title: Effects of volatile anesthetics on cytoplasmic Ca2+ signaling and transmitter release in a neural cell line.
abstract: To provide new insights into the effects of volatile agents on the basic regulatory events involved in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and stimulus-secretion coupling, the well-characterized clonal rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12 was chosen as an experimental model. This cell line possesses nicotinic and muscarinic receptors, L-type voltage-operated channels (VOCs), and receptor-operated Ca2+ channels (ROCs). A PC12 variant, defective in nicotinic response, made it possible to study the influx-independent inositol trisphosphate-mediated intracellular Ca2+ release that is triggered by muscarinic receptor stimulation. [Ca2+]i was measured with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2. Dopamine and norepinephrine secretion were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. High K+ and nicotinic-receptor-induced [Ca2+]i increase and catecholamine secretion were inhibited by halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, and methoxyflurane in a dose-dependent manner; half-maximal inhibition (IC50) occurred within the clinically relevant concentration range. The inhibition was reversible after wash-out of anesthetic; was not restricted to dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type VOCs; and could not be overcome by increasing extracellular Ca2+. The inhibitory mechanisms of volatile anesthetics therefore differed from those of classical organic Ca2(+)-channel blockers, a difference also reflected by the differing Hill coefficients found for both substance groups. In contrast, the muscarinic-receptor-evoked internal Ca2+ release remained unimpaired, and secretion even increased under anesthetic exposure. In conclusion, the current study provides evidence that volatile anesthetics depress the Ca2+ influx through at least two independent Ca2+ channels, one of which proved insensitive to the dihydropyridine Ca2(+)-channel blocker nifedipine. This is particularly noteworthy, since dihydropyridine-insensitive N-type VOCs, so far found exclusively in neurons, are assumed to play a dominant role in synaptic transmission, which, although resistant to dihydropyridine inhibition, is effectively blocked by volatile anesthetics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kress
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisert
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gilge
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Tas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koschel
mesh_terms: D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004737:Enflurane / Q000494:pharmacology; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology; D008733:Methoxyflurane / Q000494:pharmacology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D015220:Calcium Channels; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D008733:Methoxyflurane; D004737:Enflurane; D007530:Isoflurane; D002118:Calcium; D006221:Halothane