Intracellular Ca2+ stores in chemoreceptor cells of the rabbit carotid body: significance for chemoreception

Abstract

The notion that intracellular Ca2+ (Cai 2+) stores play a significant role in the chemoreception process in chemoreceptor cells of the carotid body (CB) appears in the literature in a recurrent manner. However, the structural identity of the Ca2+ stores and their real significance in the function of chemoreceptor cells are unknown. To assess the functional significance of Cai 2+ stores in chemoreceptor cells, we have monitored 1) the release of catecholamines (CA) from the cells using an in vitro preparation of intact rabbit CB and 2) the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) using isolated chemoreceptor cells; both parameters were measured in the absence or the presence of agents interfering with the storage of Ca2+. We found that threshold [Ca2+]i for high extracellular K+ (Ke +) to elicit a release response is ≈250 nM. Caffeine (10–40 mM), ryanodine (0.5 μM), thapsigargin (0.05–1 μM), and cyclopiazonic acid (10 μM) did not alter the basal or the stimulus (hypoxia, high Ke +)-induced release of CA. The same agents produced Cai 2+transients of amplitude below secretory threshold; ryanodine (0.5 μM), thapsigargin (1 μM), and cyclopiazonic acid (10 μM) did not alter the magnitude or time course of the Cai 2+responses elicited by high Ke +. Several potential activators of the phospholipase C system (bethanechol, ATP, and bradykinin), and thereby of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors, produced minimal or no changes in [Ca2+]i and did not affect the basal release of CA. It is concluded that, in the rabbit CB chemoreceptor cells, Cai 2+ stores do not play a significant role in the instant-to-instant chemoreception process.