Effect of a 14-day hindlimb suspension on cytosolic Ca²⁺concentration in rat portal vein myocytes

Effects of a 14-day hindlimb suspension were examined on increases in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) evoked by vasoactive compounds and on Ca2+ channels in rat portal vein myocytes. The maximal increases in [Ca2+]i elicited by caffeine, norepinephrine, and angiotensin II were reduced by 30-50% in suspended rats, and complete recovery was obtained 4 days after suspension removal. In contrast, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels were unaffected by hindlimb suspension. Using both confocal microscopy and the patch-clamp technique, we measured local increases in [Ca2+]i which corresponded to activation of a small number of ryanodine-sensitive Ca(2+)-release channels (Ca2+ sparks) and D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3]-gated Ca2+ channels. After hindlimb suspension, these local Ca2+ events, as well as the Ca2+ sensitivity of ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ release channels, remained unchanged. In contrast, the propagated Ca2+ responses (Ca2+ waves) were significantly reduced in parallel with a noticeable inhibition of [3H]ryanodine binding to vascular membranes. Taken together, these results suggest that inhibition of the vasoconstrictor-induced increases in [Ca2+]i during long-term suspension may be related to a reduction of the number of functional ryanodine-sensitive and Ins(1,4,5)P3-gated channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of rat portal vein myocytes.