Studies have shown diabetes to be associated with alterations in composition of extracellular matrix and that such proteins modulate signal transduction. The present studies examined if non-enzymatic glycation of fibronectin or a mixed matrix preparation (EHS) alters endothelial cell Ca(2+) signaling following agonist stimulation. Endothelial cells were cultured from bovine aorta and rat heart. To glycate proteins, fibronectin (10 microg/ml), or EHS (2.5 mg/ml) were incubated (37 degrees C, 30 days) with 0.5 M glucose-6-phosphate. Matrix proteins were coated onto cover slips after which cells (10(5) cells/ml) were plated and allowed to adhere for 16 h. For measurement of intracellular Ca(2+), cells were loaded with fura 2 (2 microM) and fluorescence intensity monitored. Bovine cells on glycated EHS showed decreased ability for either ATP (10(-6) M) or bradykinin (10(-7) M) to increase Ca(2+) (i). In contrast, glycated fibronectin did not impair agonist-induced increases in Ca(2+) (i). In the absence of extracellular Ca(2+), ATP elicited a transient increase in Ca(2+) (i) consistent with intracellular release. Re-addition of Ca(2+) resulted in a secondary rise in Ca(2+) (i) indicative of store depletion-mediated Ca(2+) entry. Both phases of Ca(2+) mobilization were reduced in cells on glycated mixed matrix; however, as the ratio of the two components was similar in all cells, glycation appeared to selectively impair Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores. Thapsigargin treatment demonstrated an impaired ability of cells on glycated EHS to increase cytoplasmic Ca(2+) consistent with decreased endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) stores. Further support for Ca(2+) mobilization was provided by increased baseline IP(3) levels in cells plated on glycated EHS. Impaired ATP-induced Ca(2+) release could be induced by treating native EHS with laminin antibody or exposing cells to H(2)O(2) (20-200 microM). Glycated EHS impaired Ca(2+) signaling was attenuated by treatment with aminoguanidine or the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. The results demonstrate that matrix glycation impairs agonist-induced Ca(2+) (i) increases which may impact on regulatory functions of the endothelium and implicate possible involvement of oxidative stress.