Ryanodine receptor subtypes regulate Ca2+ sparks/spontaneous transient outward currents and myogenic tone of uterine arteries in pregnancy.

Our recent study demonstrated that increased Ca2+ sparks and spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) played an important role in uterine vascular tone and haemodynamic adaptation to pregnancy. The present study examined the role of ryanodine receptor (RyR) subtypes in regulating Ca2+ sparks/STOCs and myogenic tone in uterine arterial adaptation to pregnancy. Uterine arteries isolated from non-pregnant and near-term pregnant sheep were used in the present study. Pregnancy increased the association of α and β1 subunits of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels and enhanced the co-localization of RyR1 and RyR2 with the β1 subunit in the uterine artery. In contrast, RyR3 was not co-localized with BKCa β1 subunit. Knockdown of RyR1 or RyR2 in uterine arteries of pregnant sheep downregulated the β1 but not α subunit of the BKCa channel and decreased the association of α and β1 subunits. Unlike RyR1 and RyR2, knockdown of RyR3 had no significant effect on either expression or association of BKCa subunits. In addition, knockdown of RyR1 or RyR2 significantly decreased Ca2+ spark frequency, suppressed STOCs frequency and amplitude, and increased pressure-dependent myogenic tone in uterine arteries of pregnant animals. RyR3 knockdown did not affect Ca2+ sparks/STOCs and myogenic tone in the uterine artery. Together, the present study demonstrates a novel mechanistic paradigm of RyR subtypes in the regulation of Ca2+ sparks/STOCs and uterine vascular tone, providing new insights into the mechanisms underlying uterine vascular adaptation to pregnancy.