The aim of this study was to investigate the role of extracellular Ca2+ utilization in cholecystokinin (CCK) and acetylcholine-induced guinea pig gallbladder contractions by using agents that modulate influx of extracellular Ca2+ through voltage-dependent calcium channels.
Methods: Guinea pig gallbladder muscle strips were studied isometrically at Lmax in vitro.
Results: (1) Acetylcholine and CCK caused dose-dependent contractions, with EDmax of 10(-4) and 10(-6) M, respectively. (2) Preventing influx of extracellular Ca2+ by incubation in Ca(2+)-free/0.1 mM EGTA solution inhibited the acetylcholine (10(-4) M)-induced contraction by 60 +/- 3% compared to only 46 +/- 5% (P < 0.05) for CCK (10(-6) M)-induced contraction. (3) Nifedipine (3 microM) inhibited the response to acetylcholine (10(-4) M) by 54 +/- 3%, compared to only 34 +/- 3% (P < 0.01) for CCK (10(-6) M). (4) Bay K 8644 (10(-7) M) significantly increased (P < 0.05) the contractile responses to low doses of each agonist: acetylcholine (10(-6) M) by 121 +/- 44% and CCK (10(-9) M) by 94 +/- 31%, but had no effect on the contraction to the EDmax of each agonist.
Conclusions: These studies demonstrate: (1) acetylcholine and CCK cause guinea pig gallbladder contraction by both intracellular Ca2+ release and influx of extracellular Ca2+ through voltage-dependent calcium channels; (2) the CCK-induced contraction is more dependent on intracellular Ca2+ than is acetylcholine; and (3) acetylcholine and CCK-induced contractions can by modulated by manipulating influx of extracellular Ca2+ through voltage-dependent calcium channels.