Caveolin-1 and caveolin-3 regulate Ca2+ homeostasis of single smooth muscle cells from rat cerebral resistance arteries

The role of caveolins, signature proteins of caveolae, in arterial Ca2+ regulation is unknown. We investigated modulation of Ca2+ homeostasis by caveolin-1 and caveolin-3 using smooth muscle cells from rat cerebral resistance arteries. Membrane current and Ca2+ transients were simultaneously measured with voltage-clamped single cells. Membrane depolarization triggered Ca2+ current and increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). After repolarization, elevated [Ca2+]i returned to the resting level. Ca2+ removal rate was determined from the declining phase of the Ca2+ transient. Application of caveolin-1 antibody or caveolin-1 scaffolding domain peptide, corresponding to amino acid residues 82–101 of caveolin-1, significantly slowed Ca2+ removal rate at a measured [Ca2+]i of 250 nM, with little effect at a measured [Ca2+]i of 600 nM. Application of caveolin-3 antibody or caveolin-3 scaffolding domain peptide, corresponding to amino acid residues 55–74 of caveolin-3, also significantly slowed Ca2+ r...