Perspective on the role of P2X-purinoceptor activation in human vas deferens contractility

The contractile actions of a,beta-methylene ATP (a,beta-meATP) and ATP and the effects of K+ channel blockers in longitudinal and circular muscles of human vas deferens were investigated with a view to clarifying the functional importance of P2X1-purinoceptor activation and K+ channels in modulating contractility of the tissues. The results provide an experiment-based perspective for resolving differing reports on purinergic activation of the tissues and uncertain roles of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) and voltage-gated delayed rectifier K+ (KV) channels. a,beta-Methylene ATP (3100 mu m) evoked suramin-sensitive contractions of longitudinal muscle but rarely of circular muscle. ATP (0.13 mm) less reliably activated only longitudinal muscle contractions. These were enhanced by ARL 67156 (100 mu m), but a different ectonucleotidase inhibitor, POM 1, was ineffective. Both muscle types were unresponsive to ADP-beta S (100 mu m), a P2Y-purinoceptor agonist. Longitudinal muscle contractions in response to a,beta-meATP were enhanced by FPL 64176 (1 mu m), an L-type Ca2+ agonist, TEA (1 mm), a non-specific K+ channel blocker, 4-aminopyridine (0.3 mm), a selective blocker of KV channels, and iberiotoxin (0.1 mu m), a selective blocker of BKCa channels. Quiescent circular muscles responded to a,beta-meATP reliably in the presence of FPL 64176 or iberiotoxin. Apamin (0.1 mu m), a selective blocker of small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SKCa) channels had no effect in both muscle types. Y-27632 (110 mu m) reduced longitudinal muscle contractions in response to a,beta-meATP, suggesting involvement of Rho-kinase-dependent contractile mechanisms. The results indicate that P2X1-purinoceptor stimulation elicits excitatory effects that: (a) lead to longitudinal muscle contraction and secondary activation of 4-aminopyridine-sensitive (KV) and iberiotoxin-sensitive (BKCa) K+ channels; and (b) are subcontractile in circular muscle due to ancillary activation of BKCa channels. The novel finding of differential action by P2X1-purinoceptor agonists in the muscle types has functional implication in terms of the purinergic contribution to overall contractile function of human vas deferens. The modulatory effects of KV and BKCa channels following P2X1-purinoceptor activation may be pivotal in providing the crucial physiological mechanism that ensures temporal co-ordination of longitudinal and circular muscle contractility.