title: Possible involvement of Ca2+ entry and its pharmacological characteristics responsible for endothelium-dependent, NO-mediated relaxation induced by thapsigargin in guinea-pig aorta.
abstract: Thapsigargin, a specific inhibitor of Ca(2+)-pump Ca(2+)-ATPase in the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (SR/ER), produces an endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation. In the present study, pharmacological features of thapsigargin-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation were functionally characterized in the isolated guinea-pig aorta especially focusing on the Ca2+ mobilization mechanisms in endothelial cells. Thapsigargin-induced endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation was markedly suppressed by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) and calmidazolium, suggesting that the vascular relaxation to thapsigargin is largely attributable to endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) produced as a result of the activation of Ca2+, calmodulin-dependent NO synthase (NOS). Removal of Ca2+ from the external solution abolished the endothelium-dependent relaxation of guinea-pig aorta in response to thapsigargin. Thapsigargin-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was inhibited more strongly compared with the endothelium-independent relaxation to an NO donor, SIN-1 (3-(4-morpholinyl)-sydnonimine), when the artery preparation was preconstricted with a high concentration (80 mM) of KCl instead of agonistic stimulation. Endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by thapsigargin was not affected by diltiazem, a blocker of L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. SK&F96365 (1-[beta-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propoxy]-4-methoxyphenethyl]-1 H-imidazole) and Ni2+, both of which block capacitative Ca(2+) entry, did not show any appreciable inhibitory effects on the endothelium-dependent relaxation to thapsigargin. These findings suggest that in guinea-pig aorta, endothelium-dependent NO-mediated relaxation induced by thapsigargin is preceded by the increase in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]cyt) following the depletion of stored Ca2+ in thapsigargin-sensitive store sites in endothelial cells. Although the increase in [Ca2+]cyt responsible for the activation of endothelium NOS leading to thapsigargin-induced vascular relaxation may be ascribed to the capacitative Ca2+ entry from extracellular space, the Ca2+ entry mechanism stimulated with thapsigargin is deficient in sensitivity to SK&F96365 and Ni2+ in the endothelium of guinea-pig aorta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Toho University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shigenobu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009532:Nickel / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D019284:Thapsigargin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019284:Thapsigargin; D009532:Nickel; D004110:Diltiazem; C063159:1-(2-(3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propoxy)-4-methoxyphenylethyl)-1H-imidazole; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium