The intracellular calcium stores in the rabbit trachealis

We investigated the role of the intracellular Ca2+ stores in the regulation of the rabbit tracheal smooth muscle contraction. Carbachol (10 microM)- and 80K-induced contractions were reduced by preincubating tissues in Ca2+-free (EGTA-PSS) solution. Contractile amplitude plotted as a function of the duration of EGTA-PSS preexposure was described by a biexponential for carbachol and a monoexponential for 80K. In EGTA-PSS, a prior caffeine (50 mM)-induced contraction prevented any subsequent phasic carbachol response; the converse was also true. In contrast, prior exposure to 80K increased the amplitude of a subsequent carbachol or caffeine contraction measured in EGTA-PSS. Repletion of Ca2+ plus either 80K or a low concentration of carbachol (0.3 microM) resulted in delayed tension development. Preincubation in forskolin (10(-5) M) in PSS also delayed tension development. We propose that the internal stores, most likely the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the airway muscle function both to supply and remove Ca2+ from the cytoplasm.