Extracellular HCO3- is sensed by mouse cerebral arteries: Regulation of tone by receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase γ.

We investigate sensing and signaling mechanisms for H(+), [Formula: see text] and CO2 in basilar arteries using out-of-equilibrium solutions. Selectively varying pHo, [[Formula: see text]]o, or pCO2, we find: (a) lowering pHo attenuates vasoconstriction and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) Ca(2+)-responses whereas raising pHo augments vasoconstriction independently of VSMC [Ca(2+)]i, (b) lowering [[Formula: see text]]o increases arterial agonist-sensitivity of tone development without affecting VSMC [Ca(2+)]i but c) no evidence that CO2 has direct net vasomotor effects. Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase (RPTP)γ is transcribed in endothelial cells, and direct vasomotor effects of [Formula: see text] are absent in arteries from RPTPγ-knockout mice. At pHo 7.4, selective changes in [[Formula: see text]]o or pCO2 have little effect on pHi At pHo 7.1, decreased [[Formula: see text]]o or increased pCO2 causes intracellular acidification, which attenuates vasoconstriction. Under equilibrated conditions, anti-contractile effects of CO2/[Formula: see text] are endothelium-dependent and absent in arteries from RPTPγ-knockout mice. With CO2/[Formula: see text] present, contractile responses to agonist-stimulation are potentiated in arteries from RPTPγ-knockout compared to wild-type mice, and this difference is larger for respiratory than metabolic acidosis. In conclusion, decreased pHo and pHi inhibit vasoconstriction, whereas decreased [[Formula: see text]]o promotes vasoconstriction through RPTPγ-dependent changes in VSMC Ca(2+)-sensitivity. [Formula: see text] serves dual roles, providing substrate for pHi-regulating membrane transporters and modulating arterial responses to acid-base disturbances.