Ca2+ and Sr2+ entry induced Ca2+ release from the intracellular Ca2+ store in smooth muscle cells of rat portal vein.

1. Changes in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) induced by membrane depolarizations were investigated using indo-1 microspectrofluorimetry in single patch-clamped smooth muscle cells of rat portal vein at room temperature (20-21 degrees C) and in the presence of 2 mM Ca2+. 2. During a 1 s depolarization from -50 to -30 mV [Ca2+]i rose, but, although the Ca2+ current was terminated by repolarization to -50 mV, [Ca2+]i continued to increase in a regenerative manner. The delay between the end of the voltage step and the peak of the [Ca2+]i rise was reduced by increasing the depolarization. 3. When a second identical depolarization was rapidly applied (8-13s) after the first one, it induced an identical Ca2+ current but a smaller increase in [Ca2+]i which started to decay upon repolarization. 4. A low concentration of caffeine (0.05 mM), applied to cells showing a small depolarization-induced [Ca2+]i transient which reached a peak at the end of the voltage step, produced an increase in amplitude and in duration of the [Ca2+]i rise without changing the amplitude of the depolarization-induced Ca2+ current. 5. The depolarization-induced [Ca2+]i rise was shortened and reduced in amplitude after noradrenaline- (NA 10 microM) or caffeine- (5 mM) induced release of Ca2+ store and when the patch pipette solution contained ryanodine (100 microM). Under these conditions, the depolarization-induced [Ca2+]i transient was maximal at the end of the voltage step and declined immediately when the membrane was repolarized at -50 mV. 6. Experiments were done by replacing extracellular Ca2+ by Sr2+. Depolarization-induced Sr2+ entry through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels could evoke an increase in indo-1 fluorescence which occurred after the termination of the voltage step. This delayed component of fluorescence increase displayed properties similar to those of the regenerative [Ca2+]i rise recorded in the Ca(2+)-containing solution. 7. The inefficiency of the second of two successive depolarizations to produce the delayed component of [Ca2+]i rise was not due to the emptiness of the intracellular Ca2+ store since, under these conditions, caffeine was still able to induce a Ca2+ release. 8. It is concluded that depolarization-evoked Ca2+ or Sr2+ entry through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels induced the release of Ca2+ from an intracellular store, which could occur in a regenerative manner, independent of the termination of the triggering current.