Abstract
The relationship between the agonist-sensitive Ca 2+ pool and those discharged by the Ca 2+-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin (TG) were investigated in canine tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMCs). In fura-2-loaded TSMCs, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) stimulated a rapid increase in intracellular Ca 2+ ([Ca 2+] i), followed by a sustained plateau phase that was dependent on extracellular Ca 2+. In such cells, TG produced a concentration-dependent increase in [Ca 2+] i, which remained elevated over basal level for several minutes and was substantially attenuated in the absence of extracellular Ca 2+. Application of 5-HT after TG demonstrated that the TG-sensitive compartment partly overlapped the 5-HT-sensitive stores. Pre-treatment of TSMCs with TG significantly inhibited the increase in [Ca 2+] i induced by 5-HT in a time-dependent manner. Similar results were obtained with two other Ca 2+-ATPase inhibitors, cyclopiazonic acid and 2,5-di- t-butylhydroquinone. Although these inhibitors had no effect on phosphoinositide hydrolysis, Ca 2+-influx was stimulated by these agents. These results suggest that depletion of the agonist-sensitive Ca 2+ stores is sufficient for activation of Ca 2+ influx. Some characteristics of the Ca 2+-influx activated by depletion of internal Ca 2+ stores were compared with those of the agonist-activated pathway. 5-HT-stimulated Ca 2+ influx was inhibited by La 3+, membrane depolarisation, and the novel Ca 2+-influx blocker 1-{β-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl) propoxy]-4-methoxyphenethyl}-1H-imidazole hydrochloride (SKF96365). Likewise, activation of Ca 2+ influx by TG also was blocked by La 3+, membrane depolarisation, and SKF96365. These results suggest that (1) in the absence of PI hydrolysis, depletion of the agonist-sensitive internal Ca 2+ stores in TSMCs is sufficient for activation of Ca 2+ influx, and (2) the agonist-activated Ca 2+ influx pathway and the influx pathway activated by depletion of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive Ca 2+ pool are indistinguishable.
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