The role of signal transducing guanine-nucleotide binding proteins (G-
proteins) in alpha1-receptor mediated smooth muscle contractions was i
nvestigated in human hyperplastic prostatic tissue. The selective alph
a1-receptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) evoked dose dependent contracti
ons antagonized by the alpha1-receptor blockers prazosin (EC50 10nM) a
nd YM617 (EC50 3 nM). Application of nifedipine (1-10,000 nM), a block
er of voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+-channels (VDCC), inhibited the PE
evoked contraction up to 65.4%. Pretreating the tissue strips with per
tussis toxin (PTX, exotoxin from Bordetella pertussis; 5-25 mug/ml), i
nactivating a subpopulation of G-proteins, inhibited the PE induced co
ntractions up to 73.9%. PTX pretreatment had no effect on contractions
elicited by 125 mM K+. Application of nifedipine to PTX pretreated ti
ssue led to an additional inhibition of 13.7%. Our findings demonstrat
e the involvement of PTX-sensitive G-proteins in the signal transducti
on pathway of alpha1-receptor induced contractions of prostatic smooth
muscle. The remaining contractility of PTX pretreated tissue suggests
additional participation of PTX insensitive mechanisms in alpha1-rece
ptor mediated prostatic smooth muscle contractions.