[The effect of intracellular calcium on an increase in the cAMP-mediated calcium current]

Intracellularly perfused neurons of Helix pomatia in which serotonin-induced increase of calcium current (Ica) is mediated by cAMP were studied by the voltage clamp technique. It was established that an increase of the calcium intracellular concentration ([Ca2+]i) caused inhibition of the serotonin (5-HT) effect. The 5-HT effect value at 10(-6) and 10(-7) mol/l [Ca2+]i was 60 and 32% of the control one, respectively. Addition of the calmodulin antagonist (5.10(-5) M trifluoperasine) and phosphodiesterase blockers (5 mM theophylline or 10(-4) mol/l IBMX) sharply reduced the Ca2+ ability to inhibit the 5-HT effect. It is concluded that the Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase is a key link in the interaction between two signal transduction pathways--Ca2+ and cAMP in modulation of the calcium channel activity.