Role of intracellular Ca2+ stores in the inhibitory effect of halothane on airway smooth muscle contraction.

BACKGROUND

Halothane directly inhibits contraction of airway smooth muscle, mainly by decreasing the intracellular concentration of free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). The role of intracellular Ca2+ stores, sarcoplasmic reticulum, is still unclear. We investigated the role of sarcoplasmic reticulum in the inhibitory effect of halothane on contraction of airway smooth muscle by measuring [Ca2+]i and intracellular concentration of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate ([IP3]i), a second messenger for release of Ca2+ from sarcoplasmic reticulum.

METHODS

[Ca2+]i was monitored by measuring the 500-nm light emission ratio (F340/F380) of a Ca2+ indicator fura-2 with isometric tension of canine tracheal smooth muscle strip. During Ca2+-free conditions, carbachol (10(-5) M) was introduced with pretreatment of halothane (0-3%). During Ca2+-free conditions, 20 mM caffeine, a Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release channel opener, was introduced with or without halothane. We measured [IP3]i during exposure to carbachol and halothane by radioimmunoassay technique.

RESULTS

Pretreatment with halothane significantly diminished carbachol-induced increases in [Ca2+]i by 77% and muscle tension by 83% in a dose-dependent manner. Simultaneous administration of halothane significantly enhanced caffeine-induced transient increases in [Ca2+]i and muscle tension in a dose-dependent manner, by 97% and 69%, respectively. Pretreatment with halothane abolished these responses. Rapid increase in [IP3]i produced by carbachol was significantly inhibited by 32% by halothane in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

Halothane, during Ca2+-free conditions, inhibits transient contraction of airway smooth muscle induced by muscarinic receptor stimulation, mainly by attenuating the increase in [Ca2+]i. Depletion of Ca2+ from sarcoplasmic reticulum via Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release channels also may contribute to the attenuation of the increase in [Ca2+]i by halothane.