Regulation of coronary artery tone in relation to the activation of signal transductors that regulate calcium homeostasis

Muscle tone of coronary arteries is regulated by free calcium concentration in the myoplasm. Various agonists, autacoids and putative peptides modify the calcium concentration directly or through actions of second messengers (signal transductors), such as cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP), inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, diacylgly-cerol or calmodulin. For example, acetylcholine (in the presence of intact endothelium cells), alpha-human natriuretic peptide or nitrate compounds increase the amount of cyclic GMP and isoproterenol, prostacyclin (prostaglandin I₂) or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide increases cyclic AMP. Both cyclic nucleotides reduce free calcium concentration. On the other hand, acetylcholine (in the presence or absence of endothelium cells), norepinephrine or thromboxane A2 increases inositol 1,4,5-tris-phosphate and diacylglycerol, thus causing the increase in the free calcium concentration, whereas vasoactive intestinal peptide and alpha-human natriuretic peptide reduce them. Calmodulin acts as an internal calcium receptor for regulation of the contractile machinary. Regulation of calcium homeostasis in relation to the muscle tone in the coronary arteries including other vascular tissues is discussed together with the role of second messengers.