Caffeine induces periodic oscillations of Ca(2+)-activated K+ current in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells.

The periodic oscillations of outward currents were studied in smooth muscle cells of the rabbit pulmonary artery. The combined stimuli of superfusion with 1 mM caffeine and depolarization of the membrane potential to 0 mV evoked periodic oscillations of outward currents with fairly uniform amplitudes and intervals. The oscillating outward currents induced by caffeine were dependent on intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and had a reversal potential near to the equilibrium potential for K+. So the oscillating outward currents are carried by K+ through Ca(2+)-dependent K+ channels (IK(Ca)), and may reflect the oscillations of [Ca2+]i. The oscillating outward currents were abolished, or their frequency reduced, by lowering external [Ca2+], Ca2+ channel blockers, or by 1 microM ryanodine, indicating that: (1) there is a continuous influx of Ca2+ through the plasma membrane at a holding potential of 0 mV; (2) the periodic transient increases of [Ca2+]i are ascribed to the rhythmic release of Ca2+ from ryanodine-sensitive intracellular store by the mechanism of Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release (CICR). On the basis of the above results, we simulated the oscillation of [Ca2+]i induced by caffeine, which is known to lower the threshold of CICR. The patterns of peak amplitude histograms of spontaneous transient outward currents (STOC) in the oscillating cells were different from those in non-oscillating cells. The amplitudes of STOC in the latter were more variable than those in the former. The oscillating outward currents were modulated by 1 microM forskolin and 1 microM sodium nitroprusside, but STOC were little affected. The above differences between STOC and oscillating outward currents suggest that the two currents are activated by the Ca2+ originating from different intracellular Ca2+ stores which are functionally heterogeneous.