Dihydropyridine-sensitive initial component of the ANG II-induced Ca2+ response in rat adrenal glomerulosa cells

The Ca2+ signal induced by an increase in extracellular K+ concentration from 3.6 to 5.6 mM or angiotensin II (ANG II) was inhibited by the dihydropyridine (DHP) Ca2+ channel blocker, nifedipine, and enhanced by the DHP Ca2+ channel agonist, BAY K 8644. The DHP sensitivity of the ANG II-induced Ca2+ response was already detectable during the peak phase, suggesting that the DHP receptor plays an important role during the initial phase of ANG II stimulation. K+ and ANG II stimulated a nifedipine-sensitive Mn2+ influx pathway, further promoting the role of a DHP receptor in their mechanism of action. Fluorescent membrane potential measurements showed that, in contrast to the rapid depolarization induced by K+, the ANG II-induced depolarization had a lag time of > 30 s. The slow kinetics of depolarization compared with the immediate effect of ANG II on Mn2+ influx and the DHP sensitivity of the initial Ca2+ peak indicates that ANG II initiates the activation of the DHP-sensitive Ca2+ channel by a mechanism other than depolarization.