Effects of vasoactive peptides on cytosolic calcium in cultured mesangial cells

We have used the "second generation" Ca indicator, fura-2, to measure cytosolic free Ca concentrations in superfused cultures of adherent primary renal mesangial cells. The basal cytosolic free Ca concentration in these cells was found to be 93 +/- 5 nM (n = 35). The Ca ionophore ionomycin (0.1 microM) increased cytosolic Ca levels to a peak value of fourfold above basal, followed by a decline to a steadily maintained concentration of twofold above basal. Two vasoactive peptide hormones, arginine vasopressin and angiotensin II, at maximally effective concentrations, transiently increased cytosolic free Ca levels to peak values of three- and sixfold, respectively, above basal levels. The angiotensin II-evoked increase declined to near basal values before rising again to a value of 1.5- to 2-fold above basal. Cells treated with vasopressin did not have a significant secondary increase of Ca above a small, time-dependent, spontaneous increase. Mesangial cells demonstrated tachyphylaxis to both peptides. However, cross-tachyphylaxis was not observed. Treatment of cells with angiotensin II in ethyleneglycol-bis-(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid-supplemented Ca-deficient medium, or with the Ca channel blockers nifedipine or verapamil, did not eliminate the transient phase of cytosolic Ca metabolism. In contrast, the Ca channel blockers completely inhibited the second sustained Ca response to angiotensin II. These results indicate that angiotensin II and vasopressin mobilize intracellular Ca in cultured adherent mesangial cells. Angiotensin II, but not vasopressin, also appears to increase cytosolic Ca by influx of extracellular Ca through specific channels.