V1a vasopressin-induced accumulation of inositol trisphosphate in cultured rat aortic myocytes; modulation by protein kinase C.

Arginine vasopressin stimulated the accumulation of labeled inositol phosphate in cultured rat aortic myocytes prelabeled with tritiated myo-inositol. This accumulation was prevented by pretreating the myocytes with the phorbol ester PMA. The time-course and concentration-effect curves were similar for inositol phosphate formation in myocytes and contractile effects on isolated aorta. Vasopressin agonists also stimulated inositol phosphate formation, whereas vasopressin-induced response could be inhibited by V1a-specific antagonists. These results suggest that stimulation of inositol phosphate formation in myocytes is due to V1a receptor activation and could be modulated by protein-kinase-C-mediated mechanisms.