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The relationship between spontaneous calcium oscillations and cell proliferation in cultured smooth muscle cells

T Kawanishi1, M Kawanishi, H Ohata

  • 1Division of Pathology, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.

Japanese Journal of Pharmacology
|May 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Spontaneous calcium (Ca2+) oscillations do not drive cell proliferation in guinea pig ileum muscle cells. Inhibiting Ca2+ oscillations did not always stop DNA synthesis, indicating they are not essential for cell growth.

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Spontaneous calcium (Ca2+) oscillations are observed in various cell types.
  • The role of these oscillations in cellular processes like proliferation is not fully understood.
  • Longitudinal muscle cells from the guinea pig ileum provide a model to study Ca2+ signaling and cell growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations and DNA synthesis in cultured guinea pig ileum longitudinal muscle cells.
  • To determine if Ca2+ oscillations are a prerequisite for cell proliferation.

Main Methods:

  • Cultured longitudinal muscle cells from guinea pig ileum were used.
  • The effects of various agents (BAPTA, caffeine, thapsigargine, La3+, verapamil, nicardipine, ryanodine) on Ca2+ oscillations and DNA synthesis were assessed.
  • Dose-dependent effects of specific inhibitors were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • BAPTA, caffeine, thapsigargine, and La3+ suppressed both spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations and DNA synthesis at certain concentrations.
  • Verapamil, nicardipine, and ryanodine did not suppress either Ca2+ oscillations or DNA synthesis.
  • Crucially, BAPTA and La3+ suppressed Ca2+ oscillations at concentrations that did not inhibit DNA synthesis.

Conclusions:

  • Spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations are not a prerequisite for cell proliferation in guinea pig ileum longitudinal muscle cells.
  • The study suggests that Ca2+ signaling pathways involved in proliferation may differ from those generating spontaneous oscillations.

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