Kinetic studies of calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum in vitro

Release of Ca2+ from a heavy fraction of rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum was triggered by several different methods: (a) increasing extravesicular [Ca2+] [( CaO2+] from about 0.1 microM to 10 microM), (b), adding caffeine, (c) adding quercetin, and (d) substituting a solution containing equimolar choline+ for K+-containing solution (depolarization-induced Ca2+ release). The maximal rate of Ca2+ release triggered by caffeine or quercetin in the presence of 12.5 microM [CaO2+] (21-25 nmol of Ca2+/mg/s) is similar to that of the depolarization-induced Ca2+ release (19 nmol of Ca2+/mg/s), as determined by stopped flow spectrometry of changes in [CaO2+] with arsenazo III. The release is transient and all of the released Ca2+ is reaccumulated. The rates of Ca2+ release triggered by caffeine, quercetin, or membrane depolarization sharply decrease at high [CaO2+], suggesting a negative feedback effect of the released Ca2+. Inhibition of the release pathway allows the sarcoplasmic reticulum to reaccumulate Ca2+. The rate of Ca2+ release triggered by caffeine or quercetin, but not that triggered by membrane depolarization, is also reduced upon decreasing [CaO2+] to the submicromolar range. Passive efflux of intravesicular Ca2+ in solutions containing lower [CaO2+] in the absence of Mg.ATP is attenuated at about the same time (congruent to 1 min) regardless of the amounts of Ca2+ released, indicating that the opened Ca2+ channels close spontaneously. These results suggest that kinetically identical channels are responsible for Ca2+ release independent of the methods of triggering and this in vitro release is consistent with the physiological mechanism both in terms of the rapidity and the reversibility of Ca2+ release.     

Protein Kinase C Activation Enhances K+-Stimulated Endogenous Dopamine Release from Rat Striatal Synaptosomes in the Absence of an Increase in Cytosolic Ca2+

The possibility that protein kinase C modulates neurotransmitter release in brain was investigated by examining the effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) on Ca2+ transport and endogenous dopamine release from rat striatal synaptosomes. TPA (0.16 and 1.6 microM) significantly increased dopamine release by 24 and 33%, respectively, after a 20-min preincubation with TPA followed by 60 s of depolarization with 30 mM KCl. Depolarization-induced 45Ca2+ uptake, measured simultaneously with dopamine release, was not significantly increased by TPA. Neither 45Ca2+ uptake nor dopamine release was altered under resting conditions. When the time course of K+-stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake and dopamine release was examined, TPA (1.6 microM) enhanced dopamine release after 15, 30, and 60 s, but not 1, 3, or 5 s, of depolarization. A slight increase in 45Ca2+ uptake after 60 s of depolarization was also seen. The addition of 30 mM KCl to synaptosomes which had been preloaded with the Ca2+-sensitive fluorophore fura-2 increased the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) from 445 nM to 506 nM after 10 s of depolarization and remained elevated after 60 s. TPA had no effect on [Ca2+]i under depolarizing or resting conditions. Replacing extracellular Ca2+ with 100 microM EGTA reduced K+-stimulated (60 s) endogenous dopamine release by 53% and decreased [Ca2+]i to 120 nM. In Ca2+-free medium, 30 mM KCl did not produce an increase in the [Ca2+]i. TPA (1.6 microM) did not alter the [Ca2+]i under resting or depolarizing conditions, but did increase K+-stimulated dopamine release in Ca2+-free medium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibitors of Ca2+ release from the isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum. II. The effects of dantrolene on Ca2+ release induced by caffeine, Ca2+ and depolarization

The effects of dantrolene, which is a known muscle relaxant, on Ca2+ release from the isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum induced by several different methods [1) addition of caffeine, (2) Ca2+ jump, and (3) membrane-depolarization produced by choline chloride replacement of potassium gluconate) were investigated. Dantrolene inhibited caffeine-induced Ca2+ release with C1/2 = 2.5 microM, whereas there was no effect on Ca2+ release induced by a Ca2+ jump. The amount of Ca2+ released by depolarization was reduced if Ca2+ release was triggered in an earlier phase of the steady state of Ca2+ uptake (time elapsed between the addition of ATP and the triggering of Ca2+ release, tATP less than 4 min); while, if triggered in a latter phase (tATP greater than 4 min) dantrolene enhanced depolarization-induced Ca2+ release. C1/2 for the inhibition and that for enhancement of depolarization-induced Ca2+ release were 1.0 and 0.3 microM, respectively. These results suggest that dantrolene affects several different steps of the mechanism by which Ca2+ release is triggered. The sarcoplasmic reticulum and T-tubule membrane fractions had 7.9 nmol dantrolene-binding sites/mg (Kassoc = 1.0 X 10(5) M-1) and 21.0 nmol/mg (Kassoc = 1.1 X 10(5) M-1), respectively. The time-course of dantrolene binding to sarcoplasmic reticulum was monophasic, while that to T-tubules was biphasic.     

Differential activation by Ca2+, ATP and caffeine of cardiac and skeletal muscle ryanodine receptors after block by Mg2+

The block of rabbit skeletal ryanodine receptors (RyR1) and dog heart RyR2 by cytosolic [Mg2+], and its reversal by agonists Ca2+, ATP and caffeine was studied in planar bilayers. Mg2+ effects were tested at submaximal activating [Ca2+] (5 microM). Approximately one third of the RyR1s had low open probability ("LA channels") in the absence of Mg2+. All other RyR1s displayed higher activity ("HA channels"). Cytosolic Mg2+ (1 mM) blocked individual RyR1 channels to varying degrees (32 to 100%). LA channels had residual P(o) <0.005 in 1 mM Mg2+ and reactivated poorly with [Ca2+] (100 microM), caffeine (5 mM), or ATP (4 mM; all at constant 1 mM Mg2+). HA channels had variable activity in Mg2+ and variable degree of recovery from Mg2+ block with Ca2+, caffeine or ATP application. Nearly all cardiac RyR2s displayed high activity in 5 microM [Ca2+]. They also had variable sensitivity to Mg2+. However, the RyR2s consistently recovered from Mg2+ block with 100 microM [Ca2+] or caffeine application, but not when ATP was added. Thus, at physiological [Mg2+], RyR2s behaved as relatively homogeneous Ca2+/caffeine-gated HA channels. In contrast, RyR1s displayed functional heterogeneity that arises from differential modulatory actions of Ca2+ and ATP. These differences between RyR1 and RyR2 function may reflect their respective roles in muscle physiology and excitation-contraction coupling.     

Magnesium permeability of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Mg2+ is not countertransported during ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum

Magnesium transport across sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles was investigated in reaction mixtures of various composition using antipyrylazo III or arsenazo I to monitor extravesicular free Mg2+. The half-time of passive Mg2+ efflux from Mg2+-loaded SR was 100 s in 100 mM KCl, 150 S in 100 mM K gluconate, and 370 S in either 100 mM Tris methanesulfonate or 200 mM sucrose solutions. The concentration and time course of Mg2+ released into the medium was also measured during ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by SR. In reaction mixtures containing up to 3 mM Mg2+, small changes in free magnesium of 10 microM or less were accurately detected without interference from changes in free Ca2+ of up to 100 microM. Three experimental protocols were used to determine whether the increase of free [Mg2+] in the medium after an addition of ATP was due to Mg2+ dissociated from ATP following ATP hydrolysis or to Mg2+ translocation from inside to outside of the vesicles. 1) In the presence of ATP-regenerating systems which maintained constant ATP to ADP ratios and normal rates of active Ca2+ uptake, the increase of Mg2+ in the medium was negligible. 2) Mg2+ released during ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by SR was similar to that observed during ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by apyrase, in the absence of SR. 3) In SR lysed with Triton X-100 such that Ca2+ transport was uncoupled from ATPase activity, the rate and amount of Mg2+ release was greater than that observed during ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by intact vesicles. Taken together, the results indicate that passive fluxes of Mg2+ across SR membranes are 10 times faster than those of Ca2+ and that Mg2+ is not counter-transported during active Ca2+ accumulation by SR even in reaction mixtures containing minimal concentrations of membrane permeable ions that could be rapidly exchanged or cotransported with Ca2+ (e.g. K+ or Cl-).     

Calcium-induced calcium release from purified cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. General characteristics

Isolated canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum exhibits Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release from both actively and passively loaded vesicles. The rate and extent of Ca2+ release depend on the extravesicular ionized Ca2+ concentration ( [Ca2+]o) at the onset of release. Maximal release following ATP-dependent, phosphate-facilitated Ca2+ loading (up to 360 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein/min at 37 degrees C) occurs at 1.5-2 microM [Ca2+]o, with reduced release at both lower and higher Ca2+ concentrations (half-maximal Ca2+ release at approximately 0.8 and 5.5 microM [Ca2+]o). Only a portion of the accumulated Ca2+ is released and the release is followed by reuptake of Ca2+. A similar Ca2+ dependence is obtained in the absence of ATP and Pi by measuring unidirectional Ca2+ efflux from passively loaded vesicles (maximal Ca2+ efflux at 1 microM [Ca2+]o; half-maximal Ca2+-dependent efflux at approximately 0.15 and 13 microM [Ca2+]o). Although the Ca2+ release rates observed in this study are several orders of magnitude lower than the rate of Ca2+ release which occurs in muscle cells in vivo, this Ca2+ release phenomenon may be related to the Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release which has been described for skinned cardiac cells ( Fabiato , A. (1983) Am. J. Physiol. 245, C1-C14). Ca2+ release occurs in the presence of an ATP-regenerating system and is not accompanied by a reduction in ATP hydrolysis. Also, since unidirectional Ca2+ efflux (as high as 860 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein/min at 37 degrees C) exceeds net Ca2+ release under similar conditions, Ca2+ influx proceeds during the period of net Ca2+ release. Therefore, Ca2+ release does not involve reversal or cessation of inward Ca2+ pumping. Other data indicate that Ca2+ release is not mediated through the Ca2+ pump protein, but occurs through a separate Ca2+-dependent efflux pathway, possibly a channel.     

Ca2+ dependence of stimulated 45Ca efflux in skinned muscle fibers

Stimulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca release by Mg reduction of caffeine was studied in situ, to characterize further the Ca2+ dependence observed previously with stimulation by Cl ion. 45Ca efflux and isometric force were measured simultaneously at 19 degrees C in frog skeletal muscle fibers skinned by microdissection; EGTA was added to chelate myofilament space Ca either before or after the stimulus. Both Mg2+ reduction (20 or 110 microM to 4 microM) and caffeine (5 mM) induced large force responses and 45Ca release, which were inhibited by pretreatment with 5 mM EGTA. In the case of Mg reduction, residual efflux stimulation was undetectable, and 45Ca efflux in EGTA at 4 microM Mg2+ was not significantly increased. Residual caffeine stimulation at 20 microM Mg2+ was substantial and was reduced further in increased EGTA (10 mM); at 600 microM Mg2+, residual stimulation in 5 mM EGTA was undetectable. Caffeine appears to initiate a small Ca2+-insensitive efflux that produces a large Ca2+-dependent efflux. Additional experiments suggested that caffeine also inhibited influx. The results suggest that stimulated efflux is mediated mainly or entirely by a channel controlled by an intrinsic Ca2+ receptor, which responds to local [Ca2+] in or near the channel. Receptor affinity for Ca2+ probably is influenced by Mg2+, but inhibition is weak unless local [Ca2+] is very low.     

Sarcoplasmic reticulum lumenal Ca2+ has access to cytosolic activation and inactivation sites of skeletal muscle Ca2+ release channel.

The effects of sarcoplasmic reticulum lumenal (trans) Ca2+ on cytosolic (cis) ATP-activated rabbit skeletal muscle Ca2+ release channels (ryanodine receptors) were examined using the planar lipid bilayer method. Single channels were recorded in symmetric 0.25 M KCl media with K+ as the major current carrier. With nanomolar [Ca2+] in both bilayer chambers, the addition of 2 mM cytosolic ATP greatly increased the number of short channel openings. As lumenal [Ca2+] was increased from < 0.1 microM to approximately 250 microM, increasing channel activities and events with long open time constants were seen at negative holding potentials. Channel activity remained low at positive holding potentials. Further increase in lumenal [Ca2+] to 1, 5, and 10 mM resulted in a decrease in channel activities at negative holding potentials and increased activities at positive holding potentials. A voltage-dependent activation by 50 microM lumenal Ca2+ was also observed when the channel was minimally activated by < 1 microM cytosolic Ca2+ in the absence of ATP. With microM cytosolic Ca2+ in the presence or absence of 2 mM ATP, single-channel activities showed no or only a weak voltage dependence. Other divalent cations (Mg2+, Ba2+) could not replace lumenal Ca2+. On the contrary, cytosolic ATP-activated channel activities were decreased as lumenal Ca2+ fluxes were reduced by the addition of 1-5 mM BaCl2 or MgCl2 to the lumenal side, which contained 50 microM Ca2+. An increase in [KCl] from 0.25 M to 1 M also reduced single-channel activities. Addition of the "fast" Ca2+ buffer 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethanetetraacetic acid (BAPTA) to the cls chamber increased cytosolic ATP-, lumenal Ca(2+)-activated channel activities to a nearly maximum level. These results suggested that lumenal Ca2+ flowing through the skeletal muscle Ca2+ release channel may regulate channel activity by having access to cytosolic Ca2+ activation and Ca2+ inactivation sites that are located in "BAPTA-inaccessible" and "BAPTA-accessible" spaces, respectively.     

Caffeine inhibits the agonist-evoked cytosolic Ca2+ signal in mouse pancreatic acinar cells by blocking inositol trisphosphate production.

The inhibitory effects of caffeine on receptor-activated cytosolic Ca2+ signal generation in isolated mouse pancreatic acinar cells were investigated. Using the ability of caffeine to quench Indo-1 fluorescence we measured simultaneously the free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and the intracellular caffeine concentration ([caffeine]i). We also measured inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) production with a radioreceptor assay. When caffeine was added to the extracellular solution during a sustained receptor-activated increase in [Ca2+]i, [caffeine]i rose to its steady level within a few seconds. This was accompanied by a decrease of [Ca2+]i, which started only after [caffeine]i had reached an apparent threshold concentration (about 2 mM in the case of 0.5 microM acetylcholine (ACh) stimulation). Above this [caffeine]i level there was a linear relationship between [caffeine]i and [Ca2+]i. Throughout the caffeine exposure [Ca2+]i remained at a steady low level. Following removal of caffeine from the bath, [caffeine]i decreased to zero within seconds. There was no significant increase in [Ca2+]i until [caffeine]i had been reduced to the threshold level (about 2 mM at 0.5 microM ACh). Caffeine inhibited Ca2+ signals evoked by ACh, cholecystokinin, and ATP and also inhibited signals generated in the absence of external Ca2+. Caffeine application had the same effect as removal of agonist allowing recovery from apparent desensitization. Caffeine inhibited the agonist-evoked production of InsP3 in a dose-dependent manner. Our results demonstrate the acute and reversible dose-dependent inhibition of agonist-evoked cytosolic Ca2+ signal generation due to rapid intracellular caffeine accumulation and washout. The inhibition can be explained by the reduction of agonist-evoked InsP3 production.     

Activation of the Ca2+ release channel of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum by caffeine and related compounds

The caffeine-sensitive Ca2+ release pathway in skeletal muscle was identified and characterized by studying the release of 45Ca2+ from heavy sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles and by incorporating the vesicles or the purified Ca2+ release channel protein complex into planar lipid bilayers. First-order rate constants for 45Ca2+ efflux of 1 s-1 were obtained in the presence of 1-10 microM free Ca2+ or 2 X 10(-9) M free Ca2+ plus 20 mM caffeine. Caffeine- and Ca2+-induced 45Ca2+ release were potentiated by ATP and Mg.ATP, and were both inhibited by Mg2+. Dimethylxanthines were similarly (3,9-dimethylxanthine) or more (1,7-, 1,3-, and 3,7-dimethylxanthine) effective than caffeine in increasing the 45Ca2+ efflux rate. 1,9-Dimethylxanthine and 1,3-dimethyluracil (which lacks the imidazole ring) did not appreciably stimulate 45Ca2+ efflux. Recordings of calcium ion currents through single channels showed that the Ca2+- and ATP-gated SR Ca2+ release channel is activated by addition of caffeine to the cis (cytoplasmic) and not the trans (lumenal) side of the channel in the bilayer. The single channel measurements further revealed that caffeine activated Ca2+ release by increasing the number and duration of open channel events without a change of unit conductance (107 pS in 50 mM Ca2+ trans). These results suggest that caffeine exerts its Ca2+ releasing effects in muscle by activating the high-conductance, ligand-gated Ca2+ release channel of sarcoplasmic reticulum.     

Calcium regulates cAMP-induced potassium ion efflux in Dictyostelium discoideum

The chemoattractant cAMP elicits a transient efflux of K+ in cell suspensions of Dictyostelium discoideum. This cellular response displayed half-maximal activity at about 1 microM cAMP and saturated at 100 microM cAMP, cAMP-stimulated K+ efflux, measured with a K+-sensitive electrode, depended on the extracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]0) and was maximal in the presence of EGTA. Usually more than 90% of the K+ release could be inhibited by the addition of Ca2+. Half-maximal reduction occurred at about 2 microM [Ca2+]0. Inhibition was also observed in the presence of caffeine or A23187, drugs known to elevate the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Under conditions where [Ca2+]0 was maintained at a low level, half-maximal inhibition was 1 mM for caffeine and 3 microM for A23187. These results indicate that Cai2+ is involved in the regulation of K+ efflux. Simultaneous measurements of Ca2+ uptake and K+ efflux induced by cAMP as well as free running oscillations of both ions revealed that initiation and termination of Ca2+ uptake slightly preceded those of K+ efflux.     

Identification of P2Y purinoceptors associated with voltage-activated cation channels in cardiac ventricular myocytes of the rat

Extracellular ATP has vasodilatory and inotropic effects in the heart. We have demonstrated that extracellular ATP, in a concentration-dependent manner (10 nM-0.1 mM), increased [Ca2+]i in suspensions of isolated fura-2-loaded rat cardiac ventricular myocytes (maximum 96 +/- 10% increase over basal levels, SEM, n = 12, P less than 0.01). The increase in [Ca2+]i was often biphasic, with an initial fast phase (less than 1 s) of low amplitude, followed by a slower phase of higher amplitude. A second application of ATP had little effect, and ATP abolished the effect of subsequent electrical stimulations, even through the cells were still able to respond with an increase in [Ca2+]i to KCl-induced depolarization or stimulation by caffeine. Pretreatment of cells with nifedipine, verapamil, caffeine, ryanodine, or 8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride attenuated the effect of extracellular ATP on [Ca2+]i, and binding of extracellular free calcium by excess EGTA completely abolished the effects of extracellular ATP and electrical stimulation. Extracellular ATP increased bisoxonol fluorescence in ventricular myocytes, indicating depolarization of the sarcolemma. Pretreatment of the myocytes with tetrodotoxin (50 microM), or replacement of NaCl in the incubation buffer with the impermeant cation N-methyl-D-glucamine, suppressed the extracellular ATP effect on [Ca2+]i. ADP and AMP had smaller effects on [Ca2+]i than ATP; adenosine had no effect. ATP analogues showed the following rank order of potency in increasing [Ca2+]i or bisoxonol fluorescence: ATP greater than or equal to 2-methylthioATP much greater than adenosine 5'-O-[3-thio]triphosphate greater than adenosine 5'-[alpha, beta-methylene]triphosphate approximately adenosine 5'-[beta, gamma-methylene]triphosphate approximately adenosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imino]triphosphate greater than adenosine. These data are consistent with the presence of purinoceptors (P2Y subtype) on the sarcolemma of cardiac ventricular myocytes of the rat, which upon activation lead to depolarization and activation of cation channels of the sarcolemma and flux of extracellular Ca2+ into the cells. This may result in further flux of Ca2+ into the cytosol from intracellular stores. The effects of extracellular ATP on [Ca2+]i in rat cardiac ventricular myocytes may, in part, explain the direct inotropic effects of extracellular ATP on the mammalian heart.     

Extracellular ATP has a potent effect to enhance cytosolic calcium and contractility in single ventricular myocytes

The effect of extracellular ATP on the contraction of single rat cardiac myocytes was investigated, together with the effect on the transient change in cytosolic Ca2+ (Cai) elicited by excitation and on the relationship between these two parameters. In unstimulated single myocytes, ATP caused a small increase in Cai (measured as the ratio of fluorescence of Indo-1 at 410 to that at 490 nm. In myocytes bathed in a medium containing 1.0 mM [Ca2+] at 23 degrees C and stimulated at 1 Hz, ATP (1 microM) resulted in a two-threefold increase in amplitude of contraction, as measured by video cinemicrographic techniques. The duration of the Cai-transient was not altered but its amplitude was markedly enhanced, as was the amplitude of contraction. The relation between Cai and contraction-amplitude was not altered by ATP, when measured over a range of extracellular [Ca2+], suggesting that ATP does not affect the myofilament-Ca2+ interaction. The primary site of action of ATP in increasing Cai is at the sarcolemma since the addition to suspensions of myocytes of caffeine (10 mM), which depletes the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ load, does not prevent the subsequent increase of Cai due to ATP. Further, lowering of the extracellular [Ca2+] to less than 1 microM with EGTA abolishes the response of Cai to ATP, though not the response to caffeine. Thus in rat cardiac myocytes ATP stimulates trans-sarcolemmal influx of Ca2+: ADP, AMP and adenosine are ineffective. ATP markedly augments the amplitude of the Cai transient elicited by electrical stimulation thus rendering it a potent inotropic agent.     

Altered stored calcium release in skeletal myotubes deficient of triadin and junctin

Triadin and junctin are integral sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane proteins that form a macromolecular complex with the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor (RyR1) but their roles in skeletal muscle calcium homeostasis remain incompletely understood. Here we report that delivery of siRNAs specific for triadin or junctin into C2C12 skeletal myoblasts reduced the expression of triadin and junctin in 8-day-old myotubes by 80 and 100%, respectively. Knocking down either triadin or junctin in these cells reduced Ca2+ release induced by depolarization (10mM KCl) by 20-25%. Unlike triadin knockdown myotubes, junctin knockdown and junctin/triadin double knockdown myotubes also had reduced Ca2+ release induced by 400 microM 4-chloro-m-cresol, 10mM caffeine, 400 microM UTP, or 1 microM thapsigargin. Thus, knocking down junctin compromised the Ca2+ stores in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of these cells. Our subsequent studies showed that in junctin knockdown myotubes at least two sarcoplasmic reticulum proteins (RyR1 and skeletal muscle calsequestrin) were down-regulated while these proteins' mRNA expression was not affected. The results suggest that triadin has a role in facilitating KCl depolarization-induced Ca2+ release in contrast to junctin which has a role in maintaining sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ store size in C2C12 myotubes.     

Rapid calcium release from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles is dependent on Ca2+ and is modulated by Mg2+, adenine nucleotide, and calmodulin

A subpopulation of canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles has been found to contain a "Ca2+ release channel" which mediates the release of intravesicular Ca2+ stores with rates sufficiently rapid to contribute to excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac muscle. 45Ca2+ release behavior of passively and actively loaded vesicles was determined by Millipore filtration and with the use of a rapid quench apparatus using the two Ca2+ channel inhibitors, Mg2+ and ruthenium red. At pH 7.0 and 5-20 microM external Ca2+, cardiac vesicles released half of their 45Ca2+ stores within 20 ms. Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release was inhibited by raising and lowering external Ca2+ concentration, by the addition of Mg2+, and by decreasing the pH. Calmodulin reduced the Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release rate 3-6-fold in a reaction that did not appear to involve a calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. Under various experimental conditions, ATP or the nonhydrolyzable ATP analog, adenosine 5'-(beta, gamma-methylene)triphosphate (AMP-PCP), and caffeine stimulated 45Ca2+ release 2-500-fold. Maximal release rates (t1/2 = 10 ms) were observed in media containing 10 microM Ca2+ and 5 mM AMP-PCP or 10 mM caffeine. An increased external Ca2+ concentration (greater than or equal to 1 mM) was required to optimize the 45Ca2+ efflux rate in the presence of 8 mM Mg2+ and 5 mM AMP-PCP. These results suggest that cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum contains a ligand-gated Ca2+ channel which is activated by Ca2+, adenine nucleotide, and caffeine, and inhibited by Mg2+, H+, and calmodulin.     

Suppression of Ca2+ oscillations in cultured rat hepatocytes by chemical hypoxia

The model of "chemical hypoxia" with KCN plus iodoacetic acid mimics the ATP depletion and reductive stress of hypoxia. Here, we examined the effects of chemical hypoxia on cytosolic free Na+ and Ca2+ in single cultured rat hepatocytes by multiparameter digitized video microscopy and ratio imaging of sodium-binding furan indicator (SBFI) and Fura-2. Intracellular Na+ increased from about 10 mM to more than 100 mM after 20 min of chemical hypoxia, whereas cytosolic free Ca2+ remained virtually unchanged. In normoxic hepatocytes, phenylephrine (50 microM) and Arg-vasopressin (20-40 nM) induced Ca2+ oscillations in 70 and 40% of cells, respectively. These Ca2+ oscillations were suppressed after one spike following the onset of chemical hypoxia. Phenylephrine and vasopressin also increased inositol phosphate formation by 22 and 147%, respectively. This effect was suppressed by KCN plus iodoacetate. Intracellular acidosis is characteristic of chemical hypoxia. Intracellular acidosis induced by 40 mM Na-acetate suppressed Ca2+ oscillations but did not inhibit hormone-induced inositol phosphate formation. Cytosolic alkalinization also suppressed Ca2+ oscillations. However, prevention of intracellular acidosis with monensin (10 microM) did not prevent suppression of Ca2+ oscillations during chemical hypoxia. Mitochondrial depolarization with uncoupler did not change free Ca2+ levels during chemical hypoxia, indicating that mitochondria do not regulate free Ca2+ during chemical hypoxia. From these results, we conclude: 1) chemical hypoxia does not block Na+ influx across the plasma membrane; 2) Chemical hypoxia inhibits hormone-stimulated Ca2+ flux pathways across cellular membranes by two different mechanisms: (a) by ATP depletion, which disrupts hormone-myo-inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate coupling, and (b) by intracellular acidosis, which inhibits myo-inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate-stimulated Ca2+ release from intracellular stores; 3) during ATP depletion by chemical hypoxia, mitochondria do not take up Ca2+ to maintain cytosolic free Ca2+ at low concentrations.     

Calcium-induced calcium release mechanism in guinea pig taenia caeci

Fura-2 was used to measure the amount of Ca released from the intracellular Ca store of a saponin-skinned smooth muscle fiber bundle of the guinea pig taenia caeci (width, 150-250 microns) placed in a capillary cuvette at 20-22 degrees C. The amount of Ca actively loaded into the store was assayed when released by the application of 50 mM caffeine and/or 10 microM inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) in the absence of ATP, and was found to have a biphasic dependence on the loading [Ca2+] with a peak near pCa 6. After Ca loading at pCa 6, IP3 released almost all the releasable Ca, whereas caffeine discharged Ca from only approximately 40% of the store. The maximum amount of Ca in the store was some 220 mumol/liter cell water. Ca in the caffeine-releasable store was released approximately exponentially to zero with time when Ca2+ was applied in the absence of ATP, and the rate constant of the Ca-induced Ca release (CICR) increased steeply with the concentration of Ca2+ applied. Increase in [Mg2+] (0.5-5.0 mM) or decrease in pH (7.3-6.7) shifted the relation between pCa and the rate of CICR roughly in parallel toward the lower pCa. An adenine nucleotide increased the rate of the CICR, but it did not change the range of effective [Ca2+]. 5 mM caffeine greatly enhanced the CICR mechanism, making it approximately 30 times more sensitive to [Ca2+]. However the drug had no Ca-releasing action in the absence of Ca2+. Procaine in millimolar concentrations inhibited the rate of the CICR. These properties are similar to those of the skeletal muscle CICR and ryanodine receptor channels. Rates of the CICR under a physiological ionic milieu were estimated from the results, and a [Ca2+] greater than 1 microM was expected to be necessary for the activation of the Ca release. This Ca sensitivity seems too low for the CICR mechanism to play a primary physiological role in Ca mobilization, unless assisted by other mechanisms.     

Ca entry at rest and during prolonged depolarization in dialyzed squid axons

Ca influx has been studied in squid axons under internal dialysis control. In axons dialyzed with "normal" physiological conditions (Nai = 40-50 mM, Cai2+ = 0.06-0.1 microM, ATP = 2 mM, Ki = 310 mM), 70% of the resting Ca influx is sensitive to external TTX (K0.5 congruent to 5 nM), 20% of it can be accounted by the reversal of the Na-Ca exchange, and the remaining fraction (10%) is insensitive to TTX, D-600, and Nai. The Ca antagonic drug D-600 (50-100 microM) has an inhibitory effect on the resting Ca influx. This compound was found to affect both the TTX sensitive and the Nai-dependent Ca influx components. In the presence of Nai and ATP, Cai2+ activates the carrier mediated Ca entry (Nai-dependent Ca influx). Most of the activation occurs in the submicromolar range of Cai2+ concentrations (K0.5 congruent to 0.6 microM). In the absence of Nai and/or ATP, no activation of Ca influx by Cai2+ was found up to about 5 microM Cai2+. Prolonged depolarization with high Ko causes an increase in Ca influx sustained for long time (minutes). Depolarizing the axons by removing Ki causes the same effect. This depolarization-induced Ca entry was only observed in axons containing Nai. In the absence of Nai, Ca influx decreases with increasing Ko. The activation of the carrier mediated Ca entry (electrogenic Na/Ca exchange) by membrane depolarization was found to be markedly dependent on the magnitude of Ca2+ i. Increasing the magnitude of Ca2+ i from 0.1 to 0.6 microM causes a ten fold increase in the extra Ca influx induced by a K-depolarization.     

Role of extracellular Ca2+ in diaphragmatic contraction: effects of ouabain, monensin, and ryanodine.

The effects of zero extracellular Ca2+ on the contractility of rat diaphragmatic strips in vitro were studied in conjunction with various pharmacological agents known to influence the intracellular Ca2+ concentration: the Na+ ionophore, monensin, and the Na(+)-K+ pump inhibitor, ouabain, which enhance [Ca2+]i, caffeine, which induces Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), and ryanodine, which prevents Ca2+ retention by the SR. The effect of increasing [Ca2+]i on diaphragmatic contraction was assessed by comparing contractions induced by 120 mM K+ in the small muscle strips before and after the addition of ouabain or monensin. Monensin (20 microM) and ouabain (1-100 microM) augmented contractions up to threefold. Treatment of diaphragm strips with 3 nM ryanodine increased baseline tension 360% above the original resting tension but only if the diaphragm was electrically stimulated concurrently; 100 microM ryanodine induced contracture in quiescent tissue. High K+ contractures were of greater magnitude in the presence of ryanodine compared with control, and relaxation time was prolonged by greater than 200%. Ca(2+)-free conditions ameliorated these actions of ryanodine. Ryanodine reduced contractions induced by 10 mM caffeine and nearly abolished them in Ca(2+)-free solution. The data demonstrate that extracellular Ca2+ is important in certain types of contractile responses of the diaphragm and suggest that the processes necessary to utilize extracellular Ca2+ are present in the diaphragm.     

Conformational changes of the Ca2+-ATPase as early events of Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum

Rabbit skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles were loaded with Ca2+ by ATP-dependent Ca2+ accumulation in the presence of low [Mg2+] (0.2-0.5 mM), and Ca2+ release was induced by addition of caffeine or ADP or by means of a Ca2+ jump. The levels of the phosphorylated intermediate (EP) and the tryptophan fluorescence of the Ca2+-ATPase were monitored during both the Ca2+ accumulation and the induced Ca2+ release using fast kinetic techniques. During Ca2+ uptake, both the EP level and the tryptophan fluorescence gradually decreased following a time course similar to that of the Ca2+ accumulation. Upon inducing Ca2+ release by addition of either caffeine or ADP, there was a transient increase of the EP level (from 0.3-0.5 to 1-2 nmol/mg protein) preceding the release of Ca2+. Similarly, a transient increase of the tryptophan fluorescence prior to Ca2+ release produced by the application of a Ca2+ jump was also found. These results indicate that the Ca2+-ATPase enzyme undergoes a rapid conformational change in response to triggering of Ca2+ release.