Mepivacaine-induced intracellular calcium increase appears to be mediated primarily by calcium influx in rat aorta without endothelium

BACKGROUND Mepivacaine induces contraction or decreased blood flow both in vivo and in vitro. Vasoconstriction is associated with an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i). However, the mechanism responsible for the mepivacaine-evoked [Ca(2+)]i increase remains to be determined. Therefore, the objective of this in vitro study was to examine the mechanism responsible for the mepivacaine-evoked [Ca(2+)]i increment in isolated rat aorta. METHODS Isometric tension was measured in isolated rat aorta without endothelium. In addition, fura-2 loaded aortic muscle strips were illuminated alternately (48 Hz) at two excitation wavelengths (340 and 380 nm). The ratio of F340 to F380 (F340/F380) was regarded as an amount of [Ca(2+)]i. We investigated the effects of nifedipine, 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborate (2-APB), gadolinium chloride hexahydrate (Gd(3+)), low calcium level and Krebs solution without calcium on the mepivacaine-evoked contraction in isolated rat aorta and on the mepivacaine-evoked [Ca(2+)]i increment in fura-2 loaded aortic strips. We assessed the effect of verapamil on the mepivacaine-evoked [Ca(2+)]i increment. RESULTS Mepivacaine produced vasoconstriction and increased [Ca(2+)]i. Nifedipine, 2-APB and low calcium attenuated vasoconstriction and the [Ca(2+)]i increase evoked by mepivacaine. Verapamil attenuated the mepivacaine-induced [Ca(2+)]i increment. Calcium-free solution almost abolished mepivacaine-induced contraction and strongly attenuated the mepivacaineinduced [Ca(2+)]i increase. Gd(3+) had no effect on either vasoconstriction or the [Ca(2+)]i increment evoked by mepivacaine. CONCLUSIONS The mepivacaine-evoked [Ca(2+)]i increment, which contributes to mepivacaine-evoked contraction, appears to be mediated mainly by calcium influx and partially by calcium released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.