Protein kinase C plays no role in KCl-induced vascular contraction in Ca(2+)-free medium.

AIM: To examine the role of protein kinase C (PKC) on the sustained contractile responses of rat aorta to high KCl in isotonic Ca(2+)- and Mg(2+)-free solutions. METHODS: The effects of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, a PKC activator) and Calphostin C (a selective PKC inhibitor) were observed on the sustained contraction of rat aorta induced by K+ 136 mmol.L-1. EGTA (100 mumol.L-1) was added to prepare the Ca(2+)-free medium and EDTA (100 …