The dihydropyridine receptors (DHPRs)/L-type Ca2+ channels of skeletal muscle are coupled with ryanodine receptors/Ca2+ release channels (RyRs/CRCs) located in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The DHPR is the voltage sensor for excitation-contraction (EC) coupling and the charge movement component q gamma has been implicated as the signal linking DHPR voltage sensing to Ca2+ release from the coupled RyR. Recently, a new charge component, qh, has been described and related to L-type Ca2+ channel gating. Evidence has also been provided that the coupled RyR/CRC can modulate DHPR functions via a retrograde signal. Our aim was to investigate whether the newly described qh is also involved in the reciprocal interaction or cross-talk between DHPR/L-type Ca2+ channel and RyR/CRC. To this end we interfered with DHPR/L-type Ca2+ channel function using nifedipine and 1-alkanols (heptanol and octanol), and with RyR/CRC function using ryanodine and ruthenium red (RR). Intramembrane charge movement (ICM) and L-type Ca2+ current (ICa) were measured in single cut fibres of the frog using the double-Vaseline-gap technique. Our records showed that nifedipine reduced the amount of q gamma and qh moved by approximately 90% and approximately 55%, respectively, whereas 1-alkanols completely abolished them. Ryanodine and RR shifted the transition voltages of q gamma and qh and of the maximal conductance of ICa by approximately 4-9 mV towards positive potentials. All these interventions spared q beta. These results support the hypothesis that only q gamma; and qh arise from the movement of charged particles within the DHPR/L-type Ca2+ channel and that these charge components together with ICa are affected by a retrograde signal from RyR/CRC.
Animals Calcium Channels, L-Type