1. Protein kinase A increases electrical stimulation-induced neuronal nitric oxide release in rat mesenteric artery
Mercedes Ferrer, Margarita Sánchez, Maria del Carmen Martín, Iván Márquez-Rodas, Maria Jesús Alonso, Mercedes Salaices, Gloria Balfagón Eur J Pharmacol. 2004 Mar 8;487(1-3):167-73. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.01.030.
The aim of this study was to analyse the possible influence of cyclic AMP-protein kinase A (cAMP-PKA) activation on neuronal nitric oxide (NO) release induced by electrical field stimulation in mesenteric arteries from Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. Western blot experiments demonstrated the expression of neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) in mesenteric artery from WKY rats; however, electrical field stimulation alone did not induce detectable NO release. Preincubation with forskolin allowed NO release induced by electrical field stimulation, which was abolished by: the neuronal toxine tetrodotoxin, the nNOS inhibitors 7-nitroindazole or N(omega)-propil-l-arginine (NPLA), and the PKA inhibitors N-(2-(p-Bromocinnamylamino) ethyl 5-isoquinolinesulfonamide hydrochloride (H-89) or (9R,10S,12S)-2,3,9,10,11, 12-Hexahydro-10-9-methyl-1-oxo-9,12-epoxy-1H-diindolo(1,2,3-fg:3,2,1k)pyrrolo(3,4-l)(1,6) benzodiazocine-10-carboxylic acid hexyl ester (KT-5720). Preincubation with prostacyclin also allowed the NO release induced by electrical field stimulation which was significantly decreased by: the neuronal toxine tetrodotoxin, the nNOS inhibitors 7-nitroindazole or NPLA, and the PKA inhibitors H-89 or KT-5720. The NOS inhibitor N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) did not modify the vasoconstrictor response induced by electrical field stimulation. However, in the presence of forskolin or prostacyclin, l-NAME increased the vasoconstrictor response to electrical field stimulation. These results indicate that forskolin and prostacyclin allow neuronal NO release induced by electrical field stimulation through a mechanism involving cAMP-PKA activation in rat mesenteric arteries.
2. Increased cAMP as a positive inotropic factor for mammalian skeletal muscle in vitro
S A Reading, C L Murrant, J K Barclay Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2003 Oct;81(10):986-96. doi: 10.1139/y03-104.
To test the hypothesis that an increased cAMP concentration improves skeletal muscle force development, we stimulated mouse soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) in the presence of isoproterenol (1 x 10(-5) mol.L-1), a beta-adrenergic agonist, or N6,2'-O-dibutyryladenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (dcAMP) (1 x 10(-3) mol.L-1), a membrane-permeable cAMP analogue. Drugs used in the challenges were dissolved in Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (Krebs) at 27 degrees C and gassed with 95% O2 - 5% CO2. Stimulation at 50 impulses.s-1 for 0.5 s produced an isometric tetanic contraction. Over 25 min of contractions at 0.6 contractions.min-1, developed force increased significantly with the addition of isoproterenol (soleus, 2.5% +/- 1.1%; EDL, 13.8% +/- 2.0%) or dcAMP (soleus, 2.3% +/- 0.5%; EDL, 10.9% +/- 1.9%) as compared with vehicle controls (cont) with Krebs added (soleus, 0.0% +/- 0.2%; EDL, -2.5% +/- 0.7%). To investigate the role of Ca2+ availability, we amplified or attenuated sarcolemmal L-type Ca2+ channels with Bay K 8644 (Bay K) (5.6 x 10(-6) mol.L-1) or diltiazem hydrochloride (dilt) (10(-4) mol.L-1), respectively. Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum was increased with caffeine (2 x 10(-3) mol.L-1) or decreased with dantrolene sodium (dant) (4.2 x 10(-7) mol.L-1). With Ca2+availability modified, dcAMP addition in soleus significantly increased force development above control (cont, 2.3% +/- 0.4%; Bay K, 4.0% +/- 1.0%; dilt, 52.3% +/- 3.6%; caffeine, 2.3% +/- 0.7%; dant, 6.0% +/- 2.0%; dilt + dant, 55.0% +/- 23.0%). In EDL, the addition of dcAMP also increased force development above control (cont, 13.7% +/- 1.9%; Bay K, 17.0% +/- 4.0%; dilt, 170.0% +/- 40.0%; caffeine, 23.0% +/- 4.0%; dant, 72.0% +/- 10.0%; dilt + dant, 54.0% +/- 14.0%). Thus, a positive inotropic effect of cAMP existed in both fast- and slow-twitch mammalian skeletal muscle with both normal and altered Ca2+ flux into the sarcoplasm.
