ORGANIC CA2+-ANTAGONIST-RESISTANT RESPONSE TO FMRF-NH2 ON THE MOLLUSCAN SMOOTH-MUSCLE

1. FMRF-amide (10(-7)-10(-5) M) contracted molluscan anterior byssus retractor muscle in a concentration-dependent fashion. 2. The concentration-response curve of FMRF-amide was shifted rightward by an analogue of FMRF-amide, FMRf-amide ([D-Phe4]FMRF-amide, putative FMRF-amide receptor antagonist) in a parallel manner (pA2 = 4.87 +/- 0.04). 3. Although a contractile response to KCl was reduced by the organic Ca2+ antagonists (verapamil, diltiazem and high concentration of nifedipine and nicardipine). FMRF-amide-induced contraction was not markedly reduced by them. 4. In the Ca2+-free medium, FMRF-amide-induced contraction was diminished. The response was also reduced by TMB-8 (10(-4) M), suggesting that FMRF-amide-induced contraction might be partly dependent on intracellular Ca2+. 5. An inorganic Ca2+-antagonist, MnCl2, markedly reduced the FMRF-amide- and KCl-induced contraction. The results show that FMRF-amide-induced contraction might be dependent on extracellular Ca2+. 6. These findings suggest that FMRF-amide-induced contraction might be mediated through an action on FMRF-amide receptors and not through the activation of organic Ca2+ antagonist-sensitive Ca2+ channels.