CELLULAR MECHANISMS OF VASOPRESSIN AND ENDOTHELIN TO MOBILIZE [MG2+]I IN VASCULAR SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS

The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) on cytosolic free Mg2+ ([Mg2+]i) in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). [Mg2+]i was measured using the fluorescence indicator dye mag-fura-2. AVP and ET-1 at a concentration of 1 x 10(-9) M or higher induced the mobilization of [Mg2+]i and cytosolic free Ca2+([Ca2+]i) in a dose-dependent manner in rat VSMC. Atrial natriuretic peptide and sodium nitroprusside producing cellular guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate did not affect [Mg2+]i and [Ca2+]i. A diterpene activator of adenylate cyclase, forskolin, also did not alter [Mg2+]i and [Ca2+]i. The removal of extracellular Mg2+ enhanced the AVP-mobilized [Ca2+]i and did not change the AVP-mobilized [Mg2+]i. The Ca2+-free and nominally Mg2+/Ca2+-free states decreased the AVP-mobilized [Mg2+]i and [Ca2+]i. The Na+-free state enhanced the sustained, but not peak, level of the AVP-mobilized [Mg2+]i. These results indicate that AVP and ET-1 mobilize [Mg2+]i mediated through their intracellular second messenger [Ca2+]i and independent of extracellular Mg2+. Also, an increase in [Mg2+]i is indicated to stimulate the Na+-Mg2+ exchange to increase cellular Mg2+ efflux.