Biomedical subjects

H Hidaka

Publications and source records attributed to H Hidaka.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

Different roles of protein kinase C-beta and -delta in arachidonic acid cascade, superoxide formation and phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

In contrast with protein kinase C (PKC)-beta, PKC-delta is exclusively detectable in the membrane fraction of liver macrophages. After long-term treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) PKC-beta is depleted faster (within 3 h) than PKC-delta (> 7h). Simultaneously, pretreatment with PMA for 3 h inhibits the PMA- and zymosan-induced generation of superoxide and the PMA-induced formation of prostaglandin (PG) E2, whereas a preincubation of more than 7 h is required to affect the zymosan-induced release of PGE2 and inositol phosphates. These results support an involvement of PKC-beta in the PMA-induced activation of the arachidonic acid cascade and in superoxide formation and imply an involvement of PKC-delta in zymosan-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis and PGE2 formation. Two phorbol ester derivates, sapintoxin A (SAPA) and 12-deoxyphorbol 13-phenylacetate 20-acetate (DOPPA), which have been previously reported to activate preferentially PLC-beta but not PKC-delta in vitro [Ryves, Evans, Olivier, Parker and Evans (1992) FEBS Lett. 288, 5-9], induce the formation of PGE2 and superoxide, down-regulate PKC-delta and potentiate inositol phosphate formation in parallel SAPA, but not DOPPA, down-regulates PKC-beta and inhibits the PMA-induced formation of eicosanoids and superoxide.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

A newly synthesized bifunctional inhibitor, W-77, enhances adriamycin activity against human ovarian carcinoma cells.

A newly synthesized calmodulin antagonist, (S)-P-(2-aminoethyloxy)-N-[2-(4-benzyloxy-carbonylpiperazinyl++ +)-1-(P-methoxybenzyl)ethyl]-N-methylbenzenesulfonamide dihydrochloride (W-77), acts as a calcium-independent uncompetitive antagonist which binds to glutathione-S-transferase (GST). We purified GST from human placenta using drug affinity chromatography on a column of W-77 coupled with Sepharose 6B and demonstrated that W-77 bound to GST. A spectrophotometric assay also showed that W-77 inhibited GST activity. We prepared Adriamycin-resistant and -sensitive cells from human ovarian serous cystadenocarcinomas. Immunoblot analysis revealed that GST expression was increased in the Adriamycin-resistant cells. We also purified GST from Adriamycin-resistant cells and found that W-77 bound to the GST obtained from these ovarian carcinoma cells. Adriamycin resistance was partially overcome by the addition of W-77 (10 microM) to the cultured cells. In addition, we investigated the effect of W-77 on P-glycoprotein. Northern blot analysis revealed MDR1 gene expression in Adriamycin-resistant cells. Although W-77 was less potent in increasing the intracellular Adriamycin content than verapamil, it was more effective in overcoming Adriamycin resistance. These results suggest that W-77 enhances the antitumor activity of Adriamycin by inhibiting both GST and P-glycoprotein.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed1993

Purification and characterization of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase V from rat cerebrum.

A novel Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase V) from rat cerebrum was purified. This kinase phosphorylates the synthetic peptide substrate syntide-2. The purified enzyme showed a single protein band with a molecular mass of 41 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The Stokes radius and the sedimentation coefficient were 31.8 A and 2.83 S, respectively. An approximate molecular mass of 37 kDa was calculated for the native enzyme, and a monomeric structure of the enzyme was suggested. Expression of the enzymatic activity required the presence of both Ca2+ and calmodulin (apparent Ka = 24 +/- 7 nM). The CaM kinase V had an apparent Km for ATP of 75 +/- 11 microM and for syntide-2 of 20 +/- 4 microM. CaM kinase V undergoes autophosphorylation in response to Ca2+ and calmodulin. CaM kinase V was digested with lysyl endopeptidase, and the partial amino acid sequence was determined. A computer homology search revealed no identical protein. KN-62, a selective inhibitor of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, inhibited CaM kinase V, with a Ki of 0.8 microM. CaM kinase V phosphorylates a number of endogenous proteins.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

PubMed1993

Regulatory mechanism of dopamine biosynthesis in the striatum of transgenic mice carrying human tyrosine hydroxylase gene.

We investigated the regulatory mechanism of dopamine biosynthesis in the striatum of transgenic mice carrying multiple copies of human tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). The in vitro TH activity of transgenic striatum at pH 7.0 was approximately 2.8-fold higher than that of non-transgenic striatum. This augmentation is similar to that of the in vitro TH activity at pH 6.0, indicating that the expression of human TH in transgenic striatum induced little change in the phosphorylation level of TH. L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) formation in striatal slices of transgenic mice was approximately 2.7-fold higher than that of non-transgenic mice. The addition of 0.5 mM (6R)-L-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (6R-BH4) to the incubation medium brought a negligible increase in DOPA formation in both cases. These results suggest that 6R-BH4 is not the limiting factor of TH in situ both in the transgenic and non-transgenic mice.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Membrane depolarization and calcium influx induce glucagon gene transcription in pancreatic islet cells through the cyclic AMP-responsive element.

Glucagon-producing pancreatic islet cells generate calcium-dependent action potentials. By the control of calcium influx through voltage-gated calcium channels, calcium is a tightly regulated second messenger in these cells. It is unknown whether calcium is a signal for glucagon gene transcription. Therefore, rat glucagon reporter fusion genes were transiently transfected into pancreatic islet cell lines. High potassium-induced membrane depolarization activated glucagon gene transcription. The effects of a calcium chelator, calcium channel blockers, calmodulin antagonists, and an inhibitor of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) indicate that depolarization-induced glucagon gene transcription depends on calcium influx and CaM kinase II. The depolarization-responsive element was mapped to the glucagon cAMP-responsive element (CRE). The CRE-binding protein CREB was shown, by using GAL4-CREB fusion proteins, to function as a depolarization-regulated transcription factor in pancreatic islet cells. Membrane depolarization and cAMP had synergistic effects on glucagon gene transcription. These results suggest that rat glucagon gene transcription is regulated by membrane electrical activity and calcium influx in pancreatic islet cells. This signal may be transmitted via CaM kinase II and CREB to the glucagon CRE.

Calcium↗

PubMed1993

Presence and possible involvement of Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases in insulin release from the rat pancreatic beta cell.

Roles of Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (Ca/CaM kinase II) and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) in insulin release from rat pancreatic islets were investigated. Western blotting using polyclonal antibody to Ca/CaM kinase II suggested the presence of this kinase in the pancreatic islets. Extracts of pancreatic islets phosphorylated exogenous myosin light chain, which was inhibited by ML-9, an inhibitor of MLCK. KN-62 and KN-93, inhibitors of Ca/CaM kinase II, and ML-9 at microM concentrations inhibited insulin release stimulated by glucose or high K+. KN-62 and KN-93, but not ML-9, inhibited insulin release increased by glucose and forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase. These inhibitors had no effect on insulin release evoked by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate, an activator of Ca(2+)-sensitive, diacylglycerol-dependent protein kinase. These results suggest that Ca/CaM kinase II and MLCK may participate in the control of insulin release.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

PubMed1993

Inhibition of the G1/S transition in A65 cells by H-7, a protein kinase C inhibitor.

The effects of protein kinase inhibitors on the proliferation of A65 murine leukemia cells were studied. The proliferation of phorbol ester-dependent A65 cells was inhibited by N-(2-methylpiperazyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H-7), a protein kinase C inhibitor, at a significantly lower concentration than the phorbol ester-independent variant, while both cell types had the same sensitivity to N-[2-[N-[3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-2-propenyl]amino]ethyl]-5- isoquinolinesulfonamide, a selective inhibitor of protein kinase A, and staurosporine, a non-selective inhibitor of protein kinases. When the effect of H-7 on the cell cycle was analysed by flow-cytometry, the agent at concentrations that completely inhibited the cell proliferation significantly increased the proportion in the G0/G1 phase of both cell types but decreased that in the S phase, without much change in the G2/M phase. These results suggest that H-7 blocks the G1/S transition by inhibiting protein kinase C, whether the proliferation is dependent on phorbol ester or not.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

PubMed1993

Calcyclin-binding site located on the NH2-terminal domain of rabbit CAP-50 (annexin XI): functional expression of CAP-50 in Escherichia coli.

CAP-50 (annexin XI) is a member of annexin family proteins originally identified and characterized as a target protein for calcyclin (H. Tokumitsu et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 8919-8924). In the present work, the calcyclin-binding site of CAP-50 was determined by proteolytic study and by using various deletion mutants expressed in Escherichia coli. The 43-kDa fragment of CAP-50 digested with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease did not bind to calcyclin in the presence of Ca2+. CAP-50 fusion proteins, including various NH2-terminal deletion mutants were expressed in E. coli using rabbit CAP-50 cDNA and the calcyclin-binding potential was examined using the 125I-calcyclin gel overlay method and coprecipitation with phosphatidylserine-containing vesicles in the presence of Ca2+. All recombinant protein carried the potential for Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid binding, due to the presence of the COOH-terminal domain (core domain). Calcyclin-binding experiments showed that CAP-50 molecules lacking the NH2-terminal 26 residues retain binding potential for calcyclin; however, deletion of an additional 26 amino acids from the NH2 terminus abolishes specific calcyclin binding. These observations suggest that the calcyclin-binding site is located on the NH2-terminal region of CAP-50, probably adjacent to or within the region from Tyr27 to Leu52.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Effect of medium pH on glutathione redox cycle in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Impairments of the glutathione redox cycle in cultured endothelial cells under acidic pH conditions were measured. Glutathione-dependent H2O2-degrading activities decreased by 20% (P < .01) at pH 6 and by 51% (P < .01) at pH 4 compared with activities at pH 7.4 1 hour after a change with fresh medium. Intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) content increased by 85% (P < .01) following the change with pH 7.4 medium. Such increases in GSH content were impaired after exposure to acidic medium. After exposure to 500 mumol/LH2O2, intracellular GSH content decreased by 61% compared with the level obtained in the absence of H2O2 at pH 7.4 (P < .01). Compared with the level at pH 7.4, the H2O2-induced decrease in intracellular GSH content was 32% lower (P < .01) at pH 6 and did not change at all at pH 4. After exposure to 500 mumol/L H2O2, the intracellular oxidized glutathione (GSSG) content increased by 160% at pH 7.4 (P < .01), 370% at pH 6 (P < .01), and 90% at pH 4 compared with treatment without H2O2, respectively. After exposure to 500 mumol/L H2O2, the release of GSSG from cells at pH 6 decreased by 38% compared with the value found at pH 7.4 (P < .05), and the release at pH 4 completely disappeared. Both glutathione peroxidase (GPO) and glutathione reductase activities decreased as a function of a decrease in pH from 7.4 to 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acids↗

PubMed1993

Alteration of human platelet protein kinase C with normal aging.

Using a two-site enzyme immunoassay, we determined the content of type II protein kinase C (PKC) in human platelets from 24 donors of various ages without any neurological, hematological or malignant disorders. The content of type II PKC in the membranous fraction was positively correlated with aging. The content of PKC in the cytosolic fraction tended to decline with aging, but the correlation was not significant. The total amount of PKC also had no significant correlation with aging. Age-related changes in platelet protein content were not observed. These results suggested that the subcellular distribution of type II PKC in human platelets is altered with normal aging.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Neurocalcin family: a novel calcium-binding protein abundant in bovine central nervous system.

We purified and sequenced from bovine brain a novel calcium-binding protein. This protein which we named neurocalcin has 3 putative EF hand motifs and a close homology with recoverin which activates guanylate cyclase Ca2+ dependently. Neurocalcin has at least 6 isoforms and is expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), retina and adrenal gland. Considering unique distribution of neurocalcin, this protein may an important physiological role which differs from that of visinin or recoverin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

The 5'-flanking region of the human dopamine beta-hydroxylase gene promotes neuron subtype-specific gene expression in the central nervous system of transgenic mice.

Dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH, EC 1.14.17.1) catalyzes the conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine, the third step of catecholamine biosynthesis. We have previously created transgenic mice harboring a chimeric gene consisting of the 4-kb DNA fragment of the human DBH gene promoter and the human phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT, EC 2.1.1.28) cDNA, to express PNMT in norepinephrine- and epinephrine-producing cells in the brain, sympathetic ganglia, and adrenal medullary chromaffin cells (Kobayashi et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 89 (1992) 1631-1635). In this paper, we produced for the first time the antibody that specifically detects human PNMT, but not mouse PNMT, with the synthetic oligopeptide characteristic of the human PNMT sequence, and used this antibody to investigate the cells expressing human PNMT in transgenic mice. Immunohistochemical analysis of transgenic mice showed typical expression of human PNMT immunoreactivity in norepinephrinergic and epinephrinergic neurons in brain, as well as norepinephrine- and epinephrine-producing cells in the adrenal gland, indicating that the 4-kb 5'-flanking region is essential for the tissue-specific expression of the DBH gene. We also detected the ectopic expression in some DBH-immunonegative cells in the olfactory bulb of transgenic mice.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Temporal trends of persistent organochlorine residues in human adipose tissue from Japan, 1928-1985.

Trend monitoring of organochlorine contaminants, viz. PCBs, DDTs, HCHs and CHLs, was carried out by using formalin-preserved adipose tissue of Japanese males from 1928 through 1985 for understanding the long-term trends in their contamination levels. The highest residual concentrations were observed during the periods of maximum production (or import) and usage of these compounds in Japan. Time trends of the contaminants varied with the usage pattern and their physico-chemical properties. Effectiveness of government regulations on the production and use of organochlorines was seen faster in the case of DDTs and HCHs, which showed a prominent declining trend in their residues, whereas PCB levels exhibited a continuing increase and maintained a steady state even after two decades of a ban on their production, indicating that the exposure to PCBs is still prevailing. Generally, in terms of the spatial view, unlike aquatic fauna from the point-source environment (aquatic ecosystem) humans in the non-point-source environment (terrestrial habitat) revealed a slower rate of reduction in organochlorine residue burdens.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1993

Promotion of granule cell survival by high K+ or excitatory amino acid treatment and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity.

Cerebellar granule cells in culture develop survival requirements which can be met either by chronic membrane depolarization (25 mM K+) or by stimulation of ionotropic excitatory amino acid receptors. We observed previously that this trophic effect is mediated via Ca2+ influx, either through dihydropyridine-sensitive, voltage-dependent calcium channels (activated directly by high K+ or indirectly by kainate) or through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-linked ion channels. Steps after Ca2+ entry in the transduction cascade mediating the survival-supporting effect of high K+ and excitatory amino acids have now been examined. Using protein kinase inhibitors (H-7, polymixin B and gangliosides), and modulating protein kinase C activity by treatment with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, we obtained evidence against the involvement of protein kinase C and cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases in the transduction cascade. On the other hand, calmidazolium (employed as a calmodulin inhibitor) counteracted the trophic effect of elevated K+ with high potency (IC50 0.3 microM), which exceeded by approximately 10-fold the potency for the blockade by the drug of voltage-sensitive calcium channels. The potency of calmidazolium in interfering with the N-methyl-D-aspartate rescue of cells was also much higher in comparison with the inhibition of 45Ca2+ influx through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-linked channels. Our results indicated that after calmodulin the next step in the trophic effects involves Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activity. KN-62, a fairly specific antagonist of this enzyme, compromised elevated K+ or excitatory amino acid-supported cell survival with high potency (IC50 2.5 microM). In the relevant concentration range, KN-62 had little or no effect on Ca2+ entry through either voltage- or N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-gated channels. Combining information on the toxic action of glutamate in "mature" granule cells with the trophic effect of either excitatory amino acids or high K+ treatment on "young" cells, we conclude that after the initial steps involving calcium in both cases the respective transduction pathways diverge. The toxic action of glutamate seems to be mediated through protein kinase C [Favaron et al. (1990) Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 1983-1987 whereas a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, which can be inhibited by KN-62 (but is resistant to gangliosides and to inhibitors whose potency is higher for protein kinase C than for Ca2+ calmodulin-dependent protein kinases, such as H-7 and polymixin B), is involved critically in the trophic effect.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1993

Triphasic response of rat intracerebral arterioles to increasing concentrations of vasopressin in vitro.

To determine how vasopressin affects the vascular tone of the smaller cerebral arterioles, we carried out an in vitro study of isolated and cannulated intracerebral arterioles of rats. We found that increasing concentrations of vasopressin induced a triphasic response of vasodilation (10(-12)-10(-11) M), vasoconstriction (10(-10)-10(-8) M), and vasodilation stabilizing to control diameter (10(-7)-10(-6) M) and that the maximum constriction was twice the maximum dilation in these smaller arterioles [21.2 +/- 13.1% (mean +/- SD) decrease in diameter vs. 11.2 +/- 5.7% increased]. Pretreatment of the arterioles with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (10(-4) M), a specific inhibitor of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, abolished the vasopressin-induced vasodilation and significantly increased the vasoconstriction. These results suggest that these arterioles were maintained in a dilated state by an endothelium-derived relaxing factor activated by vasopressin. Both vasodilation and vasoconstriction were found to be mediated through vasopressin V1 receptors in a study of arterioles pretreated with d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)arginine vasopressin (10(-6) M), a vasopressin V1 receptor antagonist. These results support the hypothesis that vasopressin may constrict smaller cerebral arterioles while simultaneously dilating larger cerebral arteries. Our results also suggest that vasopressin may aggravate cerebral ischemia in pathological conditions, such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, when the arteriolar response to vasopressin shifts from vasodilation to vasoconstriction due to increased vasopressin levels in plasma and CSF and impaired endothelium-derived relaxation.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Elevated levels of oncopterin, N2-(3-aminopropyl)biopterin, a new pterin compound, in urine from patients with solid and blood cancers.

The concentrations of oncopterin, N2-(3-aminopropyl)biopterin, a new pterin compound, were determined in urine from various cancer patients by HPLC on a reverse-phase or ion-exchange column. The concentration of oncopterin increased after acid hydrolysis, indicating that it exists as an amide in urine. The oncopterin concentrations were very low in the urine of healthy controls. Among the urine samples examined, those from cases of solid cancers, e.g., hepatomas, prostatic cancer and bladder cancer, exhibited very high levels; and those from cases of blood cancers, e.g., myelomas, acute myelocytic leukemia, and lymphomas, showed moderate increases. Oncopterin may thus be a new biochemical marker of some types of cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Effects of isoquinolinesulphonamide compounds on multidrug-resistant P388 cells.

The effects of eight isoquinolinesulphonamide compounds on resistance to vinblastine in adriamycin-resistant mouse leukaemia cells (P388/ADR) which overexpress the relative molecular weight (M(r)) 140 kDa P-glycoprotein in the plasma membrane were investigated. N-[2-(Methylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide (H-8) and N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide (H-9) did not reverse vinblastine resistance. N-[2-[N-[3-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-propenyl]amino] ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide (H-86) and N-[2-[N-[3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-2-propenyl] amino]ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide (H-87) caused accumulation of intracellular vinblastine and inhibition of vinblastine efflux from the cells and reversed the resistance. Addition of an aminoethyl group to the nitrogen atom of the sulphonamide group (W-66) or a formyl group at the terminal amino group (H-85) of H-86 reduced those activities. Conversion of the chlorophenyl group of H-87 to pyridinyl (H-31) or furanyl (H-34) markedly decreased activities against the drug resistance. The activity against vinblastine accumulation closely correlated with the apparent partition coefficient of compounds. These compounds dose-dependently inhibited photoaffinity labelling of a photosensitive analogue of vinblastine, N-(p-azido-(3-[125I)salicyl)-N'-beta-aminoethyl-vindesine ([125I]NASV), and there was a good correlation between inhibition of [125I]NASV-photolabelling and hydrophobicity. Although these isoquinolinesulphonamides inhibited protein kinase A with different magnitudes, this activity did not correlate with the effect on the drug resistance. These results indicate that isoquinolinesulphonamide compounds with a hydrophobic group interact with antitumour drugs on P-glycoprotein and reverse multidrug resistance without involvement of their activity on protein kinase A.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed1993

Hyperpolarizing muscarinic responses of freshly dissociated rat hippocampal CA1 neurones.

1. Intracellular mechanisms of the muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) response were investigated in pyramidal neurones freshly dissociated from the rat hippocampal CA1 region. Current recordings were made in the whole-cell mode using the nystatin 'perforated'-patch technique, by which the muscarinic ACh response can be continuously recorded without so-called 'run-down' phenomenon. The amount of intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was fluorometrically measured using fura-2. 2. In current clamp conditions, ACh induced a transient hyperpolarization accompanied by a decrease in membrane input resistance. 3. Under voltage clamp conditions at a holding potential (Vh) of -40 mV, ACh induced two types of muscarinic currents observed either alone or together: a transient outward current and a slowly activating sustained inward current. 4. The ACh-induced transient outward current reversed the direction at K+ equilibrium potential (EK), and the reversal potential (EACh) shifted 56.7 mV for a tenfold change of extracellular K+ concentration ([K+]o). 5. The ACh-induced transient outward current increased in a sigmoidal fashion with increase in ACh concentration, where the half-maximal concentration (EC50) and the Hill coefficient (n) were 8 x 10(-7) M and 1.9, respectively. Both muscarine and carbamylcholine mimicked the ACh response, but neither McN-A-343 (M1 agonist) nor oxotremorine (cardiac M2 agonist) induced any current. 6. Muscarinic antagonists reversibly blocked the ACh response in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory potency was in the order of atropine > pirenzepine > AF-DX-116. 7. The ACh-induced transient outward current was never recorded when [Ca2+]i was chelated by the acetoxymethyl ester form of 1,2-bis(O-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA AM). On the other hand, in Ca(2+)-free external solution containing 2 mM EGTA and 10 mM Mg2+, the ACh response was elicited by the first application and successive ACh applications did not induce any response. Fura-2 imaging showed that [Ca2+]i was increased when ACh was added to the external medium with or without Ca2+, though in Ca(2+)-free medium only the first application of ACh increased the [Ca2+]i. 8. The ACh response was not affected by pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PTX) but the inhibitory effect of ACh on the high-threshold Ca2+ channel was abolished completely. 9. Pretreatment with Li+ enhanced the amplitude of the transient outward current and the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by ACh. 10. The calmodulin antagonists W-7, chlorpromazine and trifluoperazine reversibly inhibited the ACh response in a concentration-dependent manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗