GENISTEIN INHIBITS CONTRACTILE FORCE, INTRACELLULAR Ca2+ INCREASE AND Ca2+ OSCILLATIONS INDUCED BY SEROTONIN IN RAT AORTIC SMOOTH MUSCLE

FRANCISCO SPERONI; ALEJANDRO REBOLLEDO; SILVIA SALEMME; MARÍA CRISTINA AÑÓN; FRANCO TANZI; VERÓNICA MILESI

JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

Año: 2007 vol. 63 p. 143 - 152

1138-7548

The soy-derived isoflavones genistein and daidzein affect the contractile state ofdifferent kinds of smooth muscle. We describe acute effects of genistein and daidzeinon contractile force and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in in situ smoothmuscle of rat aorta. Serotonin (5-HT) (2 µM) or a depolarizing high K+ solution producedthe contraction of aortic rings, which were immediately relaxed by 20 µMgenistein and by 20 µM daidzein. Accordingly, both 5-HT and a high K+ solutionincreased the [Ca2+]i in in situ smooth muscle cells. Genistein strongly inhibited the[Ca2+]i increase evoked by 5-HT (74.0 ± 7.3%, n=11, p<0.05), and had a smallereffect on high K+ induced [Ca2+]i increase (19.9 ± 4.0%, n=7, p<0.05). The K+ channelsblocker tetraethylammonium (TEA) (0.5 mM) diminished genistein effects on 5-HT-induced [Ca2+]i increase. Interestingly, during prolonged application of 5-HT,the [Ca2+]i oscillated and a short (90 s) preincubation with genistein (20 µM) significantlydiminished the frequency of the oscillations. This effect was totally abolishedby TEA. In conclusion, in rat aortic smooth muscle, genistein is capable of diminishingthe increase in [Ca2+]i and in force evoked by 5-HT and high K+ solution, andof decreasing the frequency of [Ca2+]i oscillations induced by 5-HT. The short timerequired by genistein, and the relaxing effect of daidzein suggest that tyrosine kinasesinhibition is not involved. The small inhibiting effect of genistein on the [Ca2+]iincrease evoked by high K+ and the effect of TEA point to the activation by genisteinof calcium-activated K+ channels.Key words: Genistein, Rat aorta, Serotonin, Intracellular Ca2+.