Abstract
The relationship between the calcium concentration and the isometric tension obtained with different techniques of skinning provides information on the biochemical events of contraction in vascular smooth muscle. Muscle preparations of the rabbit femoral artery were skinned with triton X-100, saponin, β-escin and α-toxin and the relationship between the calcium concentration and isometric tension was determined at different preparation lengths. We determined the calcium sensitivity as a function of muscle length with different techniques of skinning. At a pCa of 6.0, triton X-100 skinned smooth muscle of the femoral artery generated 50% of the maximal tension. In α-toxin skinned preparations, this calcium sensitivity was shifted to a pCa of 5.6. The sensitivity of the saponin and β-escin skinned preparations were in between those of the triton X-100 and the α-toxin skinned preparations. The cooperativity of the regulation of contraction varied among the differently skinned preparations between 3 (α-toxin) and 6 (triton X-100). The relationships between the calcium concentration and the isometric tension of the differently skinned preparations up to the optimal length for tension generation did not exhibit any length dependency. The length tension relationship, obtained from the maximal response at the highest calcium concentration is in line with that from other studies. The presence of intracellular proteins and membranes affects the regulation of contraction in smooth muscle of the femoral artery.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrea JE and Walsh MP (1992) Protein kinase C of smooth muscle. Hypertension 20: 585–595.
Arner A (1982) Mechanical characteristics of chemically skinned guinea-pig taenia coli. PflÜg Arch 395: 277–284.
Bayliss WM (1902) On the local reactions of the arterial wall to changes of internal pressure. J Physiol 28: 220–231.
Boels PJ, Troschka M, RÜegg JC and Pfitzer G (1991) Higher Ca2+ sensitivity of triton-skinned guinea pig mesenteric microarteries as compared with large arteries. Circ Res 69: 989–996.
Brozovich FV (1995) PKC regulates agonist-induced force enhance-ment in single α-toxin-permeabilized vascular smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol 268: C1202-C1206.
Cassidy PS, Kerrick WGL, Hoar PE and Malencik DA (1981) Exogenous calmodulin increases Ca2+sensitivity of isometric tension activation and myosin phosphorylation in skinned smooth muscle. PflÜg Arch 392: 115–120.
Davis MJ, Donovitch JA and Hood JD (1992) Stretch-activated single-channels and whole cell currents in vascular smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol 262: C1083-C1088.
Davis MJ and Gore RW (1989) Length-tension relationship of vascular smooth muscle in single arterioles. Am J Physiol 256: H630-H640.
Davis MJ and Hill MA (1999) Signaling mechanisms underlying the vascular myogenic response. Physiol Rev 79: 387–423.
Davis MJ, Meininger GA and Zawieja DC (1992) Stretch-induced increases in intracellular calcium of isolated vascular smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol 263: H1292-H1299.
Endo M (1972) Stretch induced increase in activation in skinned muscle fibres by calcium. Nature 237: 210–213.
Fabiato A (1988) Computer programs for calculating total from specified free or free from specified total ionic concentrations in aqueous solutions containing multiple metals and ligands. Methods Enzymol 157: 378–417.
Hai CM (1991) Length-dependent myosin phosphorylation and contraction of arterial smooth muscle. Pfl Üg Arch 418: 564–571.
Hai CM and Murphy RA (1989) Ca2+,crossbridge phosphorylation, and contraction. Annu Rev Physiol 51: 285–298.
Hai CM and Szeto B (1992) Agonist-induced myosin phosphorylationduring isometric contraction and unloaded shortening in airwaysmooth muscle. Am J Physiol 262: L53-L62.
Harris DE and Warshaw DM (1991) Length vs. active force relationship in single isolated smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol 260: C1104-C1112.
Herlihy JT and Murphy RA (1973) Length-tension relationship of smooth muscle of the hog carotid artery. Circ Res 33: 275–283.
Hill MA and Meininger GA (1994) Calcium entry and myogenic phenomena in skeletal muscle arterioles. Am J Physiol 267: H1085-H1092.
Iino M (1989) Calcium-induced calcium release mechanism in guineapig taenia caeci. J Gen Physiol 94: 363–383.
Kitazawa T, Gaylinn BD, Denney GH and Somlyo AP (1991)G-protein-mediated Ca2+ sensitization of smooth muscle contraction through myosin light chain phosphorylation. J Biol Chem 266: 1708–1715.
Kitazawa T, Kobayashi S, Horiuti K, Somlyo AV and Somlyo AP (1989) Receptor-coupled, permeabilized smooth muscle: role of the phosphatidylinositol cascade, G-proteins, and modulation of the contractile response to Ca2+. J Biol Chem 264: 5339–5342.
Kobayashi S, Gong MC, Somlyo AV and Somlyo AP (1991) Ca2+ channel blockers distinguish between G protein-coupled phar-macomechanical Ca2+ release and Ca2+ sensitization. Am J Physiol 260: C364-C370.
Kobayashi S, Kitazawa T, Somlyo AV and Somlyo AP (1989) Cytosolic heparin inhibits muscarinic and α-adrenergic Ca2+ release in smooth muscle. J Biol Chem 264: 17997–18004.
Meininger GA and Davis MJ (1992) Cellular mechanisms involved inthe vascular myogenic response. Am J Physiol 263: H647-H659.
Miyagi Y, Kobayashi S, Nishimura J, Fukui M and Kanaide H (1995)Resting load regulates cytosolic calcium-force relationship of thecontraction of bovine cerebrovascular smooth muscle. J Physiol 484: 123–137.
Moreland RS, Moreland S and Murphy RA (1988) Dependence of stress on length, Ca2+, and myosin phosphorylation in skinned smooth muscle. Am J Physiol 255: C473-C478.
Mulvany MJ and Warshaw DM (1979) The active tension-length curveof vascular smooth muscle related to its cellular components. J GenPhysiol 74: 85–104.
Nishimura J, Kolber M and Van Breemen C (1988) Norepinephrine and GTP-γ-S increase myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity in α-toxin 65permeabilized arterial smooth muscle. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 157: 677–683.
Price JM, Davis DL and Knauss EB (1981) Length-dependent sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle. Am J Physiol 241: H557-H563.
Price JM, Davis DL and Knauss EB (1983) Length-dependent sensitivity at lengths greater than Lmax in vascular smooth muscle. Am J Physiol 245: H379-H384.
Rembold CM and Murphy RA (1990) Muscle length, shortening, myoplasmic [Ca2+], and activation of arterial smooth muscle. Circ Res 66: 1354–1361.
Rembold CM (1992) Regulation of contraction and relaxation in arterial smooth muscle. Hypertension 20: 129–137.
Somlyo AV, Bond M, Somlyo AP and Scarpa A (1985) Inositol triphosphate-induced calcium release and contraction in vascular smooth muscle. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 82: 5231–5235.
Stephens NL, Seow CY, Halayko AJ and Jiang H (1992) The biophysics and biochemistry of smooth muscle contraction. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 70: 515–531.
Stephenson DG and Wendt IR (1984) Length dependence of changesin sarcoplasmic calcium and myofibrillar calcium sensitivity instriated muscle fibres. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 5: 243–272.
Trinkle-Mulcahy L, Siegman MJ and Butler TM (1994) Metabolic characteristics of α-toxin-permeabilized smooth muscle. Am J Physiol 266: C1673-C1683.
VanBavel E, Wesselman JPM and Spaan JAE (1998) Myogenic activation and calcium sensitivity of cannulated rat mesenteric small arteries. Circ Res 82: 210–220.
VanHeijst BGV, deWit E, vanderHeide UA, Blangeé T, Jongsma HJ and de Beer EL (1999) The e€ect of length on the sensitivity to phenylephrine and calcium in intact and skinned vascular smooth muscle. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 20: 11–18.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Van Heijst, B.G.V., Blangé, T., Jongsma, H.J. et al. The length dependency of calcium activated contractions in the femoral artery smooth muscle studied with different methods of skinning. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 21, 59–66 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005609319445
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005609319445