The purpose of the present study was to investigate the conducted Ca(2+) response to local electrical stimulation in isolated rat interlobular arteries. Interlobular arteries were isolated from young Sprague-Dawley rats, loaded with fura 2, and attached to pipettes in a chamber on an inverted microscope. Local electrical pulse stimulation (200 ms, 100 V) was administered by means of an NaCl-filled microelectrode (0.7-1 M(Omega)) juxtaposed to one end of the vessel. Intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) was measured with an image system at a site approximately 500 microm from the location of the electrode. The expression of mRNA for pore-forming units Ca(V)3.1 and Ca(V)3.2 of voltage-sensitive T-type channels was investigated by using RT-PCR. Current stimulation elicited a conducted [Ca(2+)](i) response. A positive electrode (relative to ground) increased [Ca(2+)](i) to 145 +/- 7% of baseline, whereas the response was absent when the electrode was negative. This response was not dependent on perivascular nerves, because the conducted response was unaffected by TTX (1 microM). The conducted [Ca(2+)](i) response was abolished by an ambient Ca(2+) free solution and blunted by nifedipine (1 microM). Rat interlobular arteries exhibited conducted [Ca(2+)](i) response to current stimulation. This response was dependent on Ca(2+) entry. L-type Ca(2+) channels may play a role in this process.