Abstract
1. Uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP)-evoked increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca]i) and release of dopamine were investigated in rat phaeochromocytoma PC12 cells. UTP (1-100 microM) evoked an increase in [Ca]i in a concentration-dependent manner. This response was decreased to about 30% by extracellular Ca(2+)-depletion, but not abolished. This [Ca]i rise was mimicked by 100 microM ATP but not by 100 microM 2-methyl-thio-ATP or alpha,beta-methylene-ATP in the absence of external Ca2+, suggesting that the response was mediated by P2U purinoceptors, a subclass of P2-purinoceptors. 2. The UTP-evoked [Ca]i rise consisted of two components; a transient and a sustained one. When external Ca2+ was removed, the sustained component was abolished while the transient component was decreased by about 70% but did not disappear. These results suggest that UTP induces Ca(2+)-mobilization and, subsequently, Ca(2+)-influx. 3. The UTP-evoked increase in [Ca]i was not affected by Cd2+ (100 and 300 microM) or nicardipine (30 microM), inhibitors of voltage-gated calcium channels, but was significantly inhibited by Zn2+ (10-300 microM) in the presence of external Ca2+. Zn2+, however, did not affect the Ca2+ response to UTP in the absence of external Ca2+. 4. UTP (30 microM-1 mM) evoked the release of dopamine from the cells in a concentration-dependent manner. This dopamine release was abolished by Ca(2+)-depletion or Zn2+ but not by Cd2+ or nicardipine. 5. Taken together, the data demonstrate that UTP stimulates P2U-purinoceptors and induces a rise in [Ca]i both by Ca(2+)-mobilization and Ca(2+)-influx in PC12 cells. The dopamine release evoked by UTP requires external Ca2+ which may enter the cells through pathways sensitive to Zn2+ but insensitive to Cd2+ or nicardipine.