Presynaptic imidazoline receptors (R i-pre ) are found in the sympathetic axon terminals of animal and human cardiovascular systems, and they regulate blood pressure by modulating the release of peripheral noradrenaline (NA). The cellular mechanism of R i-pre -induced inhibition of NA release is unknown. We, therefore, investigated the effect of R i-pre activation on voltage-dependent Ca 2+ channels in rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons, using the conventional whole-cell patch-clamp method. Cirazoline (30 μm), an R i-pre agonist as well as an α-adrenoceptor (R α ) agonist, decreased Ca 2+ currents (I Ca ) by about 50% in a voltage-dependent manner with prepulse facilitation. In the presence of low-dose rauwolscine (3 μm), which blocks the α 2 -adrenoceptor (R α2 ), cirazoline still inhibited I Ca by about 30%, but prepulse facilitation was significantly attenuated. This inhibitory action of cirazoline was almost completely prevented by high-dose rauwolscine (30 μm), which blocks R i-pre as well as R α2 . In addition, pretreatment with LY320135 (10 μm), another R i-pre antagonist, in combination with low-dose rauwolscine (3 μm), also blocked the R α2 -resistant effect of cirazoline. Addition of guanosine-5 -O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (2 mm) to the internal solutions significantly attenuated the action of cirazoline. However, pertussis toxin (500 ng ml −1 ) did not significantly influence the inhibitory effect of cirazoline. Moreover, cirazoline (30 μm) suppressed M current in SCG neurons cultured overnight. Finally, ω-conotoxin (ω-CgTx) GVIA (1 μm) obstructed cirazolineinduced current inhibition, and cirazoline (30 μm) significantly decreased the frequency of action potential firing in a partly reversible manner. This cirazoline-induced inhibition of action potential firing was almost completely occluded in the presence of ω-CgTx. Taken together, our results suggest that activation of R i-pre in SCG neurons reduced N-type I Ca in a pertussis toxinand voltage-insensitive pathway, and this inhibition attenuated repetitive action potential firing in SCG neurons.

Spontaneous myometrial contraction (SMC) in pregnant uterus is greatly related with gestational age and growing in frequency and amplitude toward the end of gestation to initiate labor. But, an accurate mechanism has not been elucidated. In human and rat uterus, all TRPCs except TRPC2 are expressed in pregnant myometrium and among them, TRPC4 are predominant throughout gestation, suggesting a possible role in regulation of SMC. Therefore, we investigated whether the TRP channel may be involved SMC evoked by mechanical stretch in pregnant myometrial strips of rat using isometric tension measurement and patch-clamp technique. In the present results, hypoosmotic cell swelling activated a potent outward rectifying current in G protein-dependent manner in rat pregnant myocyte. The current was significantly potentiated by 1µM lanthanides (a potent TRPC4/5 stimulator) and suppressed by 10µM 2-APB (TRPC4-7 inhibitor). In addition, in isometric tension experiment, SMC which was evoked by passive stretch was greatly potentiated by lanthanide (1µM) and suppressed by 2-APB (10µM), suggesting a possible involvement of TRPC4/5 channel in regulation of SMC in pregnant myometrium. These results provide a possible cellular mechanism for regulation of SMC during pregnancy and provide basic information for developing a new agent for treatment of premature labor.

The protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 is highly expressed in endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. It plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure via the modulation of peripheral vascular tone. Although several mechanisms have been suggested to explain PAR-2-induced hypotension, the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. To investigate this possibility, we investigated the effects of PAR-2 activation on N-type Ca2+ currents (ICa-N) in isolated neurons of the celiac ganglion (CG), which is involved in the sympathetic regulation of mesenteric artery vascular tone. PAR-2 agonists irreversibly diminished voltage-gated Ca2+ currents (ICa), measured using the patch-clamp method, in rat CG neurons, whereas thrombin had little effect on ICa. This PAR-2-induced inhibition was almost completely prevented by ω-CgTx, a potent N-type Ca2+ channel blocker, suggesting the involvement of N-type Ca2+ channels in PAR-2-induced inhibition. In addition, PAR-2 agonists inhibited ICa–N in a voltage-independent manner in rat CG neurons. Moreover, PAR-2 agonists reduced action potential (AP) firing frequency as measured using the current-clamp method in rat CG neurons. This inhibition of AP firing induced by PAR-2 agonists was almost completely prevented by ω-CgTx, indicating that PAR-2 activation may regulate the membrane excitability of peripheral sympathetic neurons through modulation of N-type Ca2+ channels. In conclusion, the present findings demonstrate that the activation of PAR-2 suppresses peripheral sympathetic outflow by modulating N-type Ca2+ channel activity, which appears to be involved in PAR-2-induced hypotension, in peripheral sympathetic nerve terminals.

Protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 is expressed in endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. It plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure via the modulation of peripheral vascular tone. Although some reports have suggested involvement of a neurogenic mechanism in PAR-2-induced hypotension, the accurate mechanism remains to be elucidated. To examine this possibility, we investigated the effect of PAR-2 activation on smooth muscle contraction evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS) in the superior mesenteric artery. In the present study, PAR-2 agonists suppressed neurogenic contractions evoked by EFS in endothelium-denuded superior mesenteric arterial strips but did not affect contraction elicited by the external application of noradrenaline (NA). However, thrombin, a potent PAR-1 agonist, had no effect on EFS-evoked contraction. Additionally, ω-conotoxin GVIA (CgTx), a selective N-type Ca2+ channel (ICa-N) blocker, significantly inhibited EFS-evoked contraction, and this blockade almost completely occluded the suppression of EFS-evoked contraction by PAR-2 agonists. Finally, PAR-2 agonists suppressed the EFS-evoked overflow of NA in endothelium-denuded rat superior mesenteric arterial strips and this suppression was nearly completely occluded by ω-CgTx. These results suggest that activation of PAR-2 may suppress peripheral sympathetic outflow by modulating activity of ICa-N which are located in peripheral sympathetic nerve terminals, which results in PAR-2-induced hypotension.