nmol/L) were examined in the presence of
Ca2+ (1.6 mmol/L) before and after depletion of the
SR.
Effects
of 2-Nitro-4-Carboxyphenyl-N,N-Diphenylcarbamate
Contractions induced by flow, 25 mmol/L K+,
and 300 nmol/L histamine were investigated before and after a 30-minute
preincubation with NCDC (10 µmol/L), the putative PLC
inhibitor.26
Drugs
Acetylcholine, caffeine, cimetidine, CPA, histamine, NCDC, and
ryanodine were purchased from Sigma Chemical Co. CPA and ryanodine were
dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide, NCDC in ethanol, and the rest of the
drugs in deionized water. The volume of solvent used in the present
study had no effect on the tissues. The composition of the PSS was
(mmol/L) NaCl 135, KCl 4.7, CaCl2 1.6,
MgSO4 1.2, KH2PO4 1.2,
NaHCO3 15, dextrose 11.1, and EDTA 0.026, pH 7.4. KCl (25
mmol/L) was prepared by substitution of an equimolar amount of NaCl
with KCl. Nominal Ca2+-free PSS was prepared by
simple omission of calcium from normal PSS, whereas
Ca2+-free (plus EGTA) PSS was used in previous
studies.20 23 PSS always contained cimetidine (1 µmol/L)
to block H2 receptors.
Data Analysis
Data points plotted in the figures represent the
mean±SEM; n values indicate the number of animals examined. Paired
data were analyzed with Student's t test.
Differences were considered significant at a value of
P<.05.
| Results |
|---|
|
|
|---|
|
|
Effects of Depleting the SR on Responses to Flow,
K+, and Histamine
Caffeine (20 mmol/L) caused a transient contraction in both normal
and Ca2+-free PSS. After two washes with
Ca2+-free PSS plus 1 µmol/L CPA, caffeine did not
elicit contraction (Fig 3a), indicating
that the SR Ca2+ contents were emptied. Responses to
flow (40 µL/min, n=8), histamine (300 nmol/L, n=5), and
K+ (25 mmol/L, n=5) were significantly reduced after
depletion of the SR, although the extent of reduction was different
(Fig 3b and 3c).
|
Effects of NCDC on Responses to Flow, K+,
and Histamine
Contractions induced by flow and histamine (300 nmol/L) were
significantly inhibited by 30 minutes of pretreatment with 10 µmol/L
NCDC, the PLC inhibitor. However, NCDC had no effect on the
response induced by 25 mmol/L K+ (Fig 4,
n=4 to 5).
|
| Discussion |
|---|
|
|
|---|
We investigated the possible involvement of SR Ca2+ release in flow contraction using two approaches. First, the experiments presented here show that ryanodine (1 to 10 µmol/L) significantly inhibited flow-induced contraction. Ryanodine can open SR Ca2+ channels and result in Ca2+ release from the SR.24 25 Our data confirmed that ryanodine antagonized caffeine-induced Ca2+ release, as indicated by the loss of caffeine-induced transient contraction. The reversion of caffeine-induced contraction to relaxation after pretreatment with ryanodine could be due to an increase in cytosolic cAMP by the inhibition of phosphodiesterase,28 an increase in Ca2+ extrusion,29 or both. The contractile response to 300 nmol/L histamine was also inhibited by ryanodine, but K+ (25 mmol/L)induced contraction was unaffected. Thus, the effect of ryanodine in these experiments is selective.
Second, our results indicate that flow contraction was greatly attenuated after depletion of the SR by pretreatment of tissues with 20 mmol/L caffeine plus 1 µmol/L CPA in Ca2+-free medium. Caffeine releases Ca2+ from the SR in a variety of preparations,8 30 31 and CPA specifically inhibits the SR Ca2+-ATPase.25 Thus, our procedure ensured that the SR was empty because concomitant application of CPA can prevent the possible uptake of Ca2+ by the SR. However, responses to histamine (300 nmol/L) and K+ (25 mmol/L) were also affected when the SR was emptied by the same intervention.
Our results with histamine are in agreement with other reports that this amine can induce contraction via Ca2+ release from the SR in vascular smooth muscle.7 32 As for the decrease in response to 25 mmol/L K+ after depletion of the SR, two possible explanations can be provided. One is related to the superficial buffer barrier function of the SR.33 When the SR is loaded with Ca2+, extracellular Ca2+ enters cells and causes contraction by acting on the contractile apparatus; but when the SR is emptied, a larger portion of Ca2+ entering the cells would then be taken up by the SR, resulting in a reduction in Ca2+ availability for contraction. However, it is unlikely that the attenuated contraction by K+ observed here is due to Ca2+ uptake by the SR because this pathway was blocked by pretreatment with CPA. Alternatively, it is possible that depletion of the SR affected the response to K+ by interfering with the Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release mechanism. This is consistent with observations in other vascular smooth muscle.34 After depletion of the SR, depolarization with K+ causes Ca2+ entry, which will no longer release additional Ca2+ for contraction. Thus, Ca2+ entering the cells would act only on contractile proteins and cause a delayed and smaller response.
We also explored the possible trigger for Ca2+ release in the present study. NCDC is claimed to be the inhibitor of PLC.26 In agonist- or hormone-initiated signal-transduction cascades, the activation of PLC through at least one closely coupled G protein results in the generation of two second messengers, IP3 and diacylglycerol, which are involved in intracellular Ca2+ release and protein kinase C activation, respectively.4 5 Since NCDC (10 µmol/L) had inhibitory effects on flow- and histamine-induced contractions but did not alter the response to K+, a nonspecific action of NCDC on the contractile process is unlikely. Thus, our data suggest that IP3-induced Ca2+ release might be involved in flow- and histamine-induced contractions. Interestingly, it has been noted that shear stress can increase phosphatidylinositol turnover.35 On the other hand, we are aware that our data are indirect, and the possibility that the inhibition of flow contraction by NCDC might be related to a decrease in diacylglycerol formation and protein kinase C activation cannot be excluded.
On the basis of our findings and those of others,16 we propose that flow can act on the cell membrane and cause conformational changes within membrane proteins via an unidentified G protein coupling event. One of these changes involves activation of the phosphatidylinositol-PLC pathway. Consequently, IP3 and Ca2+, as second messengers, are responsible for flow contraction.
Finally, the characterization of the mechanism or mechanisms responsible for flow contraction would help advance our understanding of the physiology of blood vessels. One of the fundamental features of hypertension is increased contractility of vascular smooth muscle. It has been reported that cytosolic free Ca2+ and phosphatidylinositol turnover increase in response to agonists in spontaneously hypertensive rats.36 37 Furthermore, endothelium-dependent flow dilation is impaired during the development of hypertension.2 However, whether changes in flow contraction in hypertension are primary or secondary and whether Ca2+ handling associated with flow contraction is altered await future study.
| Selected Abbreviations and Acronyms |
|---|
|
| Acknowledgments |
|---|
Received June 19, 1995; first decision August 1, 1995; accepted August 18, 1995.
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
2.
Koller A, Huang A. Impaired nitric
oxide-mediated flow-induced dilation in arterioles of
spontaneously hypertensive rats. Circ Res. 1994;74:416-421.
3.
Bolton TB. Mechanisms of action of transmitters
and other substances on smooth muscle. Physiol Rev. 1979;59:606-718.
4.
Somlyo AV, Bond M, Somlyo AP, Scarpa A.
Inositol triphosphate-induced calcium release and contraction in
vascular smooth muscle. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1985;82:5231-5235.
5. Somlyo AP, Somlyo AV. Signal transduction and regulation in smooth muscle. Nature. 1994;372:231-236. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
6.
Casteels R, Droogmans G. Exchange
characteristics of the noradrenalin-sensitive calcium
store in vascular smooth muscle cells of rabbit ear artery.
J Physiol (Lond). 1981;317:263-279.
7. Hester RK. Receptor-mediated Ca2+ entry in blood vessels. Microcirc Endothelium Lymphatics. 1989;5:31-53. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
8. Komori S, Itagaki M, Unno T, Ohashi H. Caffeine and carbachol act on common Ca2+ stores to release Ca2+ on guinea-pig ileal smooth muscle. Eur J Pharmacol. 1995;277:173-180. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
9. Noguera MA, D'Ocon MP. Participation of intracellular calcium stores in serotonin-induced contractions in rat aorta. Pharmacology. 1993;47:145-151. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
10. Suematsu E, Hirata M, Hashimoto T, Kuriyama H. Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate releases Ca2+ from intracellular store sites in skinned single cells of porcine coronary artery. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1984;120:481-485. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
11.
Iino M. Calcium-induced calcium release
mechanism in guinea pig taenia caeci. J Gen
Physiol. 1989;94:363-383.
12.
Bond M, Kitazawa T, Somlyo AP, Somlyo AV.
Release and recycling of calcium by the sarcoplasmic reticulum in
guinea-pig portal vein smooth muscle. J
Physiol (Lond). 1984;355:677-695.
13.
Itoh T, Kuriyama H, Suzuki H.
Excitation-contraction coupling in smooth muscle cells of the
guinea-pig mesenteric artery. J Physiol
(Lond). 1981;321:513-535.
14.
Endo M. Calcium release from the sarcoplasmic
reticulum. Physiol Rev. 1977;57:71-108.
15.
Fabiato A. Calcium-induced release of
calcium from the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. Am J
Physiol. 1983;245:C1-C14.
16.
Davies PF, Tripathi SC. Mechanical stress
mechanisms and the cell: an endothelial
paradigm. Circ Res. 1993;72:239-245.
17. Bevan JA, Joyce EH. Flow dependent contraction observed in a myograph-mounted resistance artery. Blood Vessels. 1988;25:261-264. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
18.
Bevan JA, Joyce EH. Saline infusion into lumen
of resistance artery and small vein causes contraction.
Am J Physiol. 1990;259:H23-H28.
19.
Garcia-Roldan JL, Bevan JA. Flow-induced
vasoconstriction and dilation of cerebral resistance arteries.
Circ Res. 1990;66:1445-1448.
20.
Henrion D, Laher I, Bevan J. Intraluminal flow
increases vascular tone and 45Ca2+
influx in the rabbit facial vein. Circ
Res. 1992;71:339-345.
21. Sipkema P, Van Der Linden PJ, Hoogerwerf N, Westerhof N. Does the endothelium play a role in flow-dependent constriction? A study in the isolated rabbit femoral artery. Blood Vessels. 1989;26:368-376. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
22.
Bevan JA, Wellman GC. Intraluminal
flow-initiated hyperpolarization and
depolarization shift the membrane potential of arterial
smooth muscle toward an intermediate level.
Circ Res. 1993;73:1188-1192.
23.
Xiao XH, Bevan JA. Pharmacological evidence that
flow- and potassium-induced contraction of rabbit facial vein may
involve the same calcium entry pathway. J
Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1994;268:25-31.
24. Kanmura Y, Missiaen L, Raeymaekers L, Casteels R. Ryanodine reduces the amount of calcium in intracellular stores of smooth muscle cells of the rabbit ear artery. Pflugers Arch. 1988;413:153-159. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
25.
Shima H, Blaustein MP. Modulation of evoked
contractions in rat arteries by ryanodine, thapsigargin, and
cyclopiazonic acid. Circ Res. 1992;70:968-977.
26. Clark AH, Garland CJ. 5-Hydroxytryptamine-stimulated accumulation of 1,2-diacylglycerol in the rabbit basilar artery: a role for protein kinase C in smooth muscle contraction. Br J Pharmacol. 1991;102:415-421. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
27.
Hynes MR, Duling BR. Ca2+
sensitivity of isolated arterioles from the hamster cheek
pouch. Am J Physiol. 1991;260:H355-H361.
28. Bray KM, Longmore J, Weston AH. Analysis of caffeine-induced responses in rabbit isolated aorta. J Physiol (Lond). 1989;410:77P. Abstract.
29. Ahn HY, Karaki H, Urakawa N. Inhibitory effects of caffeine on contractions and calcium movement in vascular and intestinal smooth muscle. Br J Pharmacol. 1988;93:267-274. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
30.
Leijten PAA, van Breemen C. The effects of
caffeine on the noradrenaline-sensitive calcium store
in rabbit aorta. J Physiol (Lond). 1984;357:327-339.
31. Karaki H, Ahn HY, Urakawa N. Caffeine-induced contraction in vascular smooth muscle. Arch Int Pharmacodyn. 1987;285:327-339.
32.
Rembold CM, Murphy RA. Histamine concentration
and Ca2+ mobilization in arterial smooth
muscle. Am J Physiol. 1989;257:C122-C128.
33. van Breemen C, Chen Q, Laher I. Superficial buffer barrier function of smooth muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 1995;16:98-105. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
34.
Ito K, Ikemoto T, Takakura S. Involvement of
Ca2+ influx-induced Ca2+
release in contractions of intact vascular smooth muscles.
Am J Physiol. 1991;261:H1464-H1470.
35. Nollert MU, Eskin SG, McIntire LV. Shear stress increases inositol triphosphate levels in human endothelial cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1990;170:281-287. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
36.
Osanai T, Dunn MJ. Phospholipase C responses in
cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Hypertension. 1992;19:446-455.
37. Durkin H, Ollerenshaw JD, Heagerty AM. Resistance artery phosphoinositide metabolism in genetic hypertension. J Hypertens. 1990;8:557-563.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Hypertension Home | Subscriptions | Archives | Feedback | Authors | Help | AHA Journals Home | Search Copyright © 1995 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited. |