The T-tubule membrane ATP-operated P2X4 receptor influences contractility of skeletal muscle.

Evidence indicates that extracellular ATP may have relevant functions in skeletal muscle, even though the physiological role and distribution of specific signaling pathway elements are not well known. The present work shows that P2X(4) receptor, an extracellular ATP-regulated cell membrane channel permeable to Ca2+, is expressed in several tissues of the rat, including skeletal muscle. A specific antibody detected a protein band of similar to 60 kDa. Immunofluorescence demonstrated that P2X(4) has an intracellular localization, and confocal analysis revealed that the receptor colocalizes with the T-tubule membrane DHP receptor. Considering that the natural agonist of P2X(4) is ATP, we explored if changes of extracellular ATP levels could occur in contracting skeletal muscle to regulate the channel. In vitro experiments showed that substantial ATP is released and rapidly hydrolyzed after electrical stimulation of rat muscle fibers. Results show that the presence of ATP-degrading enzymes (hexokinase/apyrase), inhibitors of P2X receptors or Ca2+-free conditions, all abolished the progressive twitch tension potentiation produced in soleus muscle by low-frequency (0.05 Hz) stimulation. These data reveal that ATP-mediated Ca2+ entry, most likely through P2X(4) receptor, may play an important role in modulating the contractility of skeletal muscle.