P2X1 receptors mediate sympathetic postjunctional Ca2+ transients in mesenteric small arteries

Brief, spatially localized Ca2+ transients occur in the smooth muscle adjacent to perivascular nerves of small arteries during neurogenic contractions. We named these junctional Ca2+ transients (jCaTs) and postulated that they arose from Ca2+ entering smooth muscle cells through P2X(1) receptors activated by neurally released ATP. Nevertheless, the lack of potent, subtype-selective P2X-receptor antagonists made determining the exact molecular identity of the channels difficult. Here we used small, pressurized mesenteric arteries from P2X(1)-receptor-deficient mice ( KO) to test the hypothesis that jCaTs arise from Ca2+ entering the smooth muscle cell via P2X(1) receptors. In wild-type (WT) arteries, confocal microscopy of fluo-4 fluorescence during electrical field stimulation (EFS) of perivascular sympathetic nerves revealed jCaTs in the smooth muscle cells adjacent to the perivascular nerves, similar to those reported previously in rat arteries, and alpha-latrotoxin (2.5 nM) markedly increased the frequency of spontaneous jCaTs. In the KO arteries, however, neither EFS nor alpha-latrotoxin elicited any jCaTs. A potent P2X-receptor agonist, alpha,beta- methylene ATP (10.0 mu M), elicited strong contractions and increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration in WT arteries but elicited neither in KO arteries. A biphasic vasoconstriction in response to EFS was observed in WT arteries. In KO arteries, however, the initial rapid, transient component of the biphasic vasoconstriction was absent. The data support the hypothesis that jCaTs represent Ca2+ that enters the smooth muscle cells through P2X(1) receptors activated by neurally released ATP and that this Ca2+ is involved in the initial rapid component of the sympathetic neurogenic contraction.