title: Ca2+ channels, ryanodine receptors and Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels: a functional unit for regulating arterial tone.
abstract: Local calcium transients ('Ca2+ sparks') are thought to be elementary Ca2+ signals in heart, skeletal and smooth muscle cells. Ca2+ sparks result from the opening of a single, or the coordinated opening of many, tightly clustered ryanodine receptor (RyR) channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). In arterial smooth muscle, Ca2+ sparks appear to be involved in opposing the tonic contraction of the blood vessel. Intravascular pressure causes a graded membrane potential depolarization to approximately -40 mV, an elevation of arterial wall [Ca2+]i and contraction ('myogenic tone') of arteries. Ca2+ sparks activate calcium-sensitive K+ (KCa) channels in the sarcolemmal membrane to cause membrane hyperpolarization, which opposes the pressure induced depolarization. Thus, inhibition of Ca2+ sparks by ryanodine, or of KCa channels by iberiotoxin, leads to membrane depolarization, activation of L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, and vasoconstriction. Conversely, activation of Ca2+ sparks can lead to vasodilation through activation of KCa channels. Our recent work is aimed at studying the properties and roles of Ca2+ sparks in the regulation of arterial smooth muscle function. The modulation of Ca2+ spark frequency and amplitude by membrane potential, cyclic nucleotides and protein kinase C will be explored. The role of local Ca2+ entry through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in the regulation of Ca2+ spark properties will also be examined. Finally, using functional evidence from cardiac myocytes, and histological evidence from smooth muscle, we shall explore whether Ca2+ channels, RyR channels, and KCa channels function as a coupled unit, through Ca2+ and voltage, to regulate arterial smooth muscle membrane potential and vascular tone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Vermont, Burlington 05405, USA.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jaggar
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Wellman
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Heppner
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gollasch
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kleppisch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubart
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lederer
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Knot
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bonev
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / Q000502:physiology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; D002118:Calcium