Nitric Oxide Signaling Mediates Stimulation of L-Type Ca2+ Current Elicited by Withdrawal of Acetylcholine in Cat Atrial Myocytes

A perforated-patch whole-cell recording method was used to determine whether nitric oxide signaling participates in acetylcholine (ACh)-induced regulation of basal L-type Ca2+ current (ICa,L) in cat atrial myocytes. Exposure to 1 microM ACh for 2 min inhibited basal ICa,L (-21 +/- 3%), and withdrawal of ACh elicited rebound stimulation of ICa,L above control (80 +/- 13%) (n = 23). Stimulation of ICa,L elicited by withdrawal of ACh (but not ACh-induced inhibition of ICa,L) was blocked by either 50 microM hemoglobin; 30 microM ODQ or 10 microM methylene blue, inhibitors of soluble guanylate cyclase; 10 microM W-7, a calmodulin inhibitor; or 10 microM L-NIO, an inhibitor of constitutive NO synthase (NOS). In cells incubated in 5 mM L-arginine, ACh-induced rebound stimulation of ICa,L was enhanced compared with control responses. Histochemical assay (NADPH diaphorase) indicated that atrial myocytes express constitutive NOS. NO-donor, spermine/NO (SP/NO), >1 microM stimulated basal ICa,L. SP/NO-induced stimulation of ICa,L was inhibited by 50 microM hemoglobin, 30 microM ODQ, or 5 microM H-89, an inhibitor of PKA, and was unchanged by 50 microM MnTBAP, a peroxynitrite scavenger. When ICa,L was prestimulated by 10 microM milrinone, an inhibitor of cGMP-inhibited phosphodiesterase (type III) activity, SP/NO failed to further increase ICa,L. In cells incubated in pertussis toxin (3.4 microg/ml for 6 h; 36 degrees C), ACh failed to affect ICa,L, but 100 microM SP/NO or 10 microM milrinone still increased basal ICa,L. These results indicate that in cat atrial myocytes NO signaling mediates stimulation of ICa,L elicited by withdrawal of ACh but not ACh-induced inhibition of basal ICa,L. NO activates cGMP-induced inhibition of phosphodiesterase (type III) activity. Upon withdrawal of ACh, this mechanism allows cAMP to recover to levels above control, thereby stimulating ICa,L. Pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins couple M2 muscarinic receptors to NO signaling. NO-mediated stimulation of ICa, L elicited by withdrawal of ACh may be an important mechanism that rapidly restores cardiac pacemaker and contractile functions after cholinergic suppression of atrial activity.