The mechanism of aluminumfloride (AlF)-induced Ca2+ sensitization was explored in alpha-toxin-permeabilized rabbit mesenteric artery. In the presence of 0.18 microM Ca2+ and deferoxamine, a strong chelator of aluminum (Al3+), fluoride (F-; applied in the form of NaF) induced very slow tension development, while in the presence of tracer levels of Al3+ tension developed rapidly possibly due to formation of Al-F complexes (especially AlF4-). As a result, AlF significantly shifted the relationship between tension development and free Ca2+ concentration in the Ca(2+)-EGTA buffer (pCa-tension curve) to the left. The rate of the tension development also depended on the EGTA concentration: increasing the EGTA concentration from 0.5 to 10 mM markedly decreased the maximal rate of contraction ((dT/dt)max), probably due to chelation of Al3+ by EGTA, without effect on the maximal tension (delta Tmax). The AlF-induced Ca2+ sensitization could be reversed by extensive washing with relaxing solution (pCa greater than 8), in contrast to the contractions induced by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma s; a non-hydrolyzable GTP analogue) or phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) which were irreversible. However, the action of all the compounds appeared to be mediated through a H-7 (1-[5-isoquinolinesulfonyl]-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride)-sensitive pathway, and no additive effects among them were observed. In addition, GDP increased (dT/dt)max due to AlF without changing delta Tmax, whereas guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP beta s; a non-hydolyzable GDP analogue) decreased both parameters. These findings suggest that AlF acts on G-proteins to enhance Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile elements through a H-7-sensitive pathway.