title: Relaxation of arterial smooth muscle by calcium sparks.
abstract: Local increases in intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) resulting from activation of the ryanodine-sensitive calcium-release channel in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of smooth muscle cause arterial dilation. Ryanodine-sensitive, spontaneous local increases in [Ca2+]i (Ca2+ sparks) from the SR were observed just under the surface membrane of single smooth muscle cells from myogenic cerebral arteries. Ryanodine and thapsigargin inhibited Ca2+ sparks and Ca(2+)-dependent potassium (KCa) currents, suggesting that Ca2+ sparks activate KCa channels. Furthermore, KCa channels activated by Ca2+ sparks appeared to hyperpolarize and dilate pressurized myogenic arteries because ryanodine and thapsigargin depolarized and constricted these arteries to an extent similar to that produced by blockers of KCa channels. Ca2+ sparks indirectly cause vasodilation through activation of KCa channels, but have little direct effect on spatially averaged [Ca2+]i, which regulates contraction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Vermont, Colchester 05446, USA.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubart
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bonev
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Knot
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lederer
mesh_terms: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012433:Ryanodine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D019284:Thapsigargin; D014664:Vasodilation
chemical_list: D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists; D015220:Calcium Channels; D010455:Peptides; D015221:Potassium Channels; D013729:Terpenes; D002104:Cadmium; D012433:Ryanodine; D019284:Thapsigargin; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; C064719:iberiotoxin; D002118:Calcium