Decreased insulin-sensitive Ca2+ transport in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive...

To investigate the role of insulin on Ca2+ regulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in hypertension, the effect of insulin on Ca2+ transport and intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured in cultured VSMC from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Insulin produced a substantial increase in 45Ca uptake as well as [Ca2+]i in quiescent cultured VSMC. The stimulatory effects of insulin were completely inhibited by diltiazem, and partially by H-7, TMB-8, and 5-N,N(hexamethylene)amiloride (HMA), but not by W-7 or trifluoroperazine. Insulin-sensitive 45Ca uptake of SHR VSMC was significantly smaller than that of WKY VSMC. Insulin-sensitive increase in [Ca2+]i of SHR VSMC was also smaller than that of WKY VSMC. It is concluded that insulin increases 45Ca uptake, leading to an increase in [Ca2+]i, presumably through the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel, intracellular Ca2+ release, or protein kinase C mediated mechanisms in cultured VSMC. A blunted response of insulin-sensitive Ca2+ uptake and [Ca2+]i in SHR VSMC suggests the differential regulation of Ca2+ transport in response to insulin in primary hypertension.