Pharmacology of calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum

Calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) has been elicited in response to additions of many different agents. Activators of Ca2+ release are here tentatively classified as activators of a Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release channel preferentially localized in SR terminal or as likely activators of other Ca2+ efflux pathways. Some of these pathways may be associated with several different mechanisms for SR Ca2+ release that have been postulated previously. Studies of various inhibitors of excitation-contraction coupling and of certain forms of SR Ca2+ release are summarized. The sensitivity of isolated SR to certain agents is unusually affected by experimental conditions. These effects can seriously undermine attempts to anticipate effects of the same pharmacological agents in situ. Finally, mention is made of a new preparation ("sarcoballs") designed to make the pharmacological study of SR Ca2+ release more accessible to electrophysiologists, and some concluding speculations on the future of SR pharmacology are offered.