Coactivation of capacitative calcium entry and L-type calcium channels in guinea pig gallbladder

Sara Morales,1 Pedro J. Camello,1 Soledad Alcón,1 Ginés M. Salido,1 Gary Mawe,2 and María J. Pozo1

1Department of Physiology, University of Extremadura, 10071 Cáceres, Spain; 2Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405

Submitted 16 June 2003 ; accepted in final form 15 January 2004


    ABSTRACT
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
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 REFERENCES
 
We have evaluated the presence of capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE) in guinea pig gallbladder smooth muscle (GBSM), including a possible relation with activation of L-type Ca2+ channels. Changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration induced by Ca2+ entry were assessed by digital microfluorometry in isolated, fura 2-loaded GBSM cells. Application of thapsigargin, a specific inhibitor of the Ca2+ store pump, induced a transient Ca2+ release followed by sustained entry of extracellular Ca2+. Depletion of the stores with thapsigargin, cyclopiazonic acid, ryanodine and caffeine, high levels of the Ca2+-mobilizing hormone cholecystokinin octapeptide, or simple removal of external Ca2+ resulted in a sustained increase in Ca2+ entry on subsequent reapplication of Ca2+. This entry was attenuated by 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborane, L-type Ca2+ channel blockade, pinacidil, and Gd3+. Accumulation of the voltage-sensitive dye 3,3'-dipentylcarbocyanine and direct intracellular recordings showed that depletion of the stores is sufficient for depolarization of the plasma membrane. Contractility studies in intact gallbladder muscle strips showed that CCE induced contractions. The CCE-evoked contraction was sensitive to 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborane, L-type Ca2+ channel blockers, and Gd3+. We conclude that, in GBSM, release of Ca2+ from internal stores activates a CCE pathway and depolarizes plasma membrane, allowing coactivation of voltage-operated L-type Ca2+ channels. This process may play a role in excitation-contraction coupling in GBSM.

smooth muscle; contraction; 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborane; nitrendipine; methoxyverapamil


NUMEROUS PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES are mediated by changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). A variety of cellular transport systems that act to increase or remove Ca2+ from the cytosol are used by cells to tightly control this ubiquitous signal. In smooth muscle cells, many hormones and neurotransmitters activate contraction by Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and by extracellular Ca2+ influx (5). There is a clear understanding of the main mechanisms of release from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), mediated by channels activated by second messengers and/or [Ca2+]i increases [inositol trisphosphate (IP3) receptors and ryanodine receptors (RyRs)] (6, 31). Similarly, physiological, biochemical, and biophysical features of extracellular Ca2+ entry via voltage-operated Ca2+ channels (VOCC) have been extensively characterized in gastrointestinal smooth muscle and other excitable tissues (13, 14).

However, mechanisms for Ca2+ influx are quite variable. One of the most elusive and ubiquitous systems is activation of Ca2+ entry through the plasma membrane after depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores, a process termed capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE) (28). The basis of this mechanism, initially observed in nonexcitable cells, is that Ca2+ concentration within the intracellular Ca2+ pools (mainly endoplasmic reticulum/SR) determines permeability of the plasma membrane to external Ca2+, so that release from the stores increases Ca2+ influx, resulting in a sustained Ca2+ plateau during stimulation. However, despite intense research in the field, the mechanism linking the fall in Ca2+ concentration to opening of plasma membrane Ca2+ channels remains highly controversial. One set of theories postulates the release of a diffusible messenger by the pools; other hypotheses claim a physical interaction between the empty stores and plasma membrane involving membrane proteins, secretory vesicles, or even cytoskeletal elements (for review see Ref. 30). Moreover, none of these models can explain all the experimental results.

Contrary to nonexcitable cells, reports of CCE in excitable tissues are relatively scarce. A common problem in the research of CCE in excitable tissues is the prominent role of VOCC of the plasma membrane mediating Ca2+ influx in this cellular model, which introduces complications in the design and interpretation of experiments. In the few studies on this topic in excitable cells, it is common for authors to use different procedures to block VOCC to unmask the CCE-induced [Ca2+]i changes (9, 25). This has led to a full conceptual separation of CCE from voltage-operated Ca2+ influx, which is generally regarded as an entirely independent process.

Reports on the presence of CCE are much scarcer in gastrointestinal than in vascular smooth muscle. In gallbladder smooth muscle (GBSM), CCE has not been reported, although Ca2+ influx is determinant in the contractile responses: we previously showed that L-type Ca2+ channels are important in the maintenance of gallbladder resting tone (3), similar to the well-known role of extracellular Ca2+ in the contractile response to agonists (2, 3, 26, 32). In addition, we also found that, in GBSM cells, localized Ca2+ release from SR regulates plasma membrane potential by activation of Ca2+-activated K+ channels (27). Therefore, we investigated in GBSM cells the presence of CCE and the possible relation between this mechanism and activation of L-type Ca2+ channels. The aim of the present study was to test whether CCE is linked to contraction in GBSM and to explore a functional relation between CCE and VOCC.


    MATERIALS AND METHODS
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 ABSTRACT
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 GRANTS
 REFERENCES
 
Functional studies. Gallbladders, isolated from 300- to 450-g male guinea pigs after deep halothane anesthesia and cervical dislocation, were immediately placed in cold modified Krebs-Henseleit solution (K-HS; for composition see Chemicals and solutions) at pH 7.35. The gallbladder was opened by cutting along the longitudinal axis and was trimmed of any adherent liver tissue. After the preparation was washed with the nutrient solution to remove any biliary component, the mucosa was carefully dissected away and the gallbladder was cut into strips along the longitudinal axis, each strip measuring ~3 x 10 mm. On average, four strips were obtained from each guinea pig gallbladder. Each strip was placed vertically in a 10-ml organ bath filled with the nutrient solution maintained at 37°C and gassed with 95% O2-5% CO2. Isometric contractions were measured using force displacement transducers that were interfaced with a Macintosh computer using a MacLab hardware unit and software. The strips were placed under an initial resting tension equivalent to a 1.5-g load and allowed to equilibrate for 60 min, with solution changes every 20 min. Then the length of each strip was increased in 1-mm increments until a maximal response to 10 µM acetylcholine was achieved. The muscle length corresponding to the optimal preload was maintained throughout the experiments. All experiments were carried out according to the guidelines of the Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Extremadura.

Intracellular recording from smooth muscle. The methods used for intracellular electrophysiological recording were similar to those previously described (47). The gallbladder whole mount preparation was pinned, serosal side up, in a 3-ml tissue chamber and placed on the stage of an inverted microscope (Diaphot T300, Nikon). Smooth muscle bundles were visualized at x200 magnification with Hoffman Modulation Contrast optics (Modulation Optics, Greenvale, NY). The preparations were continuously perfused at a rate of 10–12 ml/min with modified K-HS aerated with 95% O2-5% CO2. Temperature was maintained between 36 and 37°C at the recording site.

Glass microelectrodes used for intracellular recording were filled with 2.0 M KCl and had resistances of 50–110 M{Omega}. A negative-capacity compensation amplifier (Axoclamp 2A, Axon Instruments, Foster City, CA) with a bridge circuit was used to record membrane potentials, and outputs were displayed on an oscilloscope (model VC-6050, Hitachi). Electrical signals were recorded using the computer program MacLab (CB Sciences, Milford MA).

Cell isolation. GBSM cells were dissociated enzymatically using a previously described method (27). Briefly, after the tissue was prepared (see Functional studies), the gallbladder was cut into small pieces and incubated for 35 min at 37°C in enzyme solution (ES, for composition see Chemicals and solutions) supplemented with 1 mg/ml BSA, 1 mg/ml papain, and 1 mg/ml dithioerythritol. Then the tissue was transferred to fresh ES containing 1 mg/ml BSA, 1 mg/ml collagenase, and 100 µM CaCl2 and incubated for 9 min at 37°C. The tissue was then washed three times using ES, and the single cells were isolated by several passages of the muscle pieces through the tip of a fire-polished glass Pasteur pipette. The resultant cell suspension was kept in ES at 4°C until use, generally within 6 h. All experiments involving isolated cells were performed at room temperature (22°C).

Cell loading and [Ca2+]i determination. [Ca2+]i was measured by epifluorescence microscopy using the fluorescent ratiometric Ca2+ indicator fura 2. After digestion, pieces of tissue were loaded with 4 µM fura 2-AM at room temperature for 2 h. Once loaded, the tissue was washed three times with ES, and cells were isolated as described above and used within 3–4 h.

For experiments, an aliquot of cell suspension was placed in an experimental chamber made with a glass poly-D-lysine-treated coverslip (0.17 mm thick), filled with Na+-HEPES solution (for composition see Chemicals and solutions), and mounted on the stage of an inverted microscope (Diaphot T200). After cell sedimentation, a gravity-fed system was used to perfuse the chamber with Na+-HEPES solution in the absence or presence of different agents. For deesterification of the dye, >=20 min were allowed to elapse before Ca2+ measurements were started.

Cells were illuminated at 340 and 380 nm by a computer-controlled filter wheel (Lambda 2, Sutter Instruments) at 1–3 cycles/s, and the emitted fluorescence was selected by a 500-nm band-pass filter. The emitted fluorescence images were captured by a cooled digital charge-coupled device camera (model C-4880-91, Hamamatsu Photonics) and recorded using dedicated software (Argus-HisCa, Hamamatsu Photonics). The ratio of fluorescence at 340 nm to fluorescence at 380 nm (F340/F380) was calculated pixel-by-pixel and used to indicate the changes in [Ca2+]i. A calibration of the ratio for Ca2+ was not performed in view of the many uncertainties related to the binding properties of fura 2 with Ca2+ inside smooth muscle cells.

Measurements of membrane potential changes in isolated cells. Membrane potential changes were monitored by the potential-sensitive fluorescent dye 3,3'-dipentylcarbocyanine [di-O-C5(3)] as described elsewhere (11). The cell suspension was incubated in the dark with 100 nM di-O-C5(3) in ES for 15 min, transferred to an experimental chamber made with a 0.17-mm-thick, poly-D-lysine-treated glass coverslip, and mounted on the stage of an inverted microscope (Diaphot T200). After cell sedimentation, a gravity-fed system was used to perfuse the chamber with Na+-HEPES solution (for composition see Chemicals and solutions) containing 100 nM di-O-C5(3), to avoid diffusion from the cell, in the absence or presence of different agents. Changes of the emitted fluorescence (515 nm) in response to excitation with the 488-nm line of an argon laser were recorded using a confocal laser system (model MRC-1024, Bio-Rad) running the software Time Course on a Dell Poweredge 2200 personal computer. Changes in di-O-C5(3) fluorescence (indicating fluctuations in membrane potential) were recorded every second. Because of the inherent uncertainties associated with calibration of fluorescence using valinomycin and different extracellular K+ concentrations, the results of these studies are expressed as {Delta}F/Fo (where {Delta}F = 100 * F – Fo and Fo is basal fluorescence).

Chemicals and solutions. Drug concentrations are expressed as final bath concentrations of active species. Acetylcholine chloride, BSA, caffeine, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK), dithioerythritol, EGTA, gadolinium chloride, methoxyverapamil hydrochloride (D600), pinacidil, SKF-96365, and thapsigargin (TPS) were obtained from Sigma Chemical (St. Louis, MO); 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborane (2-APB) from Tocris (Bristol, UK); fura 2-AM, di-O-C5(3), and ryanodine from Molecular Probes (Leiden, The Netherlands); collagenase from Fluka (Madrid, Spain); and papain from Worthington Biochemical (Lakewood, NJ). Other chemicals were of analytic grade and were purchased from Panreac (Barcelona, Spain).

The composition (in mM) of the K-HS was as follows: 113 NaCl, 4.7 KCl, 2.5 CaCl2, 1.2 KH2PO4, 1.2 MgSO4, 25 NaHCO3, and 11.5 D-glucose; the solution was equilibrated with 95% O2-5% CO2. The Ca2+-free K-HS was prepared by substitution of EGTA (1 mM) for CaCl2. The composition (in mM) of ES for isolation of smooth muscle cells was as follows: 10 HEPES, 55 NaCl, 5.6 KCl, 80 sodium glutamate, 2 MgCl2, and 10 D-glucose. The composition (in mM) of the Na+-HEPES solution was as follows: 10 HEPES, 140 NaCl, 4.7 KCl, 2 CaCl2, 1.11 MgCl2, and 10 D-glucose. The Ca2+-free Na+-HEPES solution was prepared by substitution of EGTA (1 mM) for CaCl2.

Statistics. [Ca2+]i results are expressed as changes in absolute F340/F380 [{Delta}(F340/F380)]. Contractile responses are expressed as absolute tension (in mN) or percentage of the response elicited by an initial test application of 320 nM CCK in normal K-HS, which is a submaximal concentration in our preparation. In membrane potential measurements in isolated cells, data are expressed as changes in relative fluorescence (see above). Values are means ± SE. Statistical evaluation was performed by using Student's t-test (2-tailed). P < 0.05 was considered significant.


    RESULTS
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 ABSTRACT
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
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CCE is present in GBSM cells. TPS is a specific inhibitor of the SR/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) pump widely used to deplete intracellular Ca2+ stores (34). Figure 1 illustrates the effect of acute application of 1 µM TPS on isolated GBSM cells. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, TPS caused a transient increase in [Ca2+]i [0.075 ± 0.011 {Delta}(F340/F380), n = 12] that lasted for several minutes (average time to recovery = 278.8 ± 33.5 s, n = 12; Fig. 1A), as expected if there was a continuous Ca2+ leak from the pool. In contrast, in the presence of extracellular Ca2+, application of TPS induced a [Ca2+]i increase that reached a sustained plateau [0.064 ± 0.01 {Delta}(F340/F380), n = 8; Fig. 1B] in 250 ± 49.5 s, indicating a continuous influx of external Ca2+ after depletion of the intracellular stores.



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Fig. 1. Effects of thapsigargin (TPS) on resting cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in single gallbladder smooth muscle (GBSM) cells. Fura 2-loaded cells were treated with 1 µM TPS in the absence (A) or presence (B) of extracellular Ca2+. Traces are representative of 12 (A) and 8 (B) cells. F340/F380, ratio of fluorescence at 340 nm to fluorescence at 380 nm.

 
These data could indicate the existence of CCE in GBSM cells. To further test this possibility, Ca2+ stores were depleted by application of TPS in a Ca2+-free medium, and then external Ca2+ was reintroduced. Restoration of extracellular Ca2+ induced a sustained [Ca2+]i increase [{Delta}(F340/F380) = 0.062 ± 0.006, n = 13; Fig. 2A ], indicative of enhanced permeability to extracellular Ca2+. Although TPS is generally regarded as a specific inhibitor of SR Ca2+ pumps, we also used other compounds to deplete internal stores, to avoid possible TPS side effects. In cells pretreated with CPA, a chemically unrelated inhibitor of the SERCA pump, Ca2+ reintroduction induced a plateau of 0.069 ± 0.007 {Delta}(F340/F380) (n = 10; Fig. 2C).



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Fig. 2. Depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores induces capacitative Ca2+ influx. A: acute treatment with 1 µM TPS in Ca2+-free solution induces a decrease in [Ca2+]i followed by a sustained plateau on restoration of external Ca2+. The same effect was obtained using 10 nM cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK, B) and 10 µM cyclopiazonic acid (CPA, C) to release the Ca2+ content of the stores. Traces are representative of 13 (A), 8 (B), and 10 (C) cells. Note difference in scale between A and C (0.05) and B (0.1).

 
A different approach to deplete internal stores is to activate Ca2+ release through RyRs. Therefore, we used a mixture of ryanodine (to lock the RyRs in the open state) and caffeine (which activates RyRs), which resulted in an increase in {Delta}(F340/F380) of 0.062 ± 0.006 (n = 8) on reintroduction of Ca2+. A similar pattern was also observed when depletion was evoked with 10 nM CCK [{Delta}(F340/F380) = 0.051 ± 0.007, n = 8; Fig. 2B], which has been shown to release Ca2+ from intracellular stores in GBSM by activating IP3 receptors (16, 32).

A potential drawback of the use of TPS to activate CCE is the possibility that inhibition of reuptake into the stores could reduce cytosolic Ca2+ buffering, so that influx of external Ca2+ would induce a strong [Ca2+]i increase without an actual increase in Ca2+ entry (9, 36, 37). To avoid this artifact, a Ca2+-free solution containing EGTA was used to repeat the protocol in the absence of TPS. This simple protocol is useful only if the Ca2+ content of the stores has a rapid turnover (due to superficial location and/or a high rate of exchange with the cytosol) so that it suffices to deplete the intracellular Ca2+ stores and, eventually, leads to CCE activation. To assess the temporal course of intracellular Ca2+ store depletion, CCK was applied at different times after withdrawal of external Ca2+. Figure 3A shows that application of 10 nM CCK immediately after Ca2+ removal induced a transient [Ca2+]i peak followed by a rapid recovery toward resting levels, indicating fast emptying of the Ca2+ stores (in this Ca2+-free solution, the response is due to release only from the SR). This Ca2+ transient progressively decayed when the delay between Ca2+ removal and CCK application was increased. After 20 min of perfusion with Ca2+-free solution, the response to CCK was eliminated, indicating that the intracellular Ca2+ stores were depleted because of the presence of Ca2+ leak in nonstimulated GBSM cells. Consistent with this concept, when Ca2+-free perfusion was followed by restoration of external Ca2+, cells showed a clear capacitative behavior, although the plateau was smaller than in TPS-treated cells [{Delta}(F340/F380) = 0.046 ± 0.004, n = 13, P < 0.05 vs. TPS treatment; Fig. 3B].



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Fig. 3. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ depletes intracellular stores and activates capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE). A: GBSM cells were perfused with Ca2+-free medium for 0, 15, or 20 min before stimulation with 1 nM CCK to release internal stores, resulting in progressive loss of response to the hormone. Traces are typical of 5–17 cells. B: cells were perfused with a Ca2+-free solution before reintroduction of a medium containing 2 mM Ca2+, resulting in a sustained [Ca2+]i increase. Record is typical of 13 experiments. Note difference in scale between A and B.

 
Another approach to characterize Ca2+ influx without interference from intracellular buffering of Ca2+ is the use of Ba2+ as a surrogate for Ca2+ influx (8, 46). Ba2+ binds to fura 2 and is permeable through Ca2+ channels but cannot be transported by SERCA pumps; therefore, it is insensitive to changes in buffering by SR uptake (15). This means that evaluation of its intracellular concentration during Ca2+ readmission provides an estimate of CCE unaffected by side effects of TPS or other store-depleting protocols in SR buffer. Figure 4 shows that, after depletion of the stores with TPS for 30 min, application of 2 mM Ba2+ induced a sustained plateau in {Delta}(F340/F380) (0.203 ± 0.029, n = 9). When we corrected this plateau for the increase induced by a previous control pulse of Ba2+ [{Delta}(F340/F380) = 0.154 ± 0.02], the magnitude of the CCE-induced influx was similar to that in Ca2+ restoration experiments [{Delta}(F340/F380) = 0.049 ± 0.009]. Therefore, TPS enhanced Ba2+ influx, demonstrating that, under experimental conditions, loss of Ca2+ buffering by blockers of the SERCA pump does not result in overestimation of CCE.



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Fig. 4. Depletion of Ca2+ stores activates unidirectional Ba2+ influx. Isolated GBSM cells were exposed to 2 pulses of 2 mM Ba2+ before and after depletion of stores with 1 µM TPS in Ca2+-free solution. Depletion of stores enhanced influx of Ba2+. A similar result was obtained in 9 cells.

 
Data from the methods used in the present study to release Ca2+ from intracellular stores indicate that TPS, CPA, and ryanodine + caffeine pretreatments were effective protocols. However, caffeine has been shown to have multiple cellular effects related to inhibition of phosphodiesterase activity, which could make interpretation of our data difficult. The other SERCA pump inhibitor used in this study, CPA, caused a similar CCE, but the irreversibility of TPS action made TPS the drug of choice to elicit CCE. Although CCK also induced a clear CCE, this approach could involve a noncapacitative component linked to receptor-operated Ca2+ influx or to the generation of arachidonic acid by this hormone (4, 22), introducing uncertainty into the interpretation of results.

Characterization of Ca2+ entry pathways in response to store depletion. Once it was established that isolated GBSM cells display a CCE response, we studied the nature of the capacitative pathway following a protocol involving depletion of the pools by 30 min of pretreatment with TPS followed by treatment with two pulses of extracellular Ca2+ separated by 20 min. The [Ca2+]i plateaus induced by the Ca2+ pulses were repetitive in all the cells examined (second plateau was 97.8 ± 3.3% with respect to the first pulse, n = 9; Fig. 5A), indicating that this value could be used as an index of CCE. Therefore, the interval between the two Ca2+ applications was used to apply different Ca2+ channel inhibitors, so that each experiment served as its own control.



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Fig. 5. Inhibition of store-activated Ca2+ entry by 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborane (2-APB), Gd3+, and L-type channel blockers. A: record of repetitive CCE-evoked [Ca2+]i plateaus. Cells were pretreated for 30 min with 1 µM TPS in Ca2+-free solution before application of 2 pulses of extracellular Ca2+ (n = 9). B–E: effects of 2-APB, Gd3+, nitrendipine, and pinacidil on TPS-activated CCE. After depletion of stores with TPS, cells were treated with 100 µM 2-APB (B), 100 µM Gd3+ (C), 1 µM nitrendipine (D), or 10 µM pinacidil (E) for 15 min before the second Ca2+ pulse. F: inhibition of CCE by 2-APB, Gd3+, methoxyverapamil (D600), nifedipine (NIF), nitrendipine (NITR), and pinacidil (PIN). Values are means ± SE of the second CCE episode expressed as percentage of control values (1st influx episode); n = 5–12. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001 vs. control (paired t-test).

 
In several systems, 2-APB inhibited store-operated Ca2+ influx without affecting VOCC (18), and experiments with excised membrane patches demonstrated that capacitative stores are a direct target for this drug (7). Given the importance of L-type Ca2+ channels in our model (3, 26), we tested any possible effect of 2-APB in GBSM contraction evoked by repetitive application of KCl, which is exclusively mediated by L-type Ca2+ channels. Control application of a 60 mM KCl pulse induced an increase in isometric tension of 13.7 ± 1.7 mN, and after 20 min of treatment with 100 µM 2-APB, the second KCl-induced contractile response was not significantly different (12.8 ± 1.4 mN, n = 10). However, this compound inhibited CCE in a concentration-dependent manner (Fig. 5, B and E), reducing the second [Ca2+]i plateau by 68.3 ± 5.2% at the highest concentration tested (150 µM).

Another functional feature of CCE in various cell types is the sensitivity to divalent and trivalent cations (reviewed in Ref. 29). Gd3+, in addition to inhibiting stretch-activated channels, inhibits CCE in several systems, including vascular smooth muscle cells (9). Figure 5C shows inhibition of CCE in response to 100 µM Gd3+ (51.0 ± 5.6%, n = 12). A possible problem with Gd3+ is its ability to block VOCC in some systems (13). However, we ruled out this possibility in our model checking isometric contraction in response to 60 mM KCl, which was unaffected by Gd3+ (7.7 ± 1.36 vs. 8.47 ± 1.87 mN, n = 6). Together with the effect of 2-APB, this result closely resembles the previously reported behavior of CCE channels in other tissues.

We also used SKF-96365, a compound frequently used to block CCE or receptor-operated Ca2+ entry in other cell types (20, 38). However, this compound failed to inhibit CCE in our experimental conditions. Moreover, it induced an unexplained enhancement of the influx-associated [Ca2+]i plateau (543 ± 149% of increase, n = 10, P < 0.01) for which we do not have a clear explanation. Moreover, a similar effect was observed in our laboratory with use of a completely different cellular model, exocrine pancreatic acinar cells (unpublished observations).

The data described above suggest that "classical" capacitative channels are operative in GBSM in response to depletion of Ca2+ stores. The concept of capacitative entry involves only operation of non-voltage-operated channels. However, L-type Ca2+ channels play a dominant role in this cell type, in response to stimulation and in resting conditions (2, 3, 26). Therefore, we evaluated whether L-type Ca2+ channels are somehow activated by the emptying of the stores. To accomplish this, we used L-type Ca2+ channel blockers at concentrations effective in blocking the response to KCl in our preparation (3). Figure 5D shows that 1 µM nitrendipine inhibited TPS-evoked CCE. A similar effect was also detected with another dihydropyridine, nifedipine, at 1 µM and for 10 µM D600, a chemically unrelated L-type channel blocker. The apparent attenuation of CCE in the presence of these inhibitors was similar to that achieved by 2-APB or Gd3+: 45.96 ± 6.2% (n = 9) for 1 µM nitrendipine, 35.9 ± 5% (n = 4) for 1 µM nifedipine, and 34.6 ± 6.4% (n = 12) for 10 µM D600 (Fig. 5F). When 2-APB and L-type Ca2+ channel blockers were added simultaneously, the percent inhibition was even greater [77.6 ± 3.8% (n = 9) for nitrendipine and 61.7 ± 20.1% (n = 2) for D600], although the effect was not additive (Fig. 5F).

To test whether activation of L-type Ca2+ channels after depletion of the stores involved a voltage-dependent mechanism, i.e., depolarization of the plasma membrane, we treated smooth muscle cells throughout TSP treatment and Ca2+ restorations with 10 µM pinacidil to clamp membrane potential at negative potentials via activation of ATP-dependent K+ channels (Fig. 5E). This protocol resulted in an inhibition of CCE by 53 ± 5.7% (n = 15), which is similar to the inhibition caused by nitrendipine (Fig. 5F). Nitrendipine did not cause further decrease in pinacidil-resistant Ca2+ entry (n = 11 cells).

Ca2+ store depletion induces membrane depolarization. The results described above indicate that, in response to store depletion, two Ca2+ entry pathways are activated: the yet to be identified "classical" capacitative channels and L-type Ca2+ channels. This suggests that the depletion of Ca2+ pools induced plasma membrane depolarization to activate L-type channels in GBSM cells. To test this hypothesis, two experimental approaches were used. First, the acute effect of Ca2+ store depletion in response to TPS or CCK was studied using the fluorescent voltage-sensitive dye di-O-C5(3), which is accumulated in the cells by plasma membrane potential (11). To validate the method with our experimental conditions, cells were exposed to KCl, which induced a clear concentration-dependent loss of fluorescence [15.5 ± 4.0 and 27.8 ± 3.2% decrease (n = 6 and 9) with 30 and 60 mM KCl, respectively], indicative of plasma membrane depolarization, which was reversible by washing with normal HEPES solution. Figure 6 shows that depletion of the stores with 1 µM TPS or 10 nM CCK reduced the cellular fluorescence [34.4 ± 2.9 and 36.4 ± 3.6% reduction (n = 11 and 13) for CCK and TPS, respectively], which indicates that these treatments effectively reduced sarcolemmal potential.



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Fig. 6. Depletion of Ca2+ pools depolarizes GBSM cells. Gallbladder cells were loaded with the voltage-sensitive dye 3,3'-dipentylcarbocyanine [di-O-C5(3)], which was also present during the experiment. A: application of 1 µM TPS induces depolarization, as indicated by decrease of fluorescence (B). Associated images show raw fluorescence before and during depolarization. C: decrease in di-O-C5(3) fluorescence (–{Delta}F/Fo, where Fo is basal fluorescence) in response to 1 µM TPS (n = 13), 10 nM CCK (n = 11), and 30 mM KCl (positive control, n = 6). Values are means ± SE.

 
To further confirm that release of Ca2+ from the stores depolarizes GBSM, we used intracellular voltage recordings from intact GBSM strips to directly measure transmembrane potential. This method excludes the possibility that the depolarization observed in isolated single cells is due to loss of integrity of the tissue. TPS induced a membrane depolarization (14.6 ± 2.8 mV, n = 7; Fig. 7, top). Moreover, depletion of the stores by simple removal of external Ca2+ also induced depolarization (Fig. 7, bottom). The magnitude of this depolarization (9.4 ± 1.1 mV, n = 5) was smaller than that evoked by TPS, resembling the behavior of TPS and Ca2+-free treatments in the CCE-evoked [Ca2+]i changes. These findings indicate that store depletion evokes depolarization of plasma membrane in GBSM cells, further supporting a link between Ca2+ pools and L-type Ca2+ channels.



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Fig. 7. Store depletion depolarizes intact GBSM. Intracellular records of GBSM strip show abolition of spontaneous action potentials and depolarization of baseline potential in response to 1 µM TPS (top) or removal of external Ca2+ (bottom). Traces are representative of 7 (top) and 5 experiments (bottom).

 
CCE induces contraction in gallbladder strips. CCE has been disputed as a physiological process by some authors, who postulate that it must be considered an experimental phenomenon because of supraphysiological levels of stimulation used in the currently used protocols (33). In a less extreme view, it has also been reported that, in smooth muscle, CCE is not always associated with contraction (9), and it has been proposed that extracellular Ca2+ entering across the capacitative pathway is diverted from the contractile machinery. Therefore, we used isometric recording of gallbladder muscle strips to test whether the capacitative behavior described above is associated with GBSM contraction. After depletion of the stores by incubation with 1 µM TPS in Ca2+-free medium for 30 min, reintroduction of extracellular Ca2+ induced a sustained contraction (26.7 ± 3.6 mN, 82.9 ± 4.2% of the response to a previous control 320 nM CCK application, n = 6; Fig. 8A). This effect was observed in all the assayed preparations and was also present when the content of the stores was released by simple incubation in Ca2+-free solution (16.2 ± 2.9 mN, 61.3 ± 7.4% of the control 320 nM CCK response, n = 8) or by CCK stimulation (17.5 ± 3.9 mN, 74.0 ± 2.3% of the 320 nM CCK response, n = 6; Fig. 8C). This pattern is similar to that observed in the [Ca2+]i experiments.



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Fig. 8. CCE induces smooth muscle contraction. A and B: contractile effect of readdition of extracellular Ca2+ in gallbladder strips previously depleted with 1 µM TPS (A) or 10 nM CCK (B) solution (n = 6). C: Ca2+ entry-induced contraction in control conditions and after treatment with 2-APB, nitrendipine, and methoxyverapamil, alone or in combination. Values are means ± SE; n = 5–7. **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001 vs. control (paired t-test).

 
If the capacitative channels activated by emptying of the stores in GBSM are related to contraction, then CCE-induced contraction should be sensitive to L-type channel blockers and 2-APB, similar to the [Ca2+]i changes evoked by CCE. Thus we tested the effects of 2-APB, D600, and nitrendipine. Both types of inhibitors significantly impaired the influx-associated contraction (Fig. 8C), strongly resembling the behavior of capacitative [Ca2+]i changes. The contraction during CCE in the presence of 2-APB, D600, and nitrendipine was significantly reduced compared with control experiments (Fig. 8C), ranging from 56.2 ± 5.2% of the response to 320 nM CCK for 50 µM 2-APB (n = 6) to 33.8 ± 4.6% of the response to 320 nM CCK in the case of 10 µM D600 (n = 6). When a combination of 100 µM 2-APB and D600 or nitrendipine was applied, the inhibitory effects were additive, and the CCE-induced contraction was nearly abolished: 1.73 ± 0.7% of the control 320 nM CCK response for 2-APB + 10 µM D600 (n = 4, P < 0.01) and 3.81 ± 1.8% of the control 320 nM CCK response for 2-APB + 1 µM nitrendipine (n = 6, P < 0.001). These findings indicate that CCE through two different channels is functionally linked to contraction in GBSM cells.


    DISCUSSION
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The findings reported here demonstrate that depletion of Ca2+ stores activates two pathways for Ca2+ entry in GBSM cells: a capacitative pathway as well as voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. This study also provides original evidence for a link between depletion of intracellular stores, activation of L-type Ca2+ channels, and GBSM contraction. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of CCE in GBSM. Furthermore, this is the first demonstration of agonist-induced [Ca2+]i signals in GBSM cells, although we and other authors have described mobilization of inositol lipids (45) and intracellular Ca2+ stores in contractility studies (3, 26, 32).

CCE has been reported in other types of smooth muscle such as vascular (1, 9) or uterine (43) smooth muscle. In the gastrointestinal tract, reports are scarce, including lower esophageal sphincter (39), gastric antrum (42), colon (19), ileum (12), and anococcygeus smooth muscle (40, 41). In any case, much of this evidence is indirect, in that it is based on contractility studies [e.g., ileum (25)] or on the status of second-messenger filling state (19), rather than on direct [Ca2+]i determinations. Our study is one of the few direct characterizations of CCE in gastrointestinal muscle. This process has been also thoroughly studied in anococcygeus smooth muscle, where Ca2+ currents in response to store depletion have been characterized (40, 41).

The amplitude of the [Ca2+]i increases evoked by capacitative Ca2+ influx was rather small in GBSM compared with other cell models, particularly nonexcitable cells (e.g., pancreatic acinar cells, a model commonly used in our laboratory under experimental conditions similar to this study). However, the amplitude of capacitative [Ca2+]i signals in other smooth muscle types is rather small (9, 44), and we show here that even strong agonist stimulation induces only moderate increases in the ratio of fura 2 fluorescence (Fig. 3). Moreover, in GBSM, we have found a similar situation for strong stimulants such as KCl depolarization or caffeine (unpublished observations).

In this study, we have detected comparable capacitative behaviors using three different methods to deplete the stores: passive depletion by simple removal of extracellular Ca2+ or SERCA inhibition with TPS and CPA and active release from stores with the IP3-mediated agonist CCK and with the cocktail ryanodine-caffeine to promote Ca2+ release through RyRs. TPS is widely used to activate CCE in different cell types. Its acute effect on resting GBSM cells (Fig. 1) and the stable and long-lasting capacitative behavior observed on subsequent application of external Ca2+ (Figs. 2 and 5) follow the classical description of this process in other tissues (15, 30). TPS is highly specific for SERCA pumps; therefore, emptying of the stores is most likely due to spontaneous leak. The channels responsible for this leak have not been identified, although in other cells, resting levels of IP3 (35) and the translocon (17) seem to participate in this passive release. The presence of this leak in GBSM SR is further supported by the clear loss of the agonist-mobilizable store within minutes after the simple procedure of Ca2+ removal (Fig. 3A), which implies that in this cell type the turnover rate is higher and/or the size of Ca2+ stores is smaller than in other models. This conclusion is in agreement with previous observations regarding gallbladder contraction in response to Ca2+-mobilizing agonists (3, 32).

A potential complication of using inhibitors of Ca2+ reuptake stores is the superficial barrier hypothesis, which postulates that, in smooth muscle, Ca2+ uptake by the SR operates as a local, subplasmalemmal buffer for Ca2+ entering from extracellular space (36, 37). If this activity is strong enough, its blockade could even enhance the global [Ca2+]i increases induced by store depletion, which are an index for CCE. This means that inhibitors of SERCA pumps (such as TPS or CPA) could increase [Ca2+]i during reintroduction of external Ca2+ without a real enhancement of transport from the extracellular medium. This concern can be ruled out in our experimental conditions, because capacitative entry is reproduced by two independent protocols without inhibition of Ca2+ reuptake: 1) simple removal of external Ca2+ and 2) influx of Ba2+ as a surrogate for Ca2+ entry. Another line of evidence ruling out this hypothesis is the presence of store-operated Ca2+ inward currents in anococcygeus smooth muscle cells (40, 41).

Some authors have claimed that capacitative entry is an experimental artifact as opposed to a physiological component of Ca2+ signals (21, 33). It has been proposed that physiological levels of stimulation activate Ca2+ entry only via arachidonic acid-activated noncapacitative Ca2+ channels (21, 22). Arachidonic acid metabolism plays a clear role in CCK-mediated contraction in GBSM (4), and we cannot rule out the presence of this pathway in our model, but in our experimental conditions we have observed a clear capacitative pattern in resting conditions, in the absence of agonist stimulation (TPS, CPA, and ryanodine + caffeine applications and simple removal of external Ca2+).

Another possible concern regarding the physiological relevance of CCE is its relation to cell function, i.e., contraction in the case of smooth muscle. A recent study in arterial smooth muscle demonstrated that capacitative Ca2+ influx can operate independently from contraction (9). However, we show here that in GBSM capacitative influx activated using three different experimental approaches is directly linked to contraction. This finding is consistent with a number of studies reporting a clear capacitative behavior in contractile experiments (reviewed in Ref. 12). Some of the gastrointestinal models showing CCE, such as antrum, are tonic muscles, similar to gallbladder muscle, suggesting that this influx mechanism is important for this kind of contractile activity. In addition, some authors report that CCE is probably involved in spontaneous rhythm of gastrointestinal muscle (23) and plays a role in propagation of stretch-induced Ca2+ waves in colonic myocytes (44).

The present data indicate that filling status of the Ca2+ stores controls at least two types of Ca2+ channels, including VOCC. Studies of capacitative influx in excitable tissues have not focused on the role of VOCC in store depletion-induced Ca2+ influx. Most of these studies avoid activating VOCC using a background of VOCC blockers during all the experimental procedures (9, 25) or performing voltage-clamp of the membrane (41, 42). This has led to a complete separation of the CCE concept from voltage-operated Ca2+ influx; these events are considered by most investigators to be entirely independent processes. However, our results clearly indicate that L-type channels play an important role in the overall influx elicited by store depletion, acting as an important additional "paracapacitative" or "capacitative-like" pathway for influx. Previous reports show that Ca2+ entry subsequent to store depletion in smooth muscle is sensitive to VOCC blockers (12) in the gastrointestinal tract and in other smooth muscle types.

The mechanism for activation of L-type channels in GBSM is likely to be mediated by a plasmalemma depolarization caused by store depletion; e.g., in the continuous presence of pinacidil to clamp membrane resting potential at hyperpolarizing values, there was a reduction in CCE similar to that caused by L-type Ca2+ blockers. This concept is supported by our present finding of TPS-evoked depolarization, as demonstrated by two independent methods. This finding is in contrast to the previous report that, in colonic muscle, store depletion does not activate VOCC (19). Given that these authors did not determine Ca2+ influx but evaluated filling state of second messenger-releasable Ca2+ pools, it is not possible to conclude whether this discrepancy is due to tissue-specific differences or the method used to assess Ca2+ entry.

A possible link between store depletion and L-type Ca2+ channel opening could be activation of large-conductance K+ channels. This channel passes hyperpolarizing spontaneous transient outward current in response to spontaneous Ca2+ sparks (transient localized Ca2+ signals) arising from intracellular store Ca2+ release, as shown in vascular smooth muscle (13, 24). We previously demonstrated the presence of this mechanism in GBSM cells, where depletion of internal pools by TPS leads to inhibition and eventual disappearance of hyperpolarizing spontaneous transient outward current (27). Therefore, depletion of the stores would be expected to induce plasmalemmal depolarization through this mechanism, as previously demonstrated in vascular smooth muscle (24). However, preliminary results in our laboratory show that TPS can induce further depolarization in the presence of the large-conductance K+ channel blocker iberiotoxin, indicating that another yet to be identified mechanism is responsible for this depolarization.

Data presented here indicate that sarcoplasmic Ca2+ pools and multiple plasma membrane pathways can operate as a functional unit linked to muscle contraction and refilling of the pools. Thus a decrease of the content of the stores would lead to a rapid Ca2+ entry by two different routes. In addition to replenishment of the stores, extracellular Ca2+ would also induce contraction, a meaningful sequence, given that the main agonists for Ca2+ release from the stores are aimed at contraction of the gallbladder.

It is possible that this functional continuum between stores, plasmalemma, and muscle contraction operates at local, subcellular domains. The fact that even the fast and small [Ca2+]i increases associated with sparks control the plasmalemma voltage (10, 24, 27) provides a dynamic link between Ca2+ stores and multiple plasma membrane Ca2+ channels. If agonists lead to depletion of Ca2+ stores, it is likely that the resultant focal activation of CCE and L-type Ca2+ channels would replenish the stores and initiate muscle contraction.


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This work was supported by Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología Grant SAF-2001-0295 (M. J. Pozo) and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Grant NS-26995 (G. Mawe). S. Morales is supported by a predoctoral research grant from the Ministry of Education.


    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 
The authors thank M. P. Delgado for technical assistance and M. Salter for performing the intracellular recordings in the presence of iberiotoxin.


    FOOTNOTES
 

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: M. J. Pozo, Dept. of Physiology, Nursing School, Avda Universidad s/n, 10071 Cáceres, Spain (E-mail address: mjpozo{at}unex.es).

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.


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