Intracellular Ca2+ changes in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells by treatment with various spasmogens

In order to evaluate various spasmogens, which are candidates for cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid haemorrhage, the intracellular calcium mobilizations were examined in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells preloaded with a fluorescent Ca2+ probe fura-2. Endothelin, oxyhaemoglobin, 5-hydroxytryptamine, norepinephrine, prostaglandin F2 alpha, leukotrienes C4 and D4 produced dose-dependent increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). However, bilirubin did not induce any significant [Ca2+]i elevation. The maximal levels of [Ca2+]i peak attained by endothelin or oxyhaemoglobin were higher than those of other compounds. Endothelin was the most potent in that it induced a high sustained [Ca2+]i elevation at much lower concentrations compared with others. The combination of oxyhaemoglobin and endothelin induced a transient increase in [Ca2+]i followed by a sustained lower plateau, then the [Ca2+]i level was again increased slowly followed by a sustained higher plateau which lasted for more than 10 min after the exposure. These results suggest that endothelin and/or oxyhaemoglobin may play a crucial role in contraction of vascular smooth muscle after subarachnoid haemorrhage.