The plasmalemmal Ca(2+) adenosine triphosphatase (PMCA) is a key regulator of Ca(2+) efflux in vascular smooth muscle. In these studies we developed a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) assay for assessing PMCA1 mRNA levels in rat primary cultured aortic myocytes. This assay detected fetal bovine serum-induced increases in PMCA1 mRNA (relative to 18S rRNA) 4, 8, and 24 h after stimulation. Early fetal bovine serum-induced increases in PMCA1 mRNA were insensitive to the Ca(2+) channel blockers nifedipine, flunarizine, and SKF-96365. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of real-time RT-PCR to assess mRNA levels of PMCA1 and illustrate dynamic regulation of this Ca(2+) pump isoform in rat primary cultured aortic myocytes.

Copyright 2000 Academic Press.