[en] The effects of epithelium removal were studied on the contraction induced by Ca2+ in K(+)-depolarizing solution, and by the calcium ionophore A 23187 in guinea-pig isolated tracheal strips. Epithelium removal reduced the maximal response to Ca2+ in K(+)-depolarizing solution and caused a significant shift to the right of the Ca2+ concentration-response curves. The contraction induced by the calcium ionophore A 23187 (10(-6) M) was also markedly reduced by epithelium removal. These results suggest the occurrence of an epithelium-derived contracting factor. The effects of hexamethonium, atropine, spantide and thiorphan showed that acetylcholine and neurokinins play a minor role in the Ca(2+)-induced contraction. The epithelium-dependent potentiation of the calcium- and of the A 23187-induced contractions was inhibited by an antibody selective for rat calcitonin gene-related peptide (rCGRP alpha). Therefore, CGRP-like immunoreactive material may be part of the epithelium-dependent contracting factor of guinea-pig trachea. Comparison of concentration-response curves for rCGRP alpha in epithelium-free and in intact guinea-pig tracheal strips suggests that an epithelium-dependent contracting factor may be mobilized by CGRP.
Disciplines :
Biochemistry, biophysics & molecular biology
Identifiers :
UNILU:UL-ARTICLE-2008-215
Author, co-author :
Bertrand, C.
Da Silva, A.
Landry, Y.
Theodorsson, E.
Tschirhart, Eric ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Life Science Research Unit
Language :
English
Title :
An epithelial-dependent contracting factor induced by calcium influx in guinea-pig trachea