title: Emergence of a R-type Ca2+ channel (CaV 2.3) contributes to cerebral artery constriction after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
abstract: Cerebral aneurysm rupture and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) inflict disability and death on thousands of individuals each year. In addition to vasospasm in large diameter arteries, enhanced constriction of resistance arteries within the cerebral vasculature may contribute to decreased cerebral blood flow and the development of delayed neurological deficits after SAH. In this study, we provide novel evidence that SAH leads to enhanced Ca2+ entry in myocytes of small diameter cerebral arteries through the emergence of R-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs) encoded by the gene CaV 2.3. Using in vitro diameter measurements and patch clamp electrophysiology, we have found that L-type VDCC antagonists abolish cerebral artery constriction and block VDCC currents in cerebral artery myocytes from healthy animals. However, 5 days after the intracisternal injection of blood into rabbits to mimic SAH, cerebral artery constriction and VDCC currents were enhanced and partially resistant to L-type VDCC blockers. Further, SNX-482, a blocker of R-type Ca2+ channels, reduced constriction and membrane currents in cerebral arteries from SAH animals, but was without effect on cerebral arteries of healthy animals. Consistent with our biophysical and functional data, cerebral arteries from healthy animals were found to express only L-type VDCCs (CaV 1.2), whereas after SAH, cerebral arteries were found to express both CaV 1.2 and CaV 2.3. We propose that R-type VDCCs may contribute to enhanced cerebral artery constriction after SAH and may represent a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of neurological deficits after SAH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05405-0068, USA.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
authors.forename: Theresa L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Wellman
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Sheila R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Bruce I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Tranmer
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Wellman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020908:Calcium Channels, R-Type / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002946:Cisterna Magna; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004351:Drug Resistance; D007267:Injections; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011817:Rabbits; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA / Q000494:pharmacology; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D020908:Calcium Channels, R-Type; D004095:Dihydropyridines; C115521:SNX 482; D013111:Spider Venoms; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA; C038806:1,4-dihydropyridine; D020866:omega-Conotoxin GVIA; D004110:Diltiazem; D009543:Nifedipine; D002118:Calcium