Modulation of Ca2+ current in canine colonic myocytes by cyclic nucleotide-dependent mechanisms

Regulation of Ca2+ currents by cyclic nucleotide-dependent mechanisms was studied in circular muscle cells isolated from canine proximal colon. Whole cell Ca2+ currents were recorded at 32 degrees C with the use of amphotericin B-perforated patches. The effects of several agents known to increase levels of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) were tested. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and isoproterenol (10(-7) to 10(-5) M) increased Ca2+ current in a concentration-dependent manner. Forskolin (10(-7) M) and dibutyryl cAMP (10(-6) to 10(-5) M) also increased Ca2+ current. Higher concentrations of forskolin (10(-6) to 10(-5) M) caused inhibition of Ca2+ current. Low concentrations (10(-5) to 10(-7) M) of dibutyryl cAMP or 8-bromo-cAMP caused concentration-dependent enhancement in Ca2+ current, and these effects were reversible on washout of the cAMP analogues. When the concentration of cAMP analogues was increased (10(-3) to 10(-4) M), we observed inhibition of Ca2+ current similar to the effects of forskolin. Membrane-permeable analogues of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate produced exclusively inhibitory effects. The nonspecific protein kinase inhibitor H-7 (up to 60 microM) failed to block the effects of VIP, isoproterenol, and forskolin, and it produced inhibitory effects on Ca2+ current, independent of agonist stimulation. The data suggest that low levels of cAMP may, via phosphorylation by protein kinase A, enhance L-type Ca2+ current, but higher concentrations of cAMP may "cross over" and activate protein kinase G. Phosphorylation by protein kinase G appears to produce a dominant inhibition of Ca2+ current.