[IP3-sensitive Ca(2+)-channels of endoplasmic reticulum in secretory cells of the rat exorbital lacrimal gland].

The role of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate of (IP3)-sensitive Ca2+ channels in Ca2+ homeostasis maintenance under activation of M-cholinergic receptors and P2Y receptors in the secretory cells of the rat lacrimal gland was investigated. The study was carried out on intact and permeabilized secretory cells of exorbital lacrimal glands of rats. The cells were isolated using the modified Herzog, Sides, Miller method (1976) and permeabilized with digitonin (50 mg per 0.5 million cells). The functioning of the Ca(2+)-transport systems was estimated by changes of Ca2+ content in the studied cells, which was determined by the spectrophotometric method using arsenazo III. It was shown that IP3-sensitive Ca2+ channels (IP3Rs) of investigated cells are directly inhibited by 2-APB (10 microM/l). On the other hand, the channels are activated by IP3, cholinomimetic (carbacholine) and purine receptor agonist (ATP). When both M-cholinergic receptors and P2Y receptors were activated Ca2+ was released from the same IP3-sensitive store because the effects of ATP and carbacholine at high concentrations (1mM/l and 10 microM/l, respectively) on the Ca2+ content were non-additive. The presence of the store-operated Ca(2+)-channels in secretory cells of the lacrimal gland is confirmed by the observed increase of cellular Ca2+ content as a result of Ca2+ mobilization from the store by carbacholine or thapsigargin and following restoration of Ca2+ concentration in the extracellular solution.