Mechanism of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-induced increase in Ca2+ uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum in functionally skinned myocardial fibers

Induction of calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle by xanthone and norathyriol

1. Effects of xanthone and its derivative, 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone (norathyriol), on Ca2+ release and ryanodine binding were studied in isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles from rabbit skeletal muscle. 2. Both xanthone and norathyriol dose-dependently induced Ca2+ release from the actively loaded SR vesicles which was blocked by ruthenium red, a specific Ca2+ release inhibitor, and Mg2+. 3. Xanthone and norathyriol also dose-dependently increased apparent [3H]-ryanodine binding. Norathyriol, but not xanthone, produced a synergistic effect on binding activation when added concurrently with caffeine. 4. In the presence of Mg2+, which inhibits ryanodine binding, both caffeine and norathyriol, but not xanthone, could restore the binding to the level observed in the absence of Mg2+. 5. Xanthone activated the Ca(2+)-ATPase activity of isolated SR vesicles dose-dependently reaching 70% activation at 300 microM. 6. When tested in mouse diaphragm, norathyriol potentiated the muscle contraction followed by twitch depression and contracture in either a Ca(2+) -free bathing solution or one containing 2.5 mM Ca2+. These norathyriol-induced effects on muscle were inhibited by pretreatment with ruthenium red or ryanodine. 7. These data suggest that xanthone and norathyriol can induce Ca2+ release from the SR of skeletal muscle through a direct interaction with the Ca2+ release channel, also known as the ryanodine receptor.

Effects of ryanodine on skinned myocardial fibers of the rabbit

Skinned fiber bundles from papillary muscle of rabbits were used to study the effects of ryanodine (1) on direct Ca2+ activation of the contractile proteins, and (2) on direct Ca2+ uptake and release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Caffeine (25 mM) was used to release Ca2+ from the SR and to generate a tension transient. Each tension transient occurred after sequential immersion of the fiber bundles into five solutions: loading (uptake phase, [U]) and releasing (release phase, [R]). The height of free Ca2+-activated tension development of the contractile proteins, and the area of the tension transient generated by caffeine were assessed. (1) The direct free Ca2+-activated tension development of the contractile proteins was not significantly affected by ryanodine up to 0.1 mM, either at the submaximal or maximal free Ca2+ concentrations. (2) Ryanodine (1 nM-1 microM), in U, R, or in U and R, did not significantly change the immediate caffeine-induced tension transients. In the same preparation after ryanodine treatments, the second control caffeine-induced tension transients (C2, no ryanodine) were decreased in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 50 nM, 10 nM, 10 nM for R, U, and U and R, respectively). The depression caused by ryanodine on the SR was "activity"-dependent and not readily reversible. Total calcium content in the SR of C2 was not significantly changed by small quantities of ryanodine (less than 0.1 microM) and was decreased with greater amounts of ryanodine (greater than or equal to 0.1 microM). Thus, at low concentrations of ryanodine, the negative inotropic action is due to decrease Ca2+ release from the SR; at high concentration of ryanodine, it is due to decrease in calcium accumulation in the SR.

Effects of (+)-propranolol on intracellular mechanisms of contraction in striated muscle of the rabbit

In functionally skinned muscle fibers from the rabbit, we studied the effect of propranolol on calcium activation of the contractile proteins and, in separate experiments, on calcium uptake and release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) while measuring physiological tension. Pieces from isolated papillary muscle (PM), soleus (SL) (slow-twitch skeletal muscle), and adductor magnus (AM) (fast-twitch skeletal muscle) were homogenized (sarcolemma disrupted). A fiber bundle from PM and single fibers from SL and AM were dissected from the homogenate and mounted on a photodiode tension transducer. To study Ca2+-activated tension development of the contractile proteins, we used high EGTA (7 mmol/l) to control the free calcium concentration. To study SR function, we used five different solutions to load the calcium into the SR and to release it from the SR with 25 mmol/l caffeine, thus producing a tension transient. In general, propranolol has similar mechanisms of action in the three muscle types. Propranolol (0.1-1.0 mmol/l) increased the submaximal calcium-activated tension development in all muscles but with PM = SL greater than AM, and this increase was correlated with increases in calcium binding to isolated troponin C. Propranolol increased the maximal calcium-activated tension development in PM and SL, but decreased that in AM. Propranolol at concentrations of 0.3-1.0 mmol/l decreased calcium uptake by the SR but did not change calcium release in any of the three muscles. In PM, however, propranolol at a concentration of 0.1 mmol/l increased calcium uptake by the SR. We conclude that propranolol induces decreases in muscle contraction mainly by decreasing calcium uptake by the SR.

Cyclic AMP-calcium interaction in the transmission of tubuloglomerular feedback signals

Recent studies have suggested that cytosolic calcium serves in the transmission of signals between distal tubular fluid and glomerular vascular elements. Since cAMP can modify calcium-mediated events, it was of interest to determine if agents that elevate intracellular cAMP could influence feedback responses and to assess the interaction of cAMP and intracellular calcium in the transmission of feedback signals. Stop flow pressure (SFP) was measured in the rat during retrograde microperfusion into the distal tubule at 15 nl/min. SFP averaged 37.5 +/- 0.5 mm Hg and decreased by 12.8 +/- 0.8 mm Hg (N = 44) during perfusion with an isotonic Ringer's solution. Addition of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, decreased the magnitude of SFP feedback responses; 89 +/- 4.5% (N = 16) inhibition was observed at an IBMX concentration of 500 microM. In addition, SFP decreased by only 3 +/- 1 mm Hg (N = 8) during perfusion with 10 mM dibutyryl cAMP in the presence of a low concentration of IBMX and by 1.6 +/- 0.7 mm Hg (N = 12) during perfusion with forskolin, an agent that stimulates adenylate cyclase activity. Calcium ionophore (A23187) significantly increased the magnitude of SFP feedback responses obtained with IBMX alone from 5 +/- 1.0 mm Hg (N = 9; 250 micron IBMX) to 10 +/- 1.2 mm Hg (N = 11). These results indicate that agents which elevate intracellular cAMP markedly attenuate tubuloglomerular feedback responses and that calcium ionophore can reverse the inhibitory effects of increased cAMP.

Intracellular mechanism of quinidine action on muscle contraction. A comparison between rabbit cardiac and skeletal muscle

The mechanism of quinidine action on rabbit cardiac and skeletal muscle was examined with "functionally skinned" muscle-fiber preparations. By using these preparations we could correlate measurements of muscle tension with the effect of quinidine on the Ca2+ activation of the contractile proteins and on the Ca2+ uptake and release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR).