Effects of hypoxia on the contractions and lactate release induced by high-K+, ouabain and epinephrine in guinea-pig aorta.

1. The 60 mM K+, 152 mM K+, Na-deficient medium and oubain-induced contractions of aorta were not so affected by severe hypoxia. 2. The 60 mM K+, 152 mM K+, Na(+)-deficient medium-induced responses were greatly reduced by deprivation of external Ca2+ in normoxia. 3. As the concentration of epinephrine increased, the remaining tensions which were expressed as a percentage of the original tensions became progressively greater in hypoxic condition. 4. The percentage of resistant components of the norepinephrine-induced contraction by the lower concentration was further reduced in Ca(2+)-free medium by severe hypoxic condition. 5. The tensions under normoxia and lactate release under severe hypoxia induced by 60 mM K+ or 2.5 x 10(-6) M epinephrine were of the same extent. 6. In conclusion, the inhibition of aortic response to epinephrine with severe hypoxia could not solely be explained by depression of the oxygen supply into the oxidative metabolism. Severe hypoxia did not affect Ca2+ influx through voltage-operated Ca2+ channels, but reduced both receptor-operated Ca2+ influx and intracellular Ca2+ release in the aorta.     

Relationship of urotensin I induced vasodilatory action in rat thoracic aorta to Ca2+ regulation

The relaxant effects of the synthetic fish neuropeptide urotensin I were examined in helical strips of rat aorta. In K+-depolarized aorta strips, urotensin I and verapamil competitively inhibited Ca2+-induced contractions. Urotensin I relaxed, in a concentration-dependent manner, the contraction produced by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, whereas verapamil had no effect on this contraction, even at a concentration of 10(-5) M. In the absence and presence of extracellular Ca2+, urotensin I inhibited both components of the contractions elicited by norepinephrine or urotensin II, another fish neuropeptide. Verapamil reduced only the norepinephrine or urotensin II induced contraction in the presence of extracellular Ca2+, with little or no change in the contraction in Ca2+-free buffer. The urotensin I induced relaxation response in aortic strips contracted by 40 mM KCl was enhanced by pretreatment with papaverine or forskolin. Pretreatment with dibutyryl cAMP did not significantly alter the action of urotensin I. The presence or absence of endothelial cells did not change the response to urotensin I. These results suggest that urotensin I antagonizes the action and (or) mobilization of extracellular and intracellular Ca2+.     

Calcium homeostasis and contraction of the uterine artery: effect of pregnancy and chronic hypoxia

The present study tested the hypothesis that chronic hypoxia alters pregnancy-mediated adaptation of Ca2+ homeostasis and contractility in the uterine artery. Uterine arteries were isolated from nonpregnant and near-term pregnant ewes of normoxic control or high-altitude (3820 m) hypoxic (oxygen pressure in the blood [PaO2], 60 mm Hg) treatment for 110 days. Contractions and intracellular-free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were measured simultaneously in the same tissue. In normoxic animals, pregnancy increased norepinephrine (NE), but not 5-hydroxy-thymide (5-HT) or KCl, contractile sensitivity in the uterine artery. Chronic hypoxia significantly attenuated NE-induced contractions in the pregnant, but not nonpregnant, uterine arteries. Similarly, 5-HT-mediated contractions of nonpregnant arteries were not changed. In the pregnant uterine artery, chronic hypoxia significantly increased NE-mediated Ca2+ mobilization, but decreased the Ca2+ sensitivity. In addition, hypoxia increased the calcium ionophore A23187-induced relaxation in pregnant, but not nonpregnant, uterine arteries. However, the A23187-mediated reduction of [Ca2+]i was significantly impaired in hypoxic arteries. In contrast, hypoxia significantly increased the slope of the [Ca2+]i-tension relationship of A23187-induced reductions in [Ca2+]i and tension in the pregnant uterine artery. The results suggest that the contractility of nonpregnant uterine artery is insensitive to moderate chronic hypoxia, but the adaptation of sympathetic tone that normally occurs in the uterine artery during pregnancy is inhibited by chronic hypoxia. In addition, changes in Ca2+ sensitivity of myofilaments play a predominant role in the adaptation of uterine artery contractility to pregnancy and chronic hypoxia.     

Effect of hypoxia on responses of respiratory smooth muscle to histamine and LTD4

The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of reduced oxygenation on the contractions of pulmonary vascular and airway smooth muscle induced by leukotriene D4 (LTD4) with those induced by histamine (an agonist with similar mechanisms of smooth muscle contraction) and KCl (a voltage-dependent stimulus). During hypoxia (PO2: 40 +/- 4 Torr) the responses of isolated porcine pulmonary artery and vein spiral strips to LTD4 increased approximately three- and two-fold, respectively, and the vein also exhibited an augmented response to histamine. The augmentation was blunted (LTD4) or reversed (histamine) during anoxia (PO2: 0 +/- 2 Torr). Responses to KCl were not systematically altered by reduced oxygenation. In contrast, the contractions of the guinea pig parenchymal lung strip by all three agonists were generally suppressed by reduced oxygenation. After reoxygenation, the contractile responses of each of the three smooth muscle preparations were generally increased compared with previous and concurrent base-line observations, particularly the LTD4-induced pulmonary vein contraction that increased approximately sevenfold after reoxygenation after anoxia. The contribution (if any) of leukotrienes to hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction may reflect increased vascular responsiveness to leukotrienes during hypoxia as well as (or instead of) increased leukotriene release.     

Inhibition of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction by antagonists of store-operated Ca2+ and nonselective cation channels

Previous studies indicated that acute hypoxia increased intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), Ca(2+) influx, and capacitative Ca(2+) entry (CCE) through store-operated Ca(2+) channels (SOCC) in smooth muscle cells from distal pulmonary arteries (PASMC), which are thought to be a major locus of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). Moreover, these effects were blocked by Ca(2+)-free conditions and antagonists of SOCC and nonselective cation channels (NSCC). To test the hypothesis that in vivo HPV requires CCE, we measured the effects of SOCC/NSCC antagonists (SKF-96365, NiCl(2), and LaCl(3)) on pulmonary arterial pressor responses to 2% O(2) and high-KCl concentrations in isolated rat lungs. At concentrations that blocked CCE and [Ca(2+)](i) responses to hypoxia in PASMC, SKF-96365 and NiCl(2) prevented and reversed HPV but did not alter pressor responses to KCl. At 10 microM, LaCl(3) had similar effects, but higher concentrations (30 and 100 microM) caused vasoconstriction during normoxia and potentiated HPV, indicating actions other than SOCC blockade. Ca(2+)-free perfusate and the voltage-operated Ca(2+) channel (VOCC) antagonist nifedipine were potent inhibitors of pressor responses to both hypoxia and KCl. We conclude that HPV required influx of Ca(2+) through both SOCC and VOCC. This dual requirement and virtual abolition of HPV by either SOCC or VOCC antagonists suggests that neither channel provided enough Ca(2+) on its own to trigger PASMC contraction and/or that during hypoxia, SOCC-dependent depolarization caused secondary activation of VOCC.     

Hypoxia induces hypersensitivity and hyperreactivity to thromboxane receptor agonist in neonatal pulmonary arterial myocytes

PPHN, caused by perinatal hypoxia or inflammation, is characterized by an increased thromboxane-prostacyclin ratio and pulmonary vasoconstriction. We examined effects of hypoxia on myocyte thromboxane responsiveness. Myocytes from 3rd-6th generation pulmonary arteries of newborn piglets were grown to confluence and synchronized in contractile phenotype by serum deprivation. On the final 3 days of culture, myocytes were exposed to 10% O2 for 3 days; control myocytes from normoxic piglets were cultured in 21% O2. PPHN was induced in newborn piglets by 3-day hypoxic exposure (Fi(O2) 0.10); pulmonary arterial myocytes from these animals were maintained in normoxia. Ca2+ mobilization to thromboxane mimetic U-46619 and ATP was quantified using fura-2 AM. Three-day hypoxic exposure in vitro results in increased basal [Ca2+]i, faster and heightened peak Ca2+ response, and decreased U-46619 EC50. These functional changes persist in myocytes exposed to hypoxia in vivo but cultured in 21% O2. Blockade of Ca2+ entry and store refilling do not alter peak U-46619 Ca2+ responses in hypoxic or normoxic myocytes. Blockade of ryanodine-sensitive or IP3-gated intracellular Ca2+ channels inhibits hypoxic augmentation of peak U-46619 response. Ca2+ response to ryanodine alone is undetectable; ATP-induced Ca2+ mobilization is unaltered by hypoxia, suggesting no independent increase in ryanodine-sensitive or IP3-linked intracellular Ca2+ pool mobilization. We conclude hypoxia has a priming effect on neonatal pulmonary arterial myocytes, resulting in increased resting Ca2+, thromboxane hypersensitivity, and hyperreactivity. We postulate that hypoxia increases agonist-induced TP-R-linked IP3 pathway activation. Myocyte thromboxane hyperresponsiveness persists in culture after removal from the initiating hypoxic stimulus, suggesting altered gene expression.     

Tyrosine phosphorylation increases Ca2+ sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle contraction

In order to elucidate the role of tyrosine phosphorylation in vasoconstriction, we investigated the effects of inhibitors of tyrosine kinase (genistein, 30 microM) and phosphatase (sodium o-vanadate, 5 microM) on the contraction of aorta isolated from guinea pig. Genistein significantly inhibited norepinephrine-induced contraction, but it did not affect that induced by KCI. Thus, tyrosine phosphorylation may not be involved in the contractile response to KCI alone. The aortic contraction elicited by KCl was significantly augmented by sodium o-vanadate, which increased both the maximum force and pD2 values of KCl contraction. In the presence of verapamil, KCl-induced contraction was abolished even after pretreatment with sodium o-vanadate. Sodium o-vanadate also augmented Ca2+-induced contraction in the aortic strips depolarized with KCl, increasing both its maximum force and pD2 values. Neither basal 45Ca2+ uptake nor verapamil-sensitive 45Ca2+ uptake induced by KCl were affected by pretreatment with sodium o-vanadate. These results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation is involved in the contraction of guinea-pig aorta not through transplasmalemmal Ca2+ entry but through increased Ca2+ sensitivity of the intracellular contractile pathway.     

The effect of calmodulin on histamine release in the rat peritoneal mast cell

To investigate the role of the Ca2+-binding protein calmodulin on histamine release in the rat peritoneal mast cell, we exposed cells to exogenous calmodulin in the presence of a variety of histamine secretagogues. Histamine release stimulated by compound 48/80, polymyxin B and ionophore A23187 was inhibited while concanavalin A-stimulated release was not affected. Calmodulin in the presence of the secretagogues did not affect cell viability and calmodulin alone had no effect on histamine release. No direct interaction between calmodulin and the secretagogues was observed. Exogenous calmodulin does not appear to be incorporated into the cell. The inhibition of histamine release by calmodulin can be explained as a labile interaction between the protein and the cell that requires externally-bound Ca2+. These experiments demonstrate the use of exogenous calmodulin as a probe in the study of the mechanism of histamine release.     

Effect of trifluoperazine, a calmodulin antagonist, on prostaglandin output from the guinea-pig uterus

Trifluoperazine, a calmodulin antagonist, inhibited the A23187-induced increase in outputs of prostaglandin (PG) F-2 alpha and 6-oxo-PGF-1 alpha from the Day 7 and Day 15 guinea-pig uterus superfused in vitro. The basal outputs of, and the arachidonic acid-induced increase in outputs of PGF-2 alpha, PGE-2 and 6-oxo-PGF-1 alpha from the guinea-pig uterus were not inhibited by trifluoperazine. In contrast, indomethacin inhibited A23187-stimulated, arachidonic acid-stimulated and the basal outputs of PGs from the guinea-pig uterus, indicating that trifluoperazine was not inhibiting cyclo-oxygenase. Since the action of A23187 is dependent upon extracellular Ca2+, the present findings provide evidence that calmodulin is involved in Ca2+-induced increases in uterine PG output from the guinea-pig uterus. Trifluoperazine, but not indomethacin, inhibited A23187-induced contraction of the guinea-pig uterus, which is consistent with calmodulin being involved in smooth muscle contraction. Arachidonic acid treatment did not contract the guinea-pig uterus. These findings indicate that PGs are not involved in the contraction induced by A23187. Other findings of interest were (i) trifluoperazine caused a small, sometimes significant (P less than 0.05), increase in uterine PG output, (ii) exogenous arachidonic acid failed to increase PGF-2 alpha output from the Day 15 uterus in contrast to the stimulant action of A23187, and (iii) exogenous arachidonic acid caused a fairly large increase in uterine PGE-2 output in contrast to the small effect with A23187.     

Transduction of an Ethylene Signal Is Required for Cell Death and Lysis in the Root Cortex of Maize during Aerenchyma Formation Induced by Hypoxia

Ethylene has been implicated in signaling cell death in the lysigenous formation of gas spaces (aerenchyma) in the cortex of adventitious roots of maize (Zea mays) subjected to hypoxia. Various antagonists that are known to modify particular steps in signal transduction in other plant systems were applied at low concentrations to normoxic and hypoxic roots of maize, and the effect on cell death (aerenchyma formation) and the increase in cellulase activity that precedes the appearance of cell degeneration were measured. Both cellulase activity and cell death were inhibited in hypoxic roots in the presence of antagonists of inositol phospholipids, Ca2+- calmodulin, and protein kinases. By contrast, there was a parallel promotion of cellulase activity and cell death in hypoxic and normoxic roots by contact with reagents that activate G-proteins, increase cytosolic Ca2+, or inhibit protein phosphatases. Most of these reagents had no effect on ethylene biosynthesis and did not arrest root extension. These results indicate that the transduction of an ethylene signal leading to an increase in intracellular Ca2+ is necessary for cell death and the resulting aerenchyma development in roots of maize subjected to hypoxia.     

Effect of progesterone on the contractile response of isolated pulmonary artery in rabbits.

The purpose of this study was to assess the direct effect of progesterone on rabbit pulmonary arteries and to examine the mechanism of its action. Rings of pulmonary artery from male rabbits were suspended in organ baths containing Krebs solution, and isometric tension was measured. The response to progesterone was investigated in arterial rings contracted with noradrenaline (NA), KCl, and CaCl2. The effects of endothelium, nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandins, cyclic GMP (cGMP), and the adrenergic beta-receptor on progesterone-induced relaxation were also assessed. Progesterone inhibited the vasocontractivity to NA, KCl, and CaCl2, and relaxed rabbit pulmonary artery. The relaxing response of progesterone in pulmonary artery was significantly reduced by removal of endothelium, inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase and guanylate cyclase, but not by prostaglandin synthase inhibitor and blockage of the adrenergic beta-receptor. In Ca2+-free (0.1 mM EGTA) Krebs solution, progesterone inhibited NA-induced contraction that was intracellular Ca2+-dependent, but didn't affect the contraction of extracellular Ca2+-dependent component. Our results suggest that progesterone induces relaxation of isolated rabbit pulmonary arteries partially via NO and cGMP. Progesterone may also inhibit Ca2+ influx through potential-dependent calcium channels (PDCs) and Ca2+ release from intracellular stores.     

The frequency of calcium oscillations induced by 5-HT, ACH, and KCl determine the contraction of smooth muscle cells of intrapulmonary bronchioles

Increased resistance of airways or blood vessels within the lung is associated with asthma or pulmonary hypertension and results from contraction of smooth muscle cells (SMCs). To study the mechanisms regulating these contractions, we developed a mouse lung slice preparation containing bronchioles and arterioles and used phase-contrast and confocal microscopy to correlate the contractile responses with changes in [Ca(2+)](i) of the SMCs. The airways are the focus of this study. The agonists, 5-hydroxytrypamine (5-HT) and acetylcholine (ACH) induced a concentration-dependent contraction of the airways. High concentrations of KCl induced twitching of the airway SMCs but had little effect on airway size. 5-HT and ACH induced asynchronous oscillations in [Ca(2+)](i) that propagated as Ca(2+) waves within the airway SMCs. The frequency of the Ca(2+) oscillations was dependent on the agonist concentration and correlated with the extent of sustained airway contraction. In the absence of extracellular Ca(2+) or in the presence of Ni(2+), the frequency of the Ca(2+) oscillations declined and the airway relaxed. By contrast, KCl induced low frequency Ca(2+) oscillations that were associated with SMC twitching. Each KCl-induced Ca(2+) oscillation consisted of a large Ca(2+) wave that was preceded by multiple localized Ca(2+) transients. KCl-induced responses were resistant to neurotransmitter blockers but were abolished by Ni(2+) or nifedipine and the absence of extracellular Ca(2+). Caffeine abolished the contractile effects of 5-HT, ACH, and KCl. These results indicate that (a) 5-HT and ACH induce airway SMC contraction by initiating Ca(2+) oscillations, (b) KCl induces Ca(2+) transients and twitching by overloading and releasing Ca(2+) from intracellular stores, (c) a sustained, Ni(2+)-sensitive, influx of Ca(2+) mediates the refilling of stores to maintain Ca(2+) oscillations and, in turn, SMC contraction, and (d) the magnitude of sustained airway SMC contraction is regulated by the frequency of Ca(2+) oscillations.     

Role of separate K+ and Cl- channels and of Na+/Cl- cotransport in volume regulation in Ehrlich cells

Cells resuspended in hypotonic medium initially swell as nearly perfect osmometers, but later recover their volume with an associated KCl loss. This regulatory volume decrease (RVD) is unaffected when nitrate is substituted for Cl- or if bumetanide or 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DIDS) is added. It is inhibited by quinine, Ba2+, low pH, anticalmodulin drugs, and depletion of intracellular Ca2+. It is accelerated by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, or by a sudden increase in external Ca2+ and at high pH. A net KCl loss is also seen after addition of ionophore A23187 in isotonic medium. Similarities are demonstrated between the KCl loss seen after addition of A23187 and the KCl loss seen during RVD. It is proposed that separate conductive K+ and Cl- channels are activated during RVD by release of Ca2+ from internal stores, and that the effect is mediated by calmodulin. After restoration of tonicity the cells shrink initially, but recover their volume with an associated KCl uptake. This regulatory volume increase (RVI) is inhibited when NO3- is substituted for Cl-, and is also inhibited by furosemide or bumetanide, but it is unaffected by DIDS. The unidirectional Cl-flux ratio is compatible with either a coupled uptake of Na+ and Cl-, or an uptake via a K+/Na+/2Cl- cotransport system. No K+ uptake was found, however, in ouabain-poisoned cells where a bumetanide-sensitive uptake of Na+ and Cl- in nearly equimolar amounts was demonstrated. Therefore, it is proposed that the primary process during RVI is an activation of an otherwise quiescent Na+/Cl- cotransport system with subsequent replacement of Na+ by K+ via the Na+/K+ pump. There is a marked increase in the rate of pump activity in the absence of a detectable increase in intracellular Na+ concentration.     

Effect of chronic hypoxia on agonist-induced tone and calcium signaling in rat pulmonary artery

The effect of chronic hypoxia (CH) for 14 days on Ca2+ signaling and contraction induced by agonists in the rat main pulmonary artery (MPA) was investigated. In MPA myocytes obtained from control (normoxic) rats, endothelin (ET)-1, angiotensin II (ANG II), and ATP induced oscillations in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in 85-90% of cells, whereas they disappeared in myocytes from chronically hypoxic rats together with a decrease in the percentage of responding cells. However, both the amount of mobilized Ca2+ and the sources of Ca2+ implicated in the agonist-induced response were not changed. Analysis of the transient caffeine-induced [Ca2+]i response revealed that recovery of the resting [Ca2+]i value was delayed in myocytes from chronically hypoxic rats. The maximal contraction induced by ET-1 or ANG II in MPA rings from chronically hypoxic rats was decreased by 30% compared with control values. Moreover, the D-600- and thapsigargin-resistant component of contraction was decreased by 40% in chronically hypoxic rats. These data indicate that CH alters pulmonary arterial reactivity as a consequence of an effect on both Ca2+ signaling and Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus. A Ca2+ reuptake mechanism appears as a CH-sensitive phenomenon that may account for the main effect of CH on Ca2+ signaling.     

Changes in smooth muscle cell pH during hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction: a possible role for ion transporters

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) occurs in smooth muscle cells (SMC) from small pulmonary arteries (SPA) and is accompanied by increases in free cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]i) and cytoplasmic pH (pHi). SMC from large pulmonary arteries (LPA) relax during hypoxia, and [Ca2+]i and pHi decrease. Increases in pHi and [Ca2+]i in cat SPA SMC during hypoxia and the augmentation of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction by alkalosis seen in isolated arteries and lungs suggest that cellular mechanisms, which regulate inward and outward movement of Ca2+ and H+, may participate in the generation of HPV. SMC transport systems that regulate pHi include the Na+ - H+ transporter which regulates intracellular Na+ and H+ and aids in recovery from acid loads, and the Na+ -dependent and Na+ -independent Cl-/HCO3- transporters which regulate intracellular chloride. The Na+ -dependent Cl-/HCO3- transporter also aids in recovery from acidosis in the presence of CO2 and HCO3-. The Na+ -independent Cl-/HCO3- transporter aids in recovery from cellular alkalosis. The Na+ - H+ transporter was present in SMC from SPA and LPA of the cat, but it seemed to have little if any role in regulating pHi in the presence of CO2 and HCO3-. Inhibiting the Cl-/HCO3- transporters reversed the normal direction of pHi change during hypoxia, suggesting a role for these transporters in the hypoxic response. Future studies to determine the interaction between pHi, [Ca2+]i and HPV should ascertain whether pHi and [Ca2+]i changes are linked and how they may interact to promote or inhibit SMC contraction.     

K+ depolarization induces RhoA kinase translocation to caveolae and Ca2+ sensitization of arterial muscle

KCl causes smooth muscle contraction by elevating intracellular free Ca2+, whereas receptor stimulation activates an additional mechanism, termed Ca2+ sensitization, that can involve activation of RhoA-associated kinase (ROK) and PKC. However, recent studies support the hypothesis that KCl may also increase Ca2+ sensitivity. Our data showed that the PKC inhibitor GF-109203X did not, whereas the ROK inhibitor Y-27632 did, inhibit KCl-induced tonic (5 min) force and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation in rabbit artery. Y-27632 also inhibited BAY K 8644- and ionomycin-induced MLC phosphorylation and force but did not inhibit KCl-induced Ca2+ entry or peak ( approximately 15 s) force. Moreover, KCl and BAY K 8644 nearly doubled the amount of ROK colocalized to caveolae at 30 s, a time that preceded inhibition of force by Y-27632. Colocalization was not inhibited by Y-27632 but was abolished by nifedipine and the calmodulin blocker trifluoperazine. These data support the hypothesis that KCl caused Ca2+ sensitization via ROK activation. We discuss a novel model for ROK activation involving translocation to caveolae that is dependent on Ca2+ entry and involves Ca2+-calmodulin activation.     

Decreased endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) activity resulting from abnormal interaction between eNOS and its regulatory proteins in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension

In the pulmonary artery isolated from 1-week hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats, endothelial NO production stimulated by carbachol was decreased significantly in in situ visualization using diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate and also in cGMP content. This change was followed by the decrease in carbachol-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation. Protein expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and its regulatory proteins, caveolin-1 and heat shock protein 90, did not change in the hypoxic pulmonary artery, indicating that chronic hypoxia impairs eNOS activity at posttranslational level. In the hypoxic pulmonary artery, the increase in intracellular Ca(2+) level stimulated by carbachol but not by ionomycin was reduced. We next focused on changes in Ca(2+) sensitivity of the eNOS activation system. A morphological study revealed atrophy of endothelial cells and a peripheral condensation of eNOS in hypoxic endothelial cells preserving co-localization between eNOS and Golgi or plasma membranes. However, eNOS was tightly coupled with caveolin-1, and was dissociated from heat shock protein 90 or calmodulin in the hypoxic pulmonary artery in either the presence or absence of carbachol. Furthermore, eNOS Ser(1177) phosphorylation in both conditions significantly decreased without affecting Akt phosphorylation in the hypoxic artery. In conclusion, chronic hypoxia impairs endothelial Ca(2+) metabolism and normal coupling between eNOS and caveolin-1 resulted in eNOS inactivity.     

Acute hypoxia increases intracellular [Ca2+] in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle by enhancing capacitative Ca2+ entry

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) requires influx of extracellular Ca2+ in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). To determine whether capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE) through store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCCs) contributes to this influx, we used fluorescent microscopy and the Ca2+-sensitive dye fura-2 to measure effects of 4% O2 on intracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) and CCE in primary cultures of PASMCs from rat distal pulmonary arteries. In PASMCs perfused with Ca2+-free Krebs Ringer bicarbonate solution (KRBS) containing cyclopiazonic acid to deplete Ca2+ stores in sarcoplasmic reticulum and nifedipine to prevent Ca2+ entry through L-type voltage-operated Ca2+ channels (VOCCs), hypoxia markedly enhanced both the increase in [Ca2+]i caused by restoration of extracellular [Ca2+] and the rate at which extracellular Mn2+ quenched fura-2 fluorescence. These effects, as well as the increased [Ca2+]i caused by hypoxia in PASMCs perfused with normal salt solutions, were blocked by the SOCC antagonists SKF-96365, NiCl2, and LaCl3 at concentrations that inhibited CCE >80% but did not alter [Ca2+]i responses to 60 mM KCl. In contrast, the VOCC antagonist nifedipine inhibited [Ca2+]i responses to hypoxia by only 50% at concentrations that completely blocked responses to KCl. The increased [Ca2+]i caused by hypoxia was completely reversed by perfusion with Ca2+-free KRBS. LaCl3 increased basal [Ca2+]i during normoxia, indicating effects other than inhibition of SOCCs. Our results suggest that acute hypoxia enhances CCE through SOCCs in distal PASMCs, leading to depolarization, secondary activation of VOCCs, and increased [Ca2+]i. SOCCs and CCE may play important roles in HPV.     

Effects of intracellular pH on hypoxic vasoconstriction in rat lungs

Isolated rat lungs perfused with physiological salt-Ficoll solutions were studied to test whether hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction was potentiated by increases in intracellular pH (pHi) and blunted by decreases in pHi. Whereas addition to perfusate of 5 nM phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a stimulator of exchange of intracellular H+ for extracellular Na+, potentiated hypoxic vasoconstriction, 1 mM amiloride, an inhibitor of Na+-H+ exchange, blunted the hypoxic response. Hypoxic vasoconstriction was also potentiated by the weak bases NH4Cl (20 mM), methylamine (10 mM), and imidazole (5 mM) and was inhibited by the weak acid sodium acetate (40 mM). NH4Cl, imidazole, and acetate had the same effects on KCl-induced vasoconstriction and on the hypoxic response. Hypoxic vasoconstriction was greater in lungs perfused with N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES)-buffered solution than in those perfused with CO2/HCO3--buffered solution. Similarly, lungs perfused with CO2/HCO3--buffered solution containing 1.8 mM Cl- (NaNO3 and KNO3 substituted for NaCl and KCl) had larger hypoxic and angiotensin II pressor responses than those perfused with 122.5 mM Cl-. Because PMA, NH4Cl, methylamine, imidazole, HEPES-buffered solutions, and low-Cl- solutions can cause increases in pHi and amiloride and acetate can cause decreases in pHi, these results suggest that intracellular alkalosis and acidosis, respectively, potentiate and blunt vasoconstrictor responses to hypoxia and other stimuli in isolated rat lungs. These effects could be related to pHi-dependent changes in either the sensitivity of the arterial smooth muscle contractile machinery to Ca2+ or the release of a vasoactive mediator or modulator by some other lung cell.     

Characteristics of the Ca2+ pump and Ca2+-ATPase in the plasma membrane of rat myometrium.

A plasma membrane-enriched fraction from rat myometrium shows ATP-Mg2+-dependent active calcium uptake which is independent of the presence of oxalate and is abolished by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Ca2+ loaded into vesicles via the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake was released by extravesicular Na+. This showed that the Na+/Ca2+ exchange and the Ca2+ uptake were both occurring in plasma membrane vesicles. In a medium containing KCl, vanadate readily inhibited the Ca2+ uptake (K1/2 5 microM); when sucrose replaced KCl, 400 microM-vanadate was required for half inhibition. Only a slight stimulation of the calcium pump by calmodulin was observed in untreated membrane vesicles. Extraction of endogenous calmodulin from the membranes by EGTA decreased the activity and Ca2+ affinity of the calcium pump; both activity and affinity were fully restored by adding back calmodulin or by limited proteolysis. A monoclonal antibody (JA3) directed against the human erythrocyte Ca2+ pump reacted with the 140 kDa Ca2+-pump protein of the myometrial plasma membrane. The Ca2+-ATPase activity of these membranes is not specific for ATP, and is not inhibited by mercurial agents, whereas Ca2+ uptake has the opposite properties. Ca2+-ATPase activity is also over 100 times that of calcium transport; it appears that the ATPase responsible for transport is largely masked by the presence of another Ca2+-ATPase of unknown function. Measurements of total Ca2+-ATPase activity are, therefore, probably not directly relevant to the question of intracellular Ca2+ control.