s6c-sarafotoxin and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl-borate

In mammals, endothelin receptors are sub-classified into ET(A) receptors (ET(A)R), which are purely constrictive in vascular smooth muscle (VSM), and ET(B)R, which may produce constriction in VSM or dilatation by stimulating the production of nitric oxide (NO) from endothelial cells. In contrast, previous studies suggested that shark VSM is stimulated exclusively by ET(B)R. The Ca(2+) signaling pathways utilized by shark VSM in response to stimulation by endothelin-1 (ET-1) have not previously been investigated. We measured cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in fura-2-loaded VSM of anterior mesenteric artery of Squalus acanthias and show that the ET(B)R agonists IRL 1620 and sarafotoxin S6c (SRX) increase [Ca(2+)](i) in VSM to the same extent as ET-1 and ET(B)R appears to be the only ETR subtype in sharks. To investigate the participation of the inositol trisphosphate (IP(3)) receptors (IP(3)R), we utilized two inhibitors of the mammalian IP(3)R, TMB-8 and 2-APB. In Ca(2+)-free Ringer, these agents inhibit the response to ET(B)R agonist stimulation by 71%. The ryanodine-sensitive receptor (RyR) may be activated by low concentrations of ryanodine, by abrupt local increases of [Ca(2+)](i), (calcium-induced calcium release) or by cyclic adeninediphosphate ribose (cADPR). We employed three inhibitors of activation of the RyR, Ruthenium Red, 8-Br cADPR and high concentrations of ryanodine; these agents blocked the [Ca(2+)](i) response to ET(B)R agonist stimulation by a mean of 39%. These data show for the first time that in VSM of the shark, ET(B)R activation stimulates both IP(3)R and RyR, and that cADPR is involved in RyR activation.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Boron Compounds; Calcium; Calcium Channels; Cyclic ADP-Ribose; Endothelins; Fluorescence; Gallic Acid; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; Maine; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Peptide Fragments; Receptor, Endothelin B; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; Ruthenium Red; Ryanodine; Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; Signal Transduction; Squalus acanthias; Time Factors; Viper Venoms

Endothelins are known to be among the most potent endogenous vasoconstrictors. Vasoconstriction of the spiral modiolar artery, which supplies the cochlea, may be implicated in hearing loss and tinnitus. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the spiral modiolar artery responds to endothelin, whether a change in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) mediates the response and which endothelin receptors are present. The vascular diameter and [Ca2+]i were measured simultaneously by videomicroscopy and microfluorometry in the isolated spiral modiolar artery from the gerbil. ET-1 induced a transient [Ca2+]i increase and a strong and long-lasting vasoconstriction. The transient [Ca2+]i increase underwent rapid desensitization, was independent of extracellular Ca2+ and inhibited by the IP3-receptor blocker (75 microm) 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) and by depletion of Ca2+ stores with 10(-6) m thapsigargin. In contrast, the vasoconstriction displayed no comparable desensitization. The initial vasoconstriction was independent of extracellular Ca2+ but maintenance of the constriction depended on the presence of extracellular Ca2+. The half-maximal concentration values (EC50) for the agonists ET-1, ET-3 and sarafotoxin S6c were 0.8 nm, >10 nm and >100 nm, respectively. Affinity constants for the antagonists BQ-123 and BQ-788 were 24 nm and 77 nm, respectively. These observations demonstrate that ET-1 mediates a vasoconstriction of the gerbil spiral modiolar artery via ETA receptors and an IP3 receptor-mediated release of Ca2+ from thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ stores. The marked difference in desensitization between Ca2+ mobilization and vasoconstriction suggests that Ca2+ mobilization is not solely responsible for the vasoconstriction and that other signaling mechanisms must be present.

Topics: Animals; Antihypertensive Agents; Arteries; Boron Compounds; Calcium; Calcium Signaling; Cochlea; Cytophotometry; Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; Endothelin-1; Enzyme Inhibitors; Gerbillinae; Microscopy, Video; Oligopeptides; Peptides, Cyclic; Piperidines; Receptor, Endothelin A; Receptors, Endothelin; Thapsigargin; Vasoconstriction; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Viper Venoms