Myosin light chain phosphorylation and contraction of guinea pig gallbladder smooth muscle

These experiments were designed to determine 1) whether acetylcholine (ACh) stimulation is accompanied by changes in myosin light chain phosphorylation in gallbladder smooth muscle and 2) whether dephosphorylated noncycling cross bridges (latch bridges) exist in gallbladder smooth muscle. Isometric stress, isotonic shortening velocity, and myosin light chain phosphorylation were determined under conditions of contraction and relaxation in ACh-stimulated guinea pig gallbladder smooth muscle. Unstimulated muscle contained 6.8 +/- 2.0% phosphorylated myosin light chain. ACh stimulation (5 x 10(-5) or 10(-4) M) was associated with a rapid increase in myosin light chain phosphorylation to a value that was maintained throughout the tonic contraction. In contrast, isotonic shortening velocity was maximal at 30 s of stimulation and then declined over time to a steady-state level that was 25-30% of the peak velocity. Upon agonist washout (relaxation), dephosphorylation of the myosin light chain occurred at about the same rate as the decline in shortening velocity and preceded the decline in isometric stress. These data suggest that ACh stimulation is accompanied by changes in myosin light chain phosphorylation but that dephosphorylation of cross bridges is not necessary for the slowing of cross-bridge cycling rates in gallbladder smooth muscle.