Changes in membrane potential and phosphoinositides during alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation in smooth muscle cells of guinea-pig taenia caeci

The effect of a submaximal concentration of adrenaline (3-5 microM) was studied in taenia caeci smooth muscle cells. Membrane potential hyperpolarization was observed in intact muscle preparations and this response could be separated into two phases, depending on the state of a membrane-bound calcium compartment. The effect of alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation was also measured by [3H]inositol incorporation into phospholipid and inositol phosphate fractions of taenia cell suspensions both in the absence and presence of 2.5 mM extracellular calcium. In the absence of extracellular calcium the inositol phospholipids increased within 15 s after stimulation, followed by enhanced inositol phosphates. With calcium present there was a biphasic increase in the phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) fraction with a simultaneous release of inositol phosphates. Lithium ions affected the incorporation of label into the lipids but not into the inositol phosphate fractions. These findings suggest that, in taenia caeci cells, alpha 1-adrenergic-induced membrane hyperpolarization resulting in muscle relaxation is associated with changes in the PIP2 content.