The volatile anesthetic isoflurane attenuates Ca++ mobilization in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

Isoflurane is a volatile anesthetic which decreases vascular tone. Experiments were designed to determine whether isoflurane attenuated agonist-induced signaling in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (A7r5). Cells were preincubated for 15 to 20 min with clinically relevant concentrations of isoflurane--0.5 to 2% in the gas phase and stimulated with 10(-9) or 10(-7) M vasopressin or with 3.3 x 10(-9) M platelet-derived growth factor. The two agonists are believed to act via differing signaling pathways. Total inositol phosphate formation was measured by column chromatography. Apparent intracellular free Ca++ concentration (1) [Ca++]i was estimated using indo-1 and flow cytometry. Isoflurane attenuated increases in [Ca++]i evoked by both agonists. Isoflurane 2.0% inhibited [Ca++]i responses evoked by vasopressin by 35 to 41%. Responses due to Ca++ release from intracellular stores were particularly sensitive to inhibition by isoflurane. The anesthetic attenuated inositol phosphate generation evoked by vasopressin and platelet-derived growth factor, suggesting a mechanism for isoflurane action on Ca++ release. Surprisingly, the anesthetic only modestly inhibited increases in [Ca++]i due to Ca++ entry. Isoflurane's effect on Ca++ influx after emptying of Ca++ stores was probed using thapsigargin. Inhibition of Ca++ influx was modest. It is suggested that isoflurane attenuates total inositol phosphate formation and Ca++ release evoked by vasopressin and platelet-derived growth factor while having limited effects on agonist-induced Ca++ entry.