EFFECTS OF HALOTHANE AND ISOFLURANE ON CYTOSOLIC CALCIUM-ION CONCENTRATIONS AND CONTRACTION IN THE VASCULAR SMOOTH-MUSCLE OF THE RAT AORTA

Background. Halothane and isoflurane have been reported to suppress the contraction of vascular smooth muscle, although the exact mechanism has not been explained fully. This study examined the effect of halothane and isoflurane on cytosolic calcium ion (Ca2+) concentrations ([Ca2+]cyt), which was measured simultaneously with muscle tension in the vascular smooth muscle of the rat aorta to improve the understanding of the anesthetic's effect on vascular smooth muscle. Methods. Isolated spiral strips of rat thoracic aorta were suspended for isometric tension recordings in physiologic salt solution. The [Ca2+]cyt was measured concomitantly by using fura-2-Ca2+ fluorescence. During exposure to 0%, 1%, 2%, or 3% halothane or 0%, 2%, or 4% isoflurane, increases in muscle tension and [Ca2+]cyt induced by 32.8 mm K+ or 30 nm norepinephrine were measured and compared with the reference values. In the other series, the 3% halothane-induced increase in [Ca2+]cyt was measured in Ca2+-free solution without and with a pretreatment of ryanodine, caffeine, or norepinephrine. Results. Halothane and isoflurane increased resting-state [Ca2+]cyt, although only 3% halothane elicited a transient increase in muscle tension during the resting state. By contrast, both anesthetic agents attenuated the high K+- and norepinephrine-induced increases in [Ca2+]cyt and muscle tension in a concentration-dependent manner. During 3% halothane or 4% isoflurane exposure, the pretreatment of the muscle strip with a 10(-6)-M dose of Bay K 8644 augmented the high K+-induced increase in [Ca2+]cyt to the level observed in the control (0% anesthetic exposure) state. However, the increase in muscle tension in the presence of Bay K 8644 was low; it was still attenuated from the control level during 3% halothane or 4% isoflurane administration. These results indicate that, not only [Ca2+]cyt-dependent, but also [Ca2+]cyt-independent, mechanisms are involved in the anesthetic-induced suppression of smooth muscle contraction. A 3% halothane-induced increase in [Ca2+]cyt was observed in the Ca2+-free solution even when the muscle strip was pretreated with a 10(-6)-M dose of ryanodine and a 20-mm dose of caffeine, whereas it was abolished completely after the muscle strip was pretreated with ryanodine, caffeine, and 100 nm norepinephrine. These results indicate that halothane can release Ca2+ from an intracellular Ca2+ store other than the caffeine-releasable site. Conclusions. Halothane and isoflurane have multiple effects on the [Ca2+]cyt and induce [Ca2+]cyt-dependent and [Ca2+]cyt-independent suppression of the contraction in the vascular smooth muscle.