STAUROSPORINE AND H7 ATTENUATE ETHANOL-INDUCED ELEVATION IN [CA2-MUSCLE CELLS(](I) IN CULTURED CANINE CEREBRAL VASCULAR SMOOTH)

Chronic exposure of cultured canine cerebral vascular smooth muscle ce lls to ethanol (10-400 mM) for 1-5 days resulted in significant concen tration-dependent elevation in resting intracellular free calcium ([Ca 2+]i) levels. Preincubation of these cultured vascular cells with inhi bitors of protein kinase C (PKC), staurosporine and H7, induced no app arent changes from the control resting levels of [Ca2+](i). However, t he increases of [Ca2+](i) clue to ethanol treatment were attenuated ma rkedly by staurosporine and H7. Our data suggest that activation of PK C: plays an important role in ethanol's action in producing a sustaine d rise in [Ca2+](i) in cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells. Activati on of PKC could thus play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of alcoho l-induced cerebral ischemia and stroke. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.