Difference between the effects of atrial natriuretic peptide and calcium antagonist on cytosolic free calcium in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

The effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) was studied in monolayers of cultured vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells loaded with a fluorescent calcium indicator, fura-2. ANP (atriopeptin III, 10(-8) M) decreased the resting level of [Ca2+]i and sustained rises in [Ca2+]i following peak levels induced by vasoconstrictive hormones (angiotensin II or vasopressin). ANP also decreased a rise in [Ca2+]i induced by high potassium (high K+) depolarization. The initial rise in [Ca2+]i induced by vasopressin was not inhibited by ANP. On the other hand, calcium antagonists (nicardipine or nifedipine) inhibited the high K+-induced rise in [Ca2+]i, whereas there was no effect on rises in [Ca2+]i induced by vasopressin. These results suggest that calcium antagonists inhibit voltage-dependent calcium channels, while ANP can decrease [Ca2+]i presumably through a stimulation of calcium-extrusion active transports in vascular smooth muscle cells.