title: Direct inhibition of chicken gizzard smooth muscle contractile apparatus by caffeine.
abstract: The mechanism of the inhibitory effect of caffeine on smooth muscle contraction was examined using chicken gizzard. Caffeine (0.1-5 mmol/l) inhibited the KCl-induced contraction of the muscle with an IC50 of 1.1 mmol/l. Forskolin (0.01-10 mumol/l) also inhibited KCl-induced contraction. The inhibitory effect of caffeine was potentiated by a low concentration of forskolin (0.3 mumol/l) and the inhibitory effect of forskolin was potentiated by a low concentration of caffeine (0.1 mmol/l). Although caffeine and forskolin increased tissue cyclic AMP levels, caffeine inhibited the KCl-induced contraction more strongly than forskolin at a given cyclic AMP level. Caffeine (1-40 mmol/l) inhibited the contractions induced by 3 mumol/l Ca2+ in Triton X-100-permeabilized muscle. Caffeine (1-40 mmol/l) inhibited the phosphorylation of 20 kDa myosin light chain (MLC) in native actomyosin preparation and the inhibition was enhanced by decreasing the ATP concentration in the reaction medium. Calmodulin (CaM) activity, as monitored by Ca2+/CaM-dependent erythrocyte membrane (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase, was not affected by 20 mmol/l caffeine. Time-dependent dephosphorylation of MLC upon removal of Ca2+, an indicator of phosphate activity, was not affected by caffeine. Caffeine also inhibited the Ca2(+)-independent contraction in thiophosphorylated permeabilized muscle. These results indicate that caffeine inhibits smooth muscle contraction by a direct inhibition of MLC kinase and actin-myosin interaction. A part of the inhibitory effect may be mediated by cyclic AMP-dependent mechanism(s).
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karaki
mesh_terms: D000205:Actomyosin / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017301:Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase / Q000097:blood; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000097:blood; D002645:Chickens; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D005895:Gizzard, Avian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005576:Colforsin; D002110:Caffeine; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D000205:Actomyosin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D017301:Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases