Purinergic receptor stimulation induces calcium oscillations and smooth muscle contraction in small pulmonary veins

摘要

Key points class="unordered" style="list-style-type:disc" id="tjp12968-list-0001">We investigated the excitation–contraction coupling mechanisms in small pulmonary veins (SPVs) in rat precision‐cut lung slices.We found that SPVs contract strongly and reversibly in response to extracellular ATP and other vasoconstrictors, including angiotensin‐II and endothelin‐1.ATP‐induced vasoconstriction in SPVs was associated with the stimulation of purinergic P2Y2 receptors in vascular smooth muscle cell, activation of phospholipase C‐β and the generation of intracellular Ca²⁺ oscillations mediated by cyclic Ca²⁺ release events via the inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor.Active constriction of SPVs may play an important role in the development of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary oedema.