Activation of phospholipase C by angiotensin II in vascular smooth muscle has been postulated to be mediated by an unidentified GTP-binding protein (G-protein). Using a permeabilized preparation of myo-[3H]inositol-labelled cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, we examined the ability of a non-hydrolysable analogue of GTP, guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]), to stimulate inositol phosphate formation. GTP[S] (5 min exposure) stimulated inositol polyphosphate release by up to 3.8-fold in a dose-dependent manner, with an EC50 (concn. producing half-maximal stimulation) of approx. 50 microM. Inositol bisphosphate (IP2) and inositol trisphosphate (IP3) accumulations were also stimulated by NaF (5-20 mM). Furthermore, angiotensin II-induced inositol phosphate formation could be potentiated by a submaximal concentration of GTP[S] (10 microM), and this treatment appeared to interfere with the normal termination mechanism of the initial hormonal signal. The G-protein mediating angiotensin II-stimulated phospholipase C activation was insensitive to pertussis toxin at an exposure time and concentration which were sufficient to completely ADP-ribosylate all available substrate (100 ng/ml, 16 h). In contrast, a similar incubation with cholera toxin markedly inhibited angiotensin II-stimulated IP2 and IP3 release by 67 +/- 6% and 62 +/- 6% respectively. Cholera toxin appeared to inhibit angiotensin II stimulation of phospholipase C by a dual mechanism: it caused a 45% decrease in angiotensin II receptor number, and also inhibited G-protein transduction as assessed by GTP[S]-stimulated IP2 formation. This latter inhibition may be secondary to an increase in cyclic AMP, since it could be simulated by addition of dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Thus angiotensin II-stimulated inositol phosphate formation is cholera-toxin-sensitive, and is mediated by a pertussis-toxin-insensitive G-protein, which may be involved directly in termination of early signal generation.

1. Activation of vascular smooth muscle by angiotensin II results in the generation of two second messengers, inositol trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DG). 2. IP3 is responsible for mobilizing calcium from endoplasmic reticulum. This signal is transient, most likely serving to initiate calcium events leading to contraction, and is attenuated by activation of protein kinase C. 3. DG stimulates protein kinase C and ultimately Na+/H+ exchange, leading to intracellular alkalinization. Accumulation of DG/activation of protein kinase C is sustained, and may be enhanced by concurrent intracellular alkalinization. The delay in induction of the sustained response appears to be related to cellular processing of the angiotensin II-receptor complex. 4. Angiotensin II-stimulated, phospholipase C-mediated IP3 formation is also modulated by a pertussis toxin-insensitive guanine nucleotide regulatory protein. 5. The GTP binding protein, movement of the receptor-ligand complex, and the signals generated by the two second messengers, IP3 and DG, interact in a complex manner to cause an integrated response of vascular smooth muscle cells to angiotensin II stimulation.

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