A probable role of dihydropyridine receptors in repression of Ca2+ sparks demonstrated in cultured mammalian muscle

To activate skeletal muscle contraction, action potentials must be sensed by dihydropyridine receptors (DHPRs) in the T tubule, which signal the Ca2+ release channels or ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) to open. We demonstrate here an inhibitory effect of the T tubule on the production of sparks of Ca2+ release. Murine primary cultures were confocally imaged for Ca2+ detection and T tubule visualization. After 72 h of differentiation, T tubules extended from the periphery for less than one-third of the myotube radius. Spontaneous Ca2+ sparks were found away from the region of cells where tubules were found. Immunostaining showed RyR1 and RyR3 isoforms in all areas, implying inhibition of both isoforms by a T tubule component. To test for a role of DHPRs in this inhibition, we imaged myotubes from dysgenic mice (mdg) that lack DHPRs. These exhibited T tubule development similar to that of normal myotubes, but produced few sparks, even in regions where tubules were absent. To increase spark frequency, a high-Ca2+ saline with 1 mM caffeine was used. Wildtype cells in this saline plus 50 mu M nifedipine retained the topographic suppression pattern of sparks, but dysgenic cells in high-Ca2+ saline did not. Shifted excitation and emission ratios of indo-1 in the cytosol or mag-indo-1 in the SR were used to image [Ca2+] in these compartments. Under the conditions of interest, wild-type and mdg cells had similar levels of free [Ca2+] in cytosol and SR. These data suggest that DHPRs play a critical role in reducing the rate of spontaneous opening of Ca2+ release channels and/or their susceptibility to Ca2+-induced activation, thereby suppressing the production of Ca2+ sparks.