Evidence that the Ca2+ inflow pathway in hepatocytes stimulated by thapsigargin is similar to that activated by vasopressin

Experiments were conducted to characterize the thapsigargin-stimulated plasma membrane Ca2+ inflow pathway in hepatocytes. Ca2+ inflow was estimated by measurement of the initial rate of activation of glycogen phosphorylase a following the addition of Ca2+ to cells previously incubated in the absence of added Ca2+. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with thapsigargin caused a substantial stimulation of the rate of Ca2+ activation of glycogen phosphorylase a. This was interpreted to reflect a stimulation of plasma membrane Ca2+ inflow. The effect of thapsigargin on plasma membrane Ca2+ inflow was approximately 65% of the magnitude of the effect caused by vasopressin. When thapsigargin and vasopressin were combined as a stimulus, the degree of stimulation was similar to that caused by vasopressin alone. The thapsigargin-induced stimulation of the rate of Ca2+ activation of glycogen phosphorylase a was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by both Zn2+ and 1-(beta-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propoxy]-4-methoxyphenethyl)-1H-imidazole hydrochloride (SK&F 96365). The concentration of each agent required for half-maximal inhibition was approximately 20 microM. It is concluded from: (i) the apparent lack of additivity in the responses of thapsigargin and vasopressin, and (ii) the sensitivity to inhibitors, that the Ca2+ inflow pathway in hepatocytes stimulated by thapsigargin is likely to be similar to that which is activated by vasopressin.