Noradrenaline, vasopressin and angiotensin increase Ca2+ influx by opening a common pool of Ca2+ channels in isolated rat liver cells

The effects of the Ca2+-mobilizing hormones noradrenaline, vasopressin and angiotensin on the unidirectional influx of Ca2+ were investigated in isolated rat liver cells by measuring the initial rate of 45Ca2+ uptake. The three hormones increased Ca2+ influx, with EC50 values (concentrations giving half-maximal effect) of 0.15 microM, 0.44 nM and 0.8 nM for noradrenaline, vasopressin and angiotensin respectively. The actions of noradrenaline and angiotensin were evident within seconds after their addition to the cells, whereas the increase in Ca2+ influx initiated by vasopressin was slightly delayed (by 5-15s). The activation of Ca2+ influx was maintained as long as the receptor was occupied by the hormone. The measurement of the resting and hormone-stimulated Ca2+ influxes at different external Ca2+ concentrations revealed Michaelis-Menten-type kinetics compatible with a saturable channel model. Noradrenaline, vasopressin and angiotensin increased both Km and Vmax. of Ca2+ influx. It is proposed that the hormones increase the rate of translocation of Ca2+ through a common pool of Ca2+ channels without changing the number of available channels or their affinity for Ca2+.