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We investigated the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS), particularly hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (*O2-) in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) Ca2+ concentration (Ca2+i) and vascular contraction and assessed whether redox-dependent Ca2+ signaling and contraction are altered in hypertension. VSMCs and mesenteric arteries from Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were studied. Cells were stimulated with H2O2 (10(-4) mol/l) or LY83583 (*O2- generator, 10(-5) mol/l). Ca2+i and cytosolic *O2- were measured by fura-2AM and tempo-9-AC fluorescence respectively. L-type and T-type Ca2+ channels were assessed using verapamil/diltiazem and mibefradil respectively and mRNA and protein expression of these channels was assessed by real-time PCR and immunoblotting respectively. H2O2 time-dependently increased Ca2+i and contraction with significantly greater effects in SHR versus WKY (P < 0.001). LY83583 increased Ca2+i in both strains, but responses were blunted in SHR. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ abrogated Ca2+i responses to H2O2 and *O2-. Verapamil and diltiazem, but not mibefradil, significantly decreased H2O2 -induced Ca2+i responses with greater effects in SHR (P < 0.01). L-type and T-type Ca2+ channel inhibition reduced LY83583-mediated Ca2+i increase only in WKY cells. Both types of Ca2+ channels were expressed (mRNA and protein) in VSMCs from WKY and SHR, with greater abundance in SHR than WKY (2- to 3-fold). These results demonstrate that ROS increase vascular Ca2+i and contraction, primarily via extracellular Ca2+ influx. Whereas responses to H2O2 are enhanced, *O2- -mediated actions are blunted in SHR. These effects may relate to differential activation of Ca2+ channels by H2O2 and *O2-. Enhanced activation of L-type Ca2+ channels and increased Ca2+ influx by H2O2 may contribute to increased Ca2+ signaling in VSMCs from SHR.
Tabet et al. (Thu,) studied this question.