title: Actions of prostaglandin F2 alpha and noradrenaline on calcium exchange and contraction in rat mesenteric arteries and their sensitivity to calcium entry blockers.
abstract: 1 The actions of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and noradrenaline on contraction and 45Ca exchange have been studied in rat mesenteric arteries. 2 PGF2 alpha and noradrenaline contracted rat isolated mesenteric artery preparations to about the same extent. The PGF2 alpha-stimulated contractions, unlike those produced by noradrenaline, were completely inhibited in calcium-free physiological solution. 3 The calcium entry blocking drugs, cinnarizine and flunarizine, had little effect on the resting exchange of calcium in the arterial smooth muscle, but inhibited PGF2 alpha-stimulated contractions and 45Ca uptake to a similar extent. 4 Flunarizine was about 7 fold more potent as an inhibitor of noradrenaline- than of PGF2 alpha-mediated contraction and 45Ca uptake and this ratio was about 50 for cinnarizine. 5 EGTA (1.25 mM) produced a relaxation of noradrenaline and PGF2 alpha-induced maximal contractions. Measured over the first 2 min of EGTA contact, the rate of relaxation was much faster in noradrenaline than in PGF2 alpha-stimulated preparations. 6 Turnover of cellular calcium (influx plus efflux) during the first 2 min of noradrenaline contact was much greater than that produced by PGF2 alpha, largely due to a greater effect of noradrenaline on calcium efflux. 7 The results suggest that PGF2 alpha-but not noradrenaline-induced contractions are entirely dependent on the influx of extracellular calcium and that the agonists may stimulate calcium gating mechanisms differently.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002936:Cinnarizine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D015237:Dinoprost; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005444:Flunarizine; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D011460:Prostaglandins F; D002936:Cinnarizine; D015237:Dinoprost; D005444:Flunarizine; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine