Mechanisms of endothelial P2Y1- and P2Y2-mediated vasodilatation involve differential [Ca2+]iresponses

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The present study was designed to evaluate the role of endothelial intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in the difference between P2Y1- and P2Y2-mediated vasodilatations in cerebral arteries. Rat middle cerebral arteries were cannulated, pressurized, and luminally perfused. The endothelium was selectively loaded with fura 2, a fluorescent Ca2+indicator, for simultaneous measurement of endothelial [Ca2+]i and diameter. Luminal administration of 2-methylthioadenosine 5′-triphosphate (2-MeS-ATP), an endothelial P2Y1 agonist, resulted in purely nitric oxide (NO)-dependent dilation and [Ca2+]i increases up to ∼300 nM (resting [Ca2+]i = 145 nM). UTP, an endothelial P2Y2 agonist, resulted in dilations that were both endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF)- and NO-dependent with [Ca2+]iincreases to >400 nM. In the presence ofNG-nitro-l-arginine-indomethacin to inhibit NO synthase and cyclooxygenase, UTP resulted in an EDHF-dependent dilation alone. The [Ca2+]ithreshold for NO-dependent dilation was 220 vs. 340 nM for EDHF. In summary, the differences in the mechanism of vasodilatation resulting from stimulation of endothelial P2Y1 and P2Y2purinoceptors result in part from differential [Ca2+]i responses. Consistent with this finding, these studies also demonstrate a higher [Ca2+]i threshold for EDHF-dependent responses compared with NO.