Carboxyeosin decreases the rate of decay of the [Ca2+](i) transient in uterine smooth muscle cells isolated from pregnant rats

A. Shmigol, D. A. Eisner, Susan Wray

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42 Citations (Scopus)

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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)158-160
Number of pages3
JournalPflugers Archiv European Journal of Physiology
Volume437
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • [Ca](i) decline
  • Ca-ATPase
  • Ca-pump
  • Indo-1

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Physiology (medical)

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