title: Mechanisms of signal transduction during alpha 2-adrenergic receptor-mediated contraction of vascular smooth muscle.
abstract: Little is known about the signaling pathways involved in alpha 2-adrenergic receptor-mediated contraction of vascular smooth muscle. In the present study, we measured intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, and myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity during stimulation with the relatively selective alpha 2-agonist UK 14304. These effects were compared and contrasted with corresponding changes during depolarization by elevation of the [K+] in the bathing medium. These studies were performed using spiral strips of the rabbit saphenous vein, a tissue with a relatively high density of postsynaptic alpha 2-receptors. UK 14304 (10(-5) M) caused parallel changes in [Ca2+]i, MLC phosphorylation, and force consisting of an initial phasic, followed by a sustained steady-state response. The steady-state increase in [Ca2+]i, MLC phosphorylation, and force caused by UK 14304 in the presence of 2.5 mM extracellular Ca2+ were indistinguishable from those during 51 mM K+ depolarization. However, when extracellular Ca2+ was removed in the presence of UK 14304, [Ca2+]i and MLC phosphorylation fell to resting levels, but force remained significantly elevated above basal levels. UK 14304 caused no change in the steady-state [Ca2+]i-MLC phosphorylation relation. Thus, the [Ca2+]i sensitization of force was not caused by a sensitization of MLC phosphorylation. These results indicate that in a 2.5-mM Ca2+ bathing medium, the dominant mechanism by which alpha 2-adrenergic receptor stimulation causes an increase in vascular tone is through a relatively large increase in [Ca2+]i and MLC phosphorylation. However, in Ca(2+)-free bathing medium, a second mechanism is unmasked which appears to involve an increased Ca2+ sensitivity and is independent of myosin phosphorylation.
authors.affiliation: Charles A. Dana Research Institute, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Aburto
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lajoie
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000331:Aequorin; D000818:Animals; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D009218:Myosins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000502:physiology*; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D000331:Aequorin; D009218:Myosins; D002118:Calcium