Ca-induced Contraction Research Articles

Interaction Between Titanium and Cadmium in Various Guinea Pig Organs

Titanium (Ti) is used in many fields, while cadmium (Cd) is known to cause the itai-itai disease. In the present study, possible interactions between titanium and cadmium were investigated. Aorta, taenia coli, and liver were removed from male guinea pigs. Muscle tension was measured using intact aorta and taenia coli and using β-escin-permeabilized taenia coli in a physiological salt solution and a hyperpotassium solution containing Cd and/or Ti. Cellular Cd contents were determined using all tissues after washout with EDTA solution. Cadmium-induced relaxation in the hyperpotassium solution recovered significantly (P < 0.01) following Ti treatment in taenia coli, but not in the aorta. In β-escin-permeabilized taenia coli, the percentage recoveries after Cd treatment and after Ti plus Cd treatment were 67.3 ± 8.7 % (n = 4) and 87.7 ± 3.8 % (n = 4), respectively, compared with Ca-induced control contraction. Cellular Cd contents in taenia coli decreased significantly following treatment with Ti 10(-4) M. Although similar results were obtained using the aorta and the liver, there were no significant differences between the control and Ti 10(-5) M. High concentrations of Ti may reduce cellular Cd content.

Contractile properties of the isolated rat soleus muscle and its single skinned soleus fibers at the early stage of gravitational unloading: Facts and hypotheses

The contractile properties of the postural rat soleus muscle at the early stage of the gravitational unloading (3-day rat hindlimb suspension) have been studied using different modes of muscle contraction (twitch and tetanic contraction of the isolated muscle, Ca-induced contraction of isolated skinned fibers). A significant enhancement of the twitch maximal tension of unloaded muscles without changes in time-dependent characteristics was observed, although the half-relaxation time tended to increase. The fiber diameter did not change (42.37 +/- 0.76 vs 43.43 +/- 1.15 microm in controls). The Ca-induced maximal isometric tension in unloaded soleus was significantly decreased (32.1 +/- 1.05 vs 37.6 +/- 1.52 mg in controls, p < 0.05). The maximal specific tension was respectively decreased (23.14 +/- 0.77 vs 27.6 +/- 2.36 kN/m in controls). The pCa50 in unloaded muscle decreased from 6.05 +/- 0.02 in controls to 5.97 +/- 0.02 (p < 0.05), indicating the loss of myofibrillar calcium sensitivity. The analysis with the calcium probe Fluo-4AM demonstrated that the intracellular [Ca2+] was sufficiently increased after hindlimb suspension. At the same time, the relative content of titin and nebulin did not change.

Sivelestat Relaxes Porcine Coronary Artery via Inhibition of Ca2+ Sensitization Induced by a Receptor Agonist

Sivelestat sodium hydrate (sivelestat) is a novel synthetic drug and specific inhibitor of neutrophil elastase that has been approved in Japan as a treatment for acute lung injury associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. There are no reports on the effects of sivelestat on the contractile regulation of vascular smooth muscle. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of sivelestat on porcine coronary artery. Sivelestat induced concentration-dependent (3 x 10 to 3 x 10 M) vasorelaxation in U46619 (100 nM)-precontracted porcine coronary artery with or without endothelium. Simultaneous measurements of tension and the cytosolic Ca concentration ([Ca]i) revealed that sivelestat shifted the [Ca]i-tension curve to the right and downward during stimulation with 118 mM K and 100 nM U46619. In beta-escin-permeabilized arterial strips, sivelestat abolished GTP plus U46619-induced contractions at constant [Ca]i, whereas it had no effect on Ca-induced contractions. Thus, sivelestat relaxes porcine coronary artery smooth muscle via the selective inhibition of Ca sensitization induced by a receptor agonist, without affecting Ca-induced contraction.

Vasorelaxant and Antioxidant Activity of Flavonols and Flavones: Structure-Activity Relationships

We investigated the structure-activity relationships regarding vascular and antioxidant activity of a range of synthetic flavonols and flavones with 3 or fewer hydroxyl (OH) or methoxyl substitutions. The relaxant responses and ability of the flavones/flavonols to inhibit phenylephrine (PE)- and Ca-induced contraction was determined in rat isolated thoracic aorta. The ability of these compounds to reduce the level of superoxide and preserve endothelium-dependent relaxation in the presence of oxidative stress was also examined. Four compounds impaired contraction to PE or Ca, in the potency order 3'-hydroxyflavonol>3',4'-dihydroxyflavonol>7,4'-dihydroxyflavonol>3',4'-dihydroxyflavone. Flavonol, 3',4'-dimethoxyflavonol, and flavone were significantly less active. The flavonoids caused concentration-dependent reductions in superoxide produced by rat aorta in the presence of NADPH. The most active compounds, 3',4'-dihydroxyflavonol and 7,4'-dihydroxyflavonol, preserved endothelium-dependent relaxation in the presence of oxidative stress caused by pyrogallol or xanthine/xanthine oxidase. The results indicate that the catechol group is not critical for vascular relaxant or antioxidant activity, but rather, the important determinants for higher vascular and antioxidant activity of these compounds are the presence of a C3 OH group and the total number of OH substituents, respectively. These results have allowed the identification of the structural characteristics that promote vascular and antioxidant activity of flavonols, which may lead to the development of agents useful in treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Long-term effects of growth-activating agents on smooth muscle contraction and endothelial function in organ-cultured rabbit mesenteric artery

In the endothelium-denuded arteries cultured in the presence of FBS, morphological (i.e. smooth muscle disorientation and increase in collagen fiber) and phenotypic changes in smooth muscle were observed. Correlated with these changes, contractile force induced by high concentration of KCl and norepinephrine was significantly decreased. In addition, Ca-induced contraction in the permeabilized muscle was also significantly reduced. The reduced contractility in the FBS-treated arteries was partially recovered by the treatment with L-NMMA. In the endothelium-intact arteries cultured in the presence of FBS or PDGF, substance P and ionomycin-mediated, endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) was significantly decreased compared to the arteries cultured in serum-free condition. In addition, amounts of NO production and total recoverable eNOS mRNA was reduced in the FBS and PDGF-treated arteries. In these arteries, however, cGMP-dependent relaxation in smooth muscle was not impaired. These results suggest that long-term treatment of vascular tissue with growth-activating agents causes morphological or phenotypic changes nad up-regulation of NO production in smooth muscle, resulting in a reduced contractility. Furthermore, longterm treatment with these agents impairs NO-mediated EDR by decreasing eNOS mRNA and NO production.

Ca(2+)-sensitivity of portal vein circular muscle from normotensive and hypertensive rats.

Contractile sensitivity to Ca2+ was studied in rat portal vein circular muscle isolated from normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). There was no difference in resting membrane potential between WKY and SHRSP. Elevation of extracellular K+ concentration induced similar increase in tension in preparations from WKY and SHRSP. High K(+)-depolarized preparation developed tension increase when extracellular Ca2+ concentration was increased. The sensitivity to extracellular Ca2+ was similar in preparations from WKY and SHRSP. Permeabilized preparation contracted when free Ca2+ concentration was increased. Sensitivity of permeabilized preparation to Ca2+ was similar in preparations from WKY and SHRSP. These results indicate that regulation of contraction by Ca2+ was similar between WKY and SHRSP. Since there was no change in high K-induced contraction in intact preparations or Ca-induced contraction in permeabilized preparations, there seemed to be no difference in Ca2+ influx via voltage-dependent channels in portal vein circular muscle from WKY and SHRSP.

Roles of Protein Kinase C on the Mechanical Activity of Vascular Smooth Muscles

We investigated the role of protein kinase C in the mechanical responses evoked by high K or by acetylcholine (ACh) in intact vascular smooth muscle tissues, and by Ca in skinned vascular smooth muscle tissues. To activate protein kinase C, the phorbol ester 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a potent tumor promoter, or 1,2-diolein, plus phosphatidylserine (PS) was used. TPA enhanced or reduced the amplitude of the contraction evoked by increased concentrations of K below 39 mmol/L or over 90 mmol/L, respectively, but consistently enhanced the resting tension at any given concentration of high K. Similar effects of TPA were observed on the Ca-induced contraction in saponin skinned muscle tissues. The enhancing action of TPA on the K-induced contraction was not related to activation of either the voltage-dependent Ca channel or the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and did not occur in the case of Ca-independent contraction in skinned muscle tissues. During the enhancement of the contraction induced by TPA, the phosphorylation of myosin light chain and the shortening velocity of contraction as measured using the slack test, were enhanced with no remarkable change in the free Ca concentration in the cytosol. TPA consistently inhibited the ACH-induced contraction accompanied by a marked reduction in free Ca due to inhibition of the hydrolysis of phosphatidyl inositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Under the assumption that TPA possesses the same action as DG, activation of protein kinase C increased the Ca sensitivity of contractile proteins in vascular smooth muscles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Simple and specific assessment of Ca-entry-blocking activities of drugs by measurement of Ca reversal

A new, simple, and specific screening method for Ca-entry blockers is reported. In the presence of various blockers of Ca-entry (Ca-channel blockers), Ca 2+ (1 × 10 −4 M) causes Ca reversal, i.e., it causes relaxation of rat uterine smooth muscle that has been tonically contracted with oxytocin in Ca-free medium (Cafree contraction) after prolonged preincubation with 3 mM EGTA. The potencies of various drugs to cause Ca reversal, assessed on an all-or-none basis, were found to reflect their activities of blocking Ca entry. The potencies of drugs for blocking Ca entry via voltage-operated Ca-channels could be determined in 125.6 mM K + Ca-free medium. Drugs that inhibited Ca-free contraction directly have some other antispasmodic activity. Conventionally, activity for blocking Ca entry is screened by measuring inhibition of Ca-induced contraction, but true Ca-entry blocking activity cannot be differentiated clearly from other antispasmodic activity when a drug has both activities. However, by measuring Ca reversal, activity for blocking Ca entry only can easily be found, when done in solution with high K + content for blocking voltage-operated channels and when done in solution with normal K + content for blocking voltage-independent channels.

Actions of a Newly Synthesized Nitro-Compound, E-4701, on Rabbit Vascular Smooth Muscles

The effects of a newly synthesized water soluble and light resistant nitrocompound, E-4701, on the electrical and mechanical properties of smooth muscle cells of rabbit mesenteric and coronary arteries were investigated. In the endo-thelium-denuded rabbit mesenteric artery, E-4701 relaxed the tissue pre-contracted by noradrenaline (IC50=40 μM) to a greater extent than that contracted by high K, but to a lesser extent than that contracted by acetylcholine (ACh) or high K in endothelium-denuded rabbit coronary artery (the IC50 was 20 nM or 60 nM, respectively). Nitroglycerin showed much the same relaxing action on the above tissue (IC50 for the ACh- or K-induced contraction was 20 nM or 65 nM, respectively). Relaxing actions of E-4701 or nitroglycerin were prevented by 10 μM methylene blue. In muscle cells of the porcine coronary artery, E-4701 or nitroglycerin inhibited the Ca-transient provoked by ACh, as examined using fura-2. Both drugs had no effect on the Ca-induced contraction in skinned muscle strips. ACh produced a transient hyperpolarization with subsequent depolarization, but in the endothelium-denuded tissues. ACh only depolarized the membrane, E-4701 inhibited the ACh-induced depolarization, but nitroglycerin did not. We concluded from our observations that E-4701 has the typical characteristics of a nitrocompound with an inhibitory action on the agonist-induced membrane depolarization.

Actions of a newly synthesized nitro-compound, E-4701, on rabbit vascular smooth muscles.

The effects of a newly synthesized water soluble and light resistant nitro-compound, E-4701, on the electrical and mechanical properties of smooth muscle cells of rabbit mesenteric and coronary arteries were investigated. In the endothelium-denuded rabbit mesenteric artery, E-4701 relaxed the tissue pre-contracted by noradrenaline (IC50 = 40 microM) to a greater extent than that contracted by high K, but to a lesser extent than that contracted by acetylcholine (ACh) or high K in endothelium-denuded rabbit coronary artery (the IC50 was 20 nM or 60 nM, respectively). Nitroglycerin showed much the same relaxing action on the above tissue (IC50 for the ACh- or K-induced contraction was 20 nM or 65 nM, respectively). Relaxing actions of E-4701 or nitroglycerin were prevented by 10 microM methylene blue. In muscle cells of the porcine coronary artery, E-4701 or nitroglycerin inhibited the Ca-transient provoked by ACh, as examined using fura-2. Both drugs had no effect on the Ca-induced contraction in skinned muscle strips. ACh produced a transient hyperpolarization with subsequent depolarization, but in the endothelium-denuded tissues. ACh only depolarized the membrane. E-4701 inhibited the ACh-induced depolarization, but nitroglycerin did not. We concluded from our observations that E-4701 has the typical characteristics of a nitrocompound with an inhibitory action on the agonist-induced membrane depolarization.

Evaluation of anti-allergic effects of 1-substituted 2-n-butyl-methylenedioxy indenes.

The effects of ten 1-substituted 2-n-butyl-5,6-methylenedioxyindenes on mice and guinea pigs were investigated for their allergic reactions in the development of a new anti-allergic drug. Anti-allergic effects were determined by testing the effect of agents on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in mice and Schultz-Dale reaction in guinea pig tracheal muscle. 2-Butyl-1-[N-methyl-N-[2-(N',N'-dimethylamino) ethyl]amino]5,6- methylenedioxyindene (1) indicated the most potent anti-allergic activity. Since our previous experiments indicated that 2-n-butyl 3-dimethyl amino-5,6-methylenedioxyindene (MDI-A) and its derivatives showed a potent anti-allergic effect by interfering with the calcium (Ca) movement in the allergic reaction in guinea pigs, the effect of 1 and MDI-A on allergic reaction and Ca-induced contraction of tracheal muscle in these animals were compared. The present data indicate the superiority of 1 in both reactions.

Effect of milrinone on contractility and 45Ca movements in the isolated rabbit aorta

The effects of milrinone on 45Ca movements and on contractile responses were studied in rabbit aortic smooth muscle. Milrinone, 10 -7−5×10 -4 M, inhibited the responses induced by high K and noradrenaline (NA). These effects were observed when milrinone was added before or after the induced contractions and were similar in aortas with or without endothelium. The Ca-induced contractions of K-depolarized aortas as well as the contractions induced by caffeine in normal and in Ca-free solution were also inhibited dose dependently by milrinone. Milrinone reduced the 45Ca influx in resting or non-stimulated aortic rings as well as in aortic rings stimulated by NA. On the other hand, neither the 45Ca influx stimulated by high K or the 45Ca efflux stimulated by NA were altered by pretreatment with milrinone. It is concluded that milrinone inhibits vascular smooth muscle contractility by probably acting at multiple sites to decrease the availability of intracellular free Ca required for activation.

Extra- and intracellular calcium in vanadate-induced contraction of vascular smooth muscle.

The effects of extracellular Ca and Ca antagonists on vanadate-induced contractions of vascular smooth muscles of aortae and mesenteric arteries from rabbits, guinea pigs, and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) were studied. Vanadate-induced contractions of aortae were greatly diminished by extracellular Ca removal; the size of the remaining contraction was variable. Vanadate-induced contractions of mesenteric arteries, which were only observed in the presence of elevated K, were suppressed by the removal of Ca. Verapamil and nifedipine depressed vanadate-induced contractions of aortae from WKY and SHRSP, whereas they produced no or only slight inhibition of responses in guinea pig and rabbit aortae. Ca uptake into smooth muscle cell increased in the presence of vanadate, but the increase was much less than that induced by high K. In saponin-skinned smooth muscle, vanadate depressed the Ca-induced contraction. It is concluded that the vanadate-induced contraction utilizes both extracellular and intracellularly bound Ca, the relative contribution of which varies from preparation to preparation.

Study of the Mechanism of Inhibitory Action of Tranilast on Chemical Mediator Release

We investigated the mechanism of inhibitory action of tranilast on chemical mediator release by antigen-antibody reactions. Tranilast (10-5–10-3 M) inhibited antigen (DNP-Ascaris)-induced histamine release from sensitized purified rat mast cells (PMC), but did not show an obvious influence on intracellular cyclic AMP. 45Ca uptake into PMC induced by antigen (300 μg/ml) was obviously suppressed by tranilast (10-6–10-3 M). Tranilast (10-4 M) inhibited antigen-induced histamine release from and 45Ca uptake into PMC independently of the presence or absence of glucose in the medium. On the other hand, 2-deoxyglucose (10-2 M) markedly inhibited both responses in the absence but not in the presence of glucose. Tranilast slightly inhibited Ca-induced contraction of guinea pig taenia coli, but had no influence on aggregation of rabbit platelets. Verapamil (10-6–10-4 M) had no effect on antigen-induced histamine release, but it markedly suppressed Ca-induced contraction and platelet aggregation. From these results, we suggest that the mechanism of inhibitory action of tranilast on the release of antigen-induced chemical mediator from mast cells involves the suppression of Ca uptake, but that its mode of action is apparently different from those of 2-deoxyglucose and verapamil.

O-119 - Effects of calcium antagonists and halopredone diacetate(HDA) on the phasic and tonic components of noradrcnaline(KA)- and Ca-induced contractions in isolated vas deferens of guinea-pig

O-119 - Effects of calcium antagonists and halopredone diacetate(HDA) on the phasic and tonic components of noradrcnaline(KA)- and Ca-induced contractions in isolated vas deferens of guinea-pig

Study of the mechanism of inhibitory action of tranilast on chemical mediator release.

We investigated the mechanism of inhibitory action of tranilast on chemical mediator release by antigen-antibody reactions. Tranilast (10(-5)-10(-3) M) inhibited antigen (DNP-Ascaris)-induced histamine release from sensitized purified rat mast cells (PMC), but did not show an obvious influence on intracellular cyclic AMP. 45Ca uptake into PMC induced by antigen (300 micrograms/ml) was obviously suppressed by tranilast (10(-6)-10(-3) M). Tranilast (10(-4) M) inhibited antigen-induced histamine release from and 45Ca uptake into PMC independently of the presence or absence of glucose in the medium. On the other hand, 2-deoxyglucose (10(-2) M) markedly inhibited both responses in the absence but not in the presence of glucose. Tranilast slightly inhibited Ca-induced contraction of guinea pig taenia coli, but had no influence on aggregation of rabbit platelets. Verapamil (10(-6)-10(-4) M) had no effect on antigen-induced histamine release, but it markedly suppressed Ca-induced contraction and platelet aggregation. From these results, we suggest that the mechanism of inhibitory action of tranilast on the release of antigen-induced chemical mediator from mast cells involves the suppression of Ca uptake, but that its mode of action is apparently different from those of 2-deoxyglucose and verapamil.

Effect of cinnarizine on IgE antibody‐mediated experimental allergic reactions in guinea pigs

The anti-allergic activity and mechanism of cinnarizine was investigated in guinea pigs. Nifedipine, a calcium antagonist, and tranilast, a potent, orally active anti-allergic agent, were used as comparative drugs. Cinnarizine protected against fatal systemic anaphylactic shock in guinea pigs passively sensitized with IgE antibody. Cinnarizine reduced many of the features of severe respiratory disorders. Nifedipine and tranilast showed similar effects. Cinnarizine and nifedipine inhibited the contractile response to antigen of sensitized tracheal smooth muscle when the challenge was carried out at low antigen concentrations. Tranilast showed a tendency to inhibit the antigen-induced contraction of tracheal smooth muscle. Cinnarizine and nifedipine inhibited Ca-induced contraction in potassium-depolarized tracheal smooth muscle, tranilast had no effect. Cinnarizine showed antagonistic action to the contraction by histamine or leukotriene D4 (LTD4) of tracheal muscle. Nifedipine showed similar antagonistic action, although its potency is lower than cinnarizine. Tranilast showed slight antagonistic action to LTD4. Antigen-induced release of histamine and slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) from sensitized lung tissues was inhibited by nifedipine and tranilast but not by cinnarizine. The release of histamine and SRS-A from lung tissues by calcium ionophore A23187 was inhibited by nifedipine and tranilast but not by cinnarizine. These results suggest that the anti-allergic action of cinnarizine is mainly due to the antagonistic action to allergic mediators and not by interfering with the release of mediators. Cinnarizine's mechanism seems to be related to its antagonistic action to Ca in smooth muscle, but not to the transport of Ca in releasing the anaphylactic chemical mediators in mast cells and other target cells.

Carbachol-induced contraction in the circular muscle of guinea-pig stomach in calcium-free solution.

In the circular muscle of the fundic part of the guinea-pig stomach, a small tonic contraction could be repeatedly produced by carbachol in Ca-free solution containing 2 mM EGTA. The carbachol-induced response was gradually increased during prolonged exposure to Ca-free solution for 50 h, whereas a short treatment with 0.1-0.2 mM Ca suppressed the subsequent carbachol response in Ca-free solution. The response was not essentially modified by increasing the external K+ concentration to 40 mM. Calmodulin antagonists, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalene sulphonamide (W-7) and trifluoperazine selectively suppressed the carbachol response in the presence of Ca (0.05 mM) and the contraction induced by Ca (0.1 mM), but they had little effect on the response to carbachol in Ca-free solution at a concentration of less than 10 microM. A vasodilator agent, N-(2-guanidinoethyl)-5-isoquinoline sulphonamide (HA-1004), inhibited the carbachol response both in the presence and absence of Ca, as well as the Ca-induced contraction, to a similar extent, provided that the external Ca concentration was less than 0.1 mM. These results led us to propose that the contraction evoked by carbachol in the absence of external Ca is mediated by a process independent of the Ca-calmodulin system.

P-15 - Role of intracellularly stored Ca in the Ca-induced contraction of depolarized vascular smooth muscle

P-15 - Role of intracellularly stored Ca in the Ca-induced contraction of depolarized vascular smooth muscle

Changes in the mechanical properties of the longitudinal and circular muscle tissues of the rat myometrium during gestation

Changes in the mechanical properties of the longitudinal and circular muscle tissues of the rat myometrium during gestation were investigated. In isolated longitudinal and circular muscles of the rat myometrium, spontaneous contractions and contractions per unit cross-sectional area induced by 128 mM K+ and 1 X 10(-5) M acetylcholine (ACh) increased with the progress of gestation. These increases appeared in longitudinal muscles to a greater extent than in circular muscles. ACh induced the largest contraction for both intact muscle tissues, at all stages of gestation. In both muscle layers, the ACh-induced contraction reached the same amplitude as the 1 X 10(-5) M Ca-induced contraction of skinned muscles, except for the longitudinal muscle at the 22nd day of gestation. In Ca-free solution containing 2 mM EGTA, ACh produced contraction in both intact muscle tissues at all stages and the amplitude was increased during the progress of gestation, whereas the K-induced and spontaneous contractions ceased. In saponin-treated skinned muscles of both layers, the free Ca concentration required to produce contraction was lowered, the maximum amplitudes of the contraction were increased and the pCa-tension relationships shifted to the left during the progress of gestation. The results indicate that during the progress of gestation, Ca sensitivity of of the contractile proteins and mechanical responses to agonists increased and that the properties of the intracellular Ca store site were also altered in both muscle layers.