• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.248.1-248.1
• /
• 2002

It has been shown that C2-ceramide (C2), short chain ceramide, plays a role in mediating contraction of cat esophageal smooth muscle cells. We examined the effect of newly synthesized ceramide analogues on the C2-ceramide induced contraction in esophageal smooth muscle cells isolated with collagenase. C2-ceramide produced contraction of smooth muscle cells in a dose dependent manner. (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.393-400
• /
• 2009

NO released by myenteric neurons controls the off contraction induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) in distal esophageal smooth muscle, but in the presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, L-NAME, contraction by EFS occurs at the same time. The authors investigated the intracellular signaling pathways related with G protein and ionic channel EFS-induced contraction using cat esophageal muscles. EFS-induced contractions were significantly suppressed by tetrodotoxin ($1\;{\mu}M$) and atropine ($1\;{\mu}M$). Furthermore, nimodipine inhibited both on and off contractions by EFS in a concentration dependent meaner. The characteristics of 'on' and 'off contraction and the effects of G-proteins, phospholipase, and $K^+$ channel on EFS-induced contraction in smooth muscle were also investigated. Pertussis toxin (PTX, a $G_i$ inactivator) attenuated both EFS-induced contractions. Cholera toxin (CTX, $G_s$ inactivator) also decreased the amplitudes of EFS-induced off and on contractions. However, phospholipase inhibitors did not affect these contractions. Pinacidil (a $K^+$ channel opener) decreased these contractions, and tetraethylammonium (TEA, ${K^+}_{Ca}$ channel blocker) increased them. These results suggest that EFS-induced on and off contractions can be mediated by the activations Gi or Gs proteins, and that L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel may be activated by G-protein ${\alpha}$ subunits. Furthermore, ${K^+}_{Ca^-}$ channel involve in the depolarization of esophageal smooth muscle. Further studies are required to characterize the physiological regulation of $Ca^{2+}$ channel and to investigate the effects of other $K^+$ channels on EFS-induced on and off contractions.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.617-622
• /
• 1993

The preliminary studies on the localization of adrenoceptors were performed on smooth muscle strips of bovine esophageal groove. The mechanical activity of the muscle strip was recorded isometrically in vitro.w In the bottom circular muscle strips. the excitatory ${\alpha}-adrenergic$ responses were not blocked by tetrodotoxin$(2.1{\times}10^{-6}M)$ and denervation which was carried by cold storage of strips for 48 hrs in Tyrode's solution at $5-6{^{\circ}C}$ without oxygen supply. These excitatory ${\alpha}-adrenergic$ responses were partially blocked by atropine. In the lip longitudinal muscle strips, the inhibitory${\beta}-adrenergic$ responses were not blocked by pretreatment of tetrodotoxin and atropine. The results suggest that ${\beta}-adrenergic$ receptors mediating relaxations are located on the postsynaptic smooth muscle cells, whereas ${\beta}-adrenergic$ receptors mediating contractions are located both in the smooth muscle cells and in the cholinergic neurones.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.546-552
• /
• 2018

A comprehensive collection of proteins senses local changes in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) and transduces these signals into responses to agonists. In the present study, we examined the effect of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) on modulation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells. To measure $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ levels in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells, we used a fluorescence microscopy with the Fura-2 loading method. S1P produced a concentration-dependent increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in the cells. Pretreatment with EGTA, an extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, decreased the S1P-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, and an L-type $Ca^{2+}$-channel blocker, nimodipine, decreased the effect of S1P. This indicates that $Ca^{2+}$ influx may be required for muscle contraction by S1P. When stimulated with thapsigargin, an intracellular calcium chelator, or 2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB), an $InsP_3$ receptor blocker, the S1P-evoked increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was significantly decreased. Treatment with pertussis toxin (PTX), an inhibitor of $G_i$-protein, suppressed the increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ evoked by S1P. These results suggest that the S1P-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells occurs upon the activation of phospholipase C and subsequent release of $Ca^{2+}$ from the $InsP_3$-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ pool in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. These results suggest that S1P utilized extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ via the L type $Ca^{2+}$ channel, which was dependent on activation of the $S1P_4$ receptor coupled to PTX-sensitive $G_i$ protein, via phospholipase C-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ release from the $InsP_3$-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ pool in cat esophageal smooth muscle cells.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.117.1-117.1
• /
• 2003

We investigated whether experimental esophagitis and IL-1$\beta$ could induce the activation of MAP kinases in esophageal smooth muscle. With two models of experimental esophagitis, we assessed the activity of p38 MAP kinase, p44/42 MAP kinase and JNK. In feline acute experimental esophagitis, immunoblotting of normal and esophagitis-induced smooth muscle with each types of MAP kinase antibodies revealed the slight increase of phosphorylated form of p38 MAP kinase, especially in membrane fraction. (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.29-35
• /
• 2010

We have shown that myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) was required for the off-contraction in response to the electrical field stimulation (EFS) of feline esophageal smooth muscle. In this study, we investigated whether protein kinase C (PKC) may require the on-contraction in response to EFS using feline esophageal smooth muscle. The contractions were recorded using an isometric force transducer. On-contraction occurred in the presence of $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), suggesting that nitric oxide acts as an inhibitory mediator in smooth muscle. The excitatory composition of both contractions was cholinergic dependent which was blocked by tetrodotoxin or atropine. The on-contraction was abolished in $Ca^{2+}$-free buffer but reappeared in normal $Ca^{2+}$-containing buffer indicating that the contraction was $Ca^{2+}$ dependent. 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), voltage-dependent $K^+$ channel blocker, significantly enhanced on-contraction. Aluminum fluoride (a G-protein activator) increased on-contraction. Pertussis toxin (a $G_i$ inactivator) and C3 exoenzyme (a rhoA inactivator) significantly decreased on-contraction suggesting that Gi or rhoA protein may be related with $Ca^{2+}$ and $K^+$ channel. ML-9, a MLCK inhibitor, significantly inhibited on-contraction, and chelerythrine (PKC inhibitor) affected on the contraction. These results suggest that endogenous cholinergic contractions activated directly by low-frequency EFS may be mediated by $Ca^{2+}$, and G proteins, such as Gi and rhoA, which resulted in the activation of MLCK, and PKC to produce the contraction in feline distal esophageal smooth muscle.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.137-142
• /
• 2008

Ceramide has emerged as a novel second messenger for intracellular signalling. It is produced from sphingomyelin and is involved in the control of cell differntiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. $C_2$-ceramide, short chain ceramide, plays a role in mediating contraction of cat esophageal smooth muscle cells. We examined the effect of synthesized ceramide analogues on the $C_2$-ceramide and ACh-induced contraction in esophageal smooth muscle cells isolated with collagenase. CY3523, CY3525, or CY3723 inhibited $C_2$-ceramide induced contraction, in a time dependent manne. Each analogue also inhibited the contraction in concentration dependent manners. CY 3523, CY 3525, and CY 3723 had no effect to the contraction induced by PMA. The inhibition with CY3523, CY3525 and CY3723 on the $C_2$-ceramide induced contraction was recovered by PMA. These analogues decreased the density of MAPK bands (p44/42 or p38) in the western blot. These results suggest that ceramide analogues can inhibit $C_2$-ceramide induced contraction via PKC and MAPK dependent pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.139-147
• /
• 2013

Lysolipids such as LPA, S1P and SPC have diverse biological activities including cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. We investigated signaling pathways of LPA-induced contraction in feline esophageal smooth muscle cells. We used freshly isolated smooth muscle cells and permeabilized cells from cat esophagus to measure the length of cells. Maximal contraction occurred at $10^{-6}M$ and the response peaked at 30s. To identify LPA receptor subtypes in cells, western blot analysis was performed with antibodies to LPA receptor subtypes. LPA1 and LPA3 receptor were detected at 50 kDa and 44 kDa. LPA-induced contraction was almost completely blocked by LPA receptor (1/3) antagonist KI16425. Pertussis toxin (PTX) inhibited the contraction induced by LPA, suggesting that the contraction is mediated by a PTX-sensitive G protein. Phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitors U73122 and neomycin, and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X also reduced the contraction. The PKC-mediated contraction may be isozyme-specific since only $PKC{\varepsilon}$ antibody inhibited the contraction. MEK inhibitor PD98059 and JNK inhibitor SP600125 blocked the contraction. However, there is no synergistic effect of PKC and MAPK on the LPA-induced contraction. In addition, RhoA inhibitor C3 exoenzyme and ROCK inhibitor Y27632 significantly, but not completely, reduced the contraction. The present study demonstrated that LPA-induced contraction seems to be mediated by LPA receptors (1/3), coupled to PTX-sensitive G protein, resulting in activation of PLC, PKC-${\varepsilon}$ pathway, which subsequently mediates activation of ERK and JNK. The data also suggest that RhoA/ROCK are involved in the LPA-induced contraction.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.10b
• /
• pp.75.1-75.1
• /
• 2003

Low-frequency electrical field stimulation of transmural nerves of cat esophageal circular smooth muscle produces an “off contraction”, which occurs after electirical field stimulation (EFS) of transmural nerves is stopped. We previously examined signal transduction pathways mediating ACh-induced contraction of circular smooth muscle of esophagus. The extracellular Ca$\^$2+/ is needed for the contraction, results in the activation PKC. EFS-induced contraction was abolished by the pretreatments of tetrodotoxin(1 ${\mu}$M) and atropine (1 ${\mu}$M). (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.10b
• /
• pp.77.3-78
• /
• 2003

We previously shown that sphingosylphosphorylcholine, a lysophosphatidic acid, produced contraction in isolated single cells of cat ilium. We investigated the mechanism of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)-induced contraction of circular smooth muscle cells in cat esophagus. S1P produced esophageal contraction in a dose dependent manner. The maximal contraction (l0$\^$-7/ M) induced at 1min. Pertusis toxin (PTX) inhibited contraction induced by S1P, suggesting that the contraction is mediated to a PTX-sensitive G-protein. (omitted)