Abstract-The reactivity of the vascular wall to endothelin-1 (ET-1) is influenced by cholesterol, which is of possible importance for the progression of atherosclerosis. To elucidate signaling steps affected, the cholesterol acceptor methyl-␤-cyclodextrin (m␤cd, 10 mmol/L) was used to manipulate membrane cholesterol and disrupt caveolae in intact rat arteries. In endothelium-denuded caudal artery, contractile responsiveness to 10 nmol/L ET-1 (mediated by the ET A receptor) was reduced by m␤cd and increased by cholesterol. Neither ligand binding nor colocalization of ET A and caveolin-1 was affected by m␤cd. Ca 2ϩ inflow via store-operated channels after depletion of intracellular Ca 2ϩ stores was reduced in m␤cd-treated caudal arteries, as shown by Mn 2ϩ quench rate and intracellular [Ca 2ϩ ] response. Expression of TRPC1, 3, and 6 was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and colocalization of TRPC1 with caveolin-1 was reduced by m␤cd, as seen by immunofluorescence. Part of the contractile response to ET-1 was inhibited by Ni 2ϩ (0.5 mmol/L) and by a TRPC1 blocking antibody. In the basilar artery, exhibiting less store-operated channel activity than the caudal artery, ET-1-induced contractions were insensitive to the TRPC1 blocking antibody and to m␤cd. Increased store-operated channel activity in basilar arteries after organ culture correlated with increased sensitivity of ET-1 contraction to m␤cd. These results suggest that cholesterol influences vascular reactivity to ET-1 by affecting the caveolar localization of TRPC1. Key Words: arterial smooth muscle Ⅲ methyl-␤-cyclodextrin Ⅲ caveolae Ⅲ endothelin Ⅲ store-operated Ca 2ϩ channels H ypercholesterolemia increases reactivity to endothelin-1 (ET-1) in experimental animals and humans. [1][2][3][4] This has been pointed out as one possible factor in the progression of atherosclerosis. [5][6][7] The mechanism of action has not been elucidated, although both endothelial dysfunction and altered smooth muscle reactivity have been proposed. 5 Lipoprotein particles may directly influence endothelial membrane-associated endothelial NO synthase activity by interfering with cholesterol-rich domains referred to as caveolae. 8 Although these effects modulate the endothelial influence on vascular tone, less is known regarding direct effects of cholesterol on vascular smooth muscle functions.Caveolae are 50-to 100-nm membrane invaginations that integrate many cellular receptor functions. 9 For instance, ET A receptors expressed in COS cells colocalize with the caveolae-associated protein caveolin. 10,11 The caveolar structure is disrupted after depletion of cholesterol with cyclodextrins, 12 and this correlates with a decreased contractility to ET-1, but not to depolarization or ␣ 1 -receptor stimulation, in endothelium-denuded rat caudal arteries. 13 Cholesterol might thus modulate the strength of caveolae-associated signaling, providing a basis for altered contractility in response to ET-1.Activation of the ET A receptor stimulates Ca 2ϩ inflow ov...

We have explored whether γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is released by regulated exocytosis of GABA-containing synaptic-like microvesicles (SLMVs) in insulin-releasing rat pancreatic β-cells. To this end, β-cells were engineered to express GABAA-receptor Cl−-channels at high density using adenoviral infection. Electron microscopy indicated that the average diameter of the SLMVs is 90 nm, that every β-cell contains ∼3,500 such vesicles, and that insulin-containing large dense core vesicles exclude GABA. Quantal release of GABA, seen as rapidly activating and deactivating Cl−-currents, was observed during membrane depolarizations from −70 mV to voltages beyond −40 mV or when Ca2+ was dialysed into the cell interior. Depolarization-evoked GABA release was suppressed when Ca2+ entry was inhibited using Cd2+. Analysis of the kinetics of GABA release revealed that GABA-containing vesicles can be divided into a readily releasable pool and a reserve pool. Simultaneous measurements of GABA release and cell capacitance indicated that exocytosis of SLMVs contributes ∼1% of the capacitance signal. Mathematical analysis of the release events suggests that every SLMV contains 0.36 amol of GABA. We conclude that there are two parallel pathways of exocytosis in pancreatic β-cells and that release of GABA may accordingly be temporally and spatially separated from insulin secretion. This provides a basis for paracrine GABAergic signaling within the islet.

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Although several lines of evidence indicate that glutamate is a neurotransmitter in primary afferent terminals, controversies exist on the proportion and types of such terminals that release glutamate. In the present study quantitative analysis of immunogold labelling was used to assess the presence of glutamate-like immunoreactivity in primary afferent terminals in laminae I-V of the rat spinal cord dorsal horn. Anterograde transport of choleragenoid-horseradish peroxidase from a spinal ganglion and tetramethyl benzidine histochemistry were used to identify primary afferent terminals in laminae I and III-V. Presumed C-fibre terminals in lamina II were identified on morphological criteria (dense sinusoid axon terminals). Primary afferent terminals in all dorsal horn laminae displayed significantly higher levels of glutamate-like immunoreactivity than pleomorphic vesicle-containing profiles in laminae III-IV and large neuronal cell bodies in laminae III-V. The density of gold particles over primary afferent terminals also significantly exceeded the average density of gold particles over laminae II and III-IV. The highest densities of gold particles were present over dense sinusoid axon terminals in lamina II. These findings suggest that glutamate, alone or in combination with other neuroactive compounds, is involved in the transfer of all sensory modalities from primary afferent fibres to dorsal horn neurons.