Ca2+ effluxes from the sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles of frog muscle: effects of cyclopiazonic acid and thapsigargin.

Ca2+ efflux from frog muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles was studied by measuring external free [Ca2+] using Fluo-3 fluorescence. Light SR vesicles were preloaded with Ca2+ in the presence of ATP and inorganic phosphate (Pi). Calcium pump reversal was activated by either depletion of the medium ATP by apyrase in the presence of 20 mM Pi, or resuspending preloaded vesicles in an ATP-free solution containing 1 mM ADP and 20 mM Pi. Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) and thapsigargin (TG), at concentrations of 2.5 microM, which completely inhibit Ca2+ uptake, both inhibited the pump reversal efflux almost completely. When active Ca2+ uptake was stopped by either ATP-depletion or addition of CPA, a leak efflux of 6-7 nmole/mg/min was recorded. TG (2.5 microM) reduced this leak by over 50%, suggesting that TG, but not CPA, can slow the passage of calcium ions through the Ca(2+)-ATPase passive channel.