title: Ca2+-independent hypoxic vasorelaxation in porcine coronary artery.
abstract: To demonstrate a Ca(2+)-independent component of hypoxic vasorelaxation and to investigate its mechanism, we utilized permeabilized porcine coronary arteries, in which [Ca(2+)] could be clamped. Arteries permeabilized with beta-escin developed maximum force in response to free Ca(2+) (6.6 microm), concomitant with a parallel increase in myosin regulatory light chain phosphorylation (MRLC-P(i)), from 0.183 +/- 0.023 to 0.353 +/- 0.019 MRLC-P(i) (total light chain)(-1). Hypoxia resulted in a significant decrease in both force (-31.9 +/- 4.1% prior developed force) and MRLC-P(i) (from 0.353 to 0.280 +/- 0.023), despite constant [Ca(2+)] buffered by EGTA (4 mm). Forces developed in response to Ca(2+) (6.6 microm), Ca(2+) (0.2 microm) + GTPgammaS (1 mM), or in the absence of Ca(2+) after treatment with ATPgammaS (1 mM), were of similar magnitude. Hypoxia also relaxed GTPgammaS contractures but importantly, arteries could not be relaxed after treatment with ATPgammaS. Permeabilization with Triton X-100 for 60 min also abolished hypoxic relaxation. The blocking of hypoxic relaxation after ATPgammaS suggests that this Ca(2+)-independent mechanism(s) may operate through alteration of MRLC-P(i) or of phosphorylation of the myosin binding subunit of myosin light chain phosphatase. Treatment with the Rho kinase inhibitor Y27632 (1 microm) relaxed GTPgammaS and Ca(2+) contractures; but the latter required a higher concentration (10 microm) for consistent relaxation. Relaxations to N(2) and/or Y27632 averaged 35% and were not additive or dependent on order. Our data suggest that the GTP-mediated, Rho kinase-coupled pathway merits further investigation as a potential site of this novel, Ca(2+)-independent O(2)-sensing mechanism. Importantly, these results unambiguously show that hypoxia-induced vasorelaxation can occur in permeabilized arteries where the Ca(2+) is clamped at a constant value.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0576, USA.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Thorne
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Wardle
authors.forename: Yukisato
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C022571:adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate); D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D010100:Oxygen; D002118:Calcium