To investigate the effect of endothelin on intracellular free calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) mobilization and the existence of the endothelin receptor in cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells(BCEC), endothelin-1(ET-1) -induced [Ca(2+)]i increase was measuredby using calcium sensitive indicator, fura-2/AM, and the studies on its desensitizaton and receptor antagonists were also performed. ET-1 increased [Ca(2+)]i in a concentration-dependent manner(10(-9)M-10(-5)M) and ET-1 -unduced [Ca(2+)]i transient increase was significantly ingibited (~50%) by the pretreatment with EGTA for 1 min. Similarly, neomycin also attenuated ET-1 -unduced [Ca(2+)]i transient increase in a concentration-dependent mannet. Desensitizatin study with successive treatment of ET-1 and ET-3, and the experiments of antagonists(BQ-610 for the ET(A) receptor and BQ-788 for the ET(B) receptor) showed the presence of ET(B) receptor in BCEC. In addition, ET-1(10(-6)M) accumulated inositol trisphosphate about two folds (310+/-6.8 cpm) comparing to control(154+/-11.6 cpm) and this accumulation was significantly inhibited by the treatment with neomycin (187+/-28 cpm). These results suggest that endothelin-induced calcium mobilization is receptor-mediated response and TE(B) receptor exists in BCEC.
Calcium* ; Egtazic Acid ; Endothelins ; Endothelium, Corneal* ; Inositol ; Neomycin ; Receptors, Endothelin