Abstract
In myometrial smooth muscle cells the rate of decline of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+](i)) is determined by Ca2+ extrusion from the cell and uptake into intracellular stores. The relative quantitative contribution of these processes however, has not been established. We therefore examined the effect of the sarcolemmal Ca2+ pump inhibitor, carboxyeosin, on the rate of the [Ca2+](i) transient decline in myocytes isolated from pregnant rat uterus. Indo-1 was used in conjunction with the whole-cell patch-clamp technique to measure [Ca2+](i) simultaneously with transmembrane calcium current (I(Ca)). [Ca2+](i) transients were elicited by repetitive membrane depolarization to simulate the natural pattern of uterine electrical activity. The rate of [Ca2+](i) removal was calculated from the falling phase of the [Ca2+](i) transient. Pretreatment of the cells with 2 μM carboxyeosin led to a marked decrease in the rate of [Ca2+](i) transient decay, suggesting that the sarcolemmal Ca2+ pump is involved in the calcium extrusion process. Removal of the extracellular Na also decreased the rate: of [Ca2+](i) decay, indicating an important role for the Na+/Ca2+ exchange. When both the sarcolemmal Ca2+ pump and Na+/Ca2+ exchange were inhibited the cell failed to restore [Ca2+i after the stimulation. Comparison of the rate constants of [Ca2+](i) decay in control conditions and after carboxyeosin treatment shows that approximately 30% of [Ca2+](i) decay is due to the sarcolemmal calcium pump activity. The remaining 70% can be attributed to the activity of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and the intracellular calcium stores.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 158-160 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Pflugers Archiv European Journal of Physiology |
Volume | 437 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1998 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- [Ca](i) decline
- Ca-ATPase
- Ca-pump
- Indo-1
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Physiology (medical)