Thromboxane A2 analogue, U-46619, potentiates calcium-activated force in human umbilical artery

It has previously been shown that human umbilical artery (HUA) smooth muscle produces thromboxane A2 in response to increasing oxygen levels and that this thromboxane promotes contraction. To investigate the intracellular action of thromboxane A2, strips of HUA longitudinal smooth muscle were permeabilized using alpha-toxin from the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. This treatment rendered the surface membrane permeable to low-molecular-weight substances but left functional thromboxane A2 receptors. Tension measurements were used to investigate the effect of the stable thromboxane A2 analogue, U-46619, on the Ca2+ sensitivity of smooth muscle contractile proteins. U-46619 (1 nM to 1 microM) potentiated submaximal Ca(2+)-activated force (generated by [Ca2+], 50 nM to 3 microM) but not maximal Ca(2+)-activated force (generated by [Ca2+], 10-100 microM). The specific thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist, GR-32191B (1 microM), inhibited the action of U-46619 (0.1 microM). The potentiation of submaximal Ca(2+)-activated force produced by the muscle in response to U-46619 (0.1 microM) was antagonized by guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (1 mM), the nonhydrolyzable analogue of GDP, and mimicked by guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (100 microM), the nonhydrolyzable analogue of GTP. These results suggest that U-46619 acts via the previously identified thromboxane A2 receptor to promote Ca2+ sensitivity of tension production in HUA smooth muscle. Furthermore, this effect appears to be mediated via a G protein.