title: Ryanodine receptors regulate arterial diameter and wall [Ca2+] in cerebral arteries of rat via Ca2+-dependent K+ channels.
abstract: 1. The effects of inhibitors of ryanodine-sensitive calcium release (RyR) channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and Ca2+-dependent potassium (KCa) channels on the membrane potential, intracellular [Ca2+], and diameters of small pressurized (60 mmHg) cerebral arteries (100-200 micron) were studied using digital fluorescence video imaging of arterial diameter and wall [Ca2+], combined with microelectrode measurements of arterial membrane potential. 2. Ryanodine (10 microM), an inhibitor of RyR channels, depolarized by 9 mV, increased intracellular [Ca2+] by 46 nM and constricted pressurized (to 60 mmHg) arteries with myogenic tone by 44 micron (approximately 22 %). Iberiotoxin (100 nM), a blocker of KCa channels, under the same conditions, depolarized the arteries by 10 mV, increased arterial wall calcium by 51 nM, and constricted by 37 micron (approximately 19 %). The effects of ryanodine and iberiotoxin were not additive and were blocked by inhibitors of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. 3. Caffeine (10 mM), an activator of RyR channels, transiently increased arterial wall [Ca2+] by 136 +/- 9 nM in control arteries and by 158 +/- 12 nM in the presence of iberiotoxin. Caffeine was relatively ineffective in the presence of ryanodine, increasing [calcium] by 18 +/- 5 nM. 4. In the presence of blockers of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (nimodipine, diltiazem), ryanodine and inhibitors of the SR calcium ATPase (thapsigargin, cyclopiazonic acid) were without effect on arterial wall [Ca2+] and diameter. 5. These results suggest that local Ca2+ release originating from RyR channels (Ca2+ sparks) in the SR of arterial smooth muscle regulates myogenic tone in cerebral arteries solely through activation of KCa channels, which regulate membrane potential through tonic hyperpolarization, thus limiting Ca2+ entry through L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. KCa channels therefore act as a negative feedback control element regulating arterial diameter through a reduction in global intracellular free [Ca2+].
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Given Building, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA. knot@salus.med.uvm.edu
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Knot
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Standen
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D024683:Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012433:Ryanodine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / Q000502:physiology*; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D010455:Peptides; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024683:Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; D012433:Ryanodine; D002110:Caffeine; D009553:Nimodipine; C064719:iberiotoxin; D004110:Diltiazem