title: Caffeine acting on pregnant rat myometrium: analysis of its relaxant action and its failure to release Ca2+ from intracellular stores.
abstract: 1. The effect of caffeine on mechanical activity was studied in pregnant rat myometrium. 2. In muscle cells with intact plasmalemmae, caffeine (0.1-50 mM) produced no contraction whatever the experimental conditions. 3. Caffeine (0.1-10 mM) inhibited, in a concentration-dependent manner, contractions induced by electrical stimulation, potassium-rich (60 mM K+) solution, sodium-free solution or oxytocin (22.5 nM). 4. In Ca2(+)-free solution, various substances (oxytocin, sodium orthovanadate and prostaglandin E2) evoked sustained contractions that were suppressed by caffeine (5-10 mM). When caffeine (greater than 5 mM) was applied during Ca2(+)-loading of the tissue (2.1 mM Ca2+, 5 min) in the presence of a K(+)-rich solution, the subsequent transient contraction induced by a short application (10s) of oxytocin (22.5 nM) in Ca-free solution was reduced (63 +/- 3.5% reduction for 20 mM caffeine, n = 4). 5. In saponin-skinned strips, application of caffeine (5-10 mM) during loading of the Ca2(+)-store increased the subsequent contraction induced by myo-inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP3, 10 microM). Caffeine (10-30 mM) decreased calcium-activated contractions in skinned fibres lacking a functional internal Ca-store. This effect was reduced by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor Thr-Thr-Tyr-Ala-Asp-Phe-Ile-Ala-Ser-Gly-Arg-Thr-Gly-Arg-Arg-Asn-Ala-Ile- His-Asp (8 microM). 6. In conclusion, it is suggested that the inability of caffeine to cause spasm of rat myometrium is due to the absence of a caffeine-sensitive calcium-release channel in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Relaxant effects of caffeine can be explained by mechanisms leading to a decrease in both the cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration and the Ca2 +-sensitivity of the contractile machinery.
authors.affiliation: INSERM JF 88-13, Université de Bordeaux II, France.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Savineau
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mironneau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D012503:Saponins; D002110:Caffeine; D002118:Calcium