1. Endothelial cell activation is correlated with increased cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, often monitored with cytoplasmic Ca2+ dyes, such as fura-2 and Calcium Green-1. We tested the hypothesis that during weak stimulation of porcine coronary artery endothelial cells, focal, subplasmalemmal Ca2+ elevations occur which are controlled by cell membrane Na+ - Ca2+ exchange near mitochondrial membrane and superficial endoplasmic reticulum (SER). 2. Bulk Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](b)) was monitored using fura-2 or Calcium Green-1 and subplasmalemmal Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](sp)) was determined with FFP-18. The distribution of the SER network was estimated using laser scanning and deconvolution microscopy. 3. Sodium fluoride (10 mmol l(-1)) and submaximal concentrations of bradykinin (Bk; 1 nmol l(-1)) stimulated Ca2+ entry with no increase in [Ca2+](b). Although inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate Ca2+ release in response to both stimuli were similar, Ca2+ entry in formation ana intracellular va response to NaF exceeded that in response to 1 nmol l(-1) Bk by fourfold, suggesting additional 2+ entry pathways but stimulation via intracellular Ca2+ release. effects of NaF on Ca2+ 4. Prevention of Na+ - Ca2+ exchange activity by decreasing extracellular Na+ unmasked intracellular Ca2+ release in response to NaF and 1 nmol l(-1) Bk, indicated by an increase in [Ca2+](b). Thereby; NaF depleted Bk-releasable Ca2+ pools, while mitochondrial Ca2+ content (released with FCCP or oligomycin) and the amount of Ca2+ stored within the cells (released with ionomycin) was increased compared with cells treated with NaF under normal Na+ conditions. The NaF-initiated increase in [Ca2+](b) and depletion of Bk-releasable Ca2+ pool(s) in the low-N+ condition was diminished by 25 mu mol l(-1) ryanodine, indicating the involvement of Ca2+ induced Ca2+ release (CICR). 5. In simultaneous recordings of [Ca2+](sp) (with FFP-18) and [Ca2+](b) (with Calcium Green-1), 1 nmol l(-1) Bk or 10 mmol l(-1) NaF yielded focal [Ca2+] elevation in the subplasmalemmal region with no increase in the perinuclear area. 6. Treatment with 10 mu mol l(-1) nocodazole caused the SER to collapse and unmasked Ca2+ release in response to 1 nmol l(-1) Bk and 10 mmol l(-1) while the effect of thapsigargin was not changed. f conditions, 7. These data show that in endothelial cells, focal, subplasmalemmal Ca2+ elevations in response to small or slow IF, formation occur due to vectorial Ca2+ release from the SER towards the plasmalemma followed by Ca2+ extrusion by Na+-Ca2+ exchange. While these local Ca2+ elevations are not detectable with Ca2+ dyes for the determination of [Ca2+](b), prevention of Ca2+ extrusion or SER disruption yields increases in [Ca2+](b) partially due to CICR. 8. All of the data support our hypothesis that in weakly stimulated endothelial cells, intracellular Ca2+ release and [Ca2+] elevation are limited to the subplasmalemmal region. We propose that the SER co-operates with associated parts of the plasma membrane to control Ca2+ homeostasis, Ca2+ distribution and Ca2+ entry The existence of such a subplasmalemmal Ca2+ control unit (SCCU) needs to be considered in discussions of Ca2+ signalling, especially when cytoplasmic Ca2+ dyes, such as fura-2 or Calcium Green-1, are used.
