M(2)-SPECIFIC MUSCARINIC CHOLINERGIC RECEPTOR-MEDIATED INHIBITION OF CARDIAC REGULATORY PROTEIN-PHOSPHORYLATION

Acetylcholine acting via muscarinic cholinoceptors decreased phosphorylation of phospholamban and troponin I without reducing adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels or cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio in the presence of 10-100 nM isoproterenol in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. The effect of acetylcholine was more pronounced when adenosine deaminase (5 U/ml) was present and incubation period was short (10 s). Okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase activity, blocked the acetylcholine-mediated inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated phosphorylation of phospholamban. It is suggested that acetylcholine reduces protein phosphorylation by a cAMP-independent mechanism in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.