Expression and regulation of connexins in cultured ventricular myocytes isolated from adult rat hearts

2002 ◽  
Vol 443 (5) ◽  
pp. 676-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lioudmila O. Polontchouk ◽  
Virginijus Valiunas ◽  
Jacques-Antoine Haefliger ◽  
Hans M. Eppenberger ◽  
Robert Weingart
Keyword(s):  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Rat Hearts

Propofol Increases Contractility during α1a-Adrenoreceptor Activation in Adult Rat Cardiomyocytes

2005 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brad D. Gable ◽  
Toshiya Shiga ◽  
Paul A. Murray ◽  
Derek S. Damron
Keyword(s):  
Phospholipase A2 ◽  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Rho Kinase ◽  
Selective Inhibition ◽  
Rat Cardiomyocytes ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Kinase C ◽  
Rat Hearts ◽  
Dependent Pathway ◽  
Exchange Activity

Background The objective of this study was to identify the extent to which propofol alters intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), myofilament Ca sensitivity, and contraction of individual cardiomyocytes during activation of alpha1a adrenoreceptors and to determine the cellular mechanism of action. Methods Freshly isolated ventricular myocytes were obtained from adult rat hearts. Myocyte shortening and [Ca2+]i were simultaneously monitored in individual cardiomyocytes exposed to phenylephrine after treatment with chloroethylclonidine (alpha1b-adrenoreceptor antagonist) and BMY 7378 (alpha1d-adrenoreceptor antagonist). Data are reported as mean +/- SD. Results Phenylephrine increased myocyte shortening by 124 +/- 9% (P = 0.002), whereas peak [Ca2+]i only increased by 8 +/- 3% (P = 0.110). Inhibition of phospholipase A2 and phospholipase C attenuated the phenylephrine-induced increase in shortening by 84 +/- 11% (P = 0.004) and 15 +/- 6% (P = 0.010), respectively. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) and Rho kinase attenuated the phenylephrine-induced increase in shortening by 17 +/- 8% (P = 0.010) and 74 +/- 13% (P = 0.006), respectively. In the presence of phenylephrine, propofol increased shortening by 40 +/- 6% (P = 0.002), with no concomitant increase in [Ca2+]i. PKC inhibition prevented the propofol-induced increase in shortening. Selective inhibition of PKCalpha, PKCdelta, PKCepsilon, and PKCzeta reduced the propofol-induced increase in shortening by 12 +/- 5% (P = 0.011), 36 +/- 8% (P = 0.001), 32 +/- 9% (P = 0.007), and 19 +/- 5% (P = 0.008), respectively. Na+ - H+ exchange inhibition reduced the propofol-induced increase in shortening by 56 +/- 7% (P = 0.001). Conclusion Activation of alpha1a adrenoreceptors increases cardiomyocyte shortening primarily via a phospholipase A2-dependent, Rho kinase-dependent increase in myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity. Propofol further increases myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity and shortening via a PKC-dependent pathway and an increase in Na+ - H+ exchange activity.

Characterization of stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis by alpha 1-adrenergic agonists in adult rat hearts

1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (3) ◽  
pp. H970-H978 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Lazou ◽  
S. J. Fuller ◽  
M. A. Bogoyevitch ◽  
K. A. Orfali ◽  
P. H. Sugden
Keyword(s):  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Irreversible Inhibitor ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Fixed Concentration ◽  
Rat Hearts ◽  
Site Competition ◽  
Pi Hydrolysis ◽  
Hydrolysis Of ◽  
Stimulation Of

The coupling of the pharmacologically defined alpha 1A- and alpha 1B-adrenoceptors to the hydrolysis of phospho[3H]inositides (PI) was investigated in ventricular myocytes freshly isolated from adult rat hearts. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor population in the heart was characterized by competitive binding experiments using [3H]prazosin and the alpha 1A-adrenoceptor-selective antagonist 5-methyl urapidil. It was heterogeneous with approximately 25% being pharmacologically of the alpha 1A-adrenoceptor subtype and 75% being of the alpha 1B-adrenoceptor subtype. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, or phenylephrine stimulated PI hydrolysis in the presence or absence of propranolol. The greatest stimulation (7-fold) was with epinephrine. The half-maximum effective concentrations for agonists were approximately 0.5-3.5 and 0.2 microM in the absence and presence of propranolol, respectively. The inhibition by 5-methyl urapidil of the stimulation of PI hydrolysis by a fixed concentration of epinephrine fitted a two-site competition curve. The distribution between high-affinity (25%) and low-affinity (75%) sites suggested that both the alpha 1A- and alpha 1B-adrenoceptors were coupled to PI hydrolysis in proportion to their relative abundance. Equally, the stimulation of PI hydrolysis by epinephrine in the presence of a fixed concentration of 5-methyl urapidil was biphasic. In addition, chloroethylclonidine, an irreversible inhibitor of the alpha 1B-adrenoceptor, inhibited the epinephrine stimulation of PI hydrolysis by 35%. We conclude that the pharmacologically defined alpha 1A- and alpha 1B-adrenoceptor subtypes are both coupled to PI hydrolysis in the ventricular myocyte.

Some electrical and pharmacological properties of gap junctions between adult ventricular myocytes

1985 ◽  
Vol 249 (5) ◽  
pp. C447-C455 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. White ◽  
D. C. Spray ◽  
A. C. Campos de Carvalho ◽  
B. A. Wittenberg ◽  
M. V. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Cardiac Tissue ◽  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Input Resistance ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Junctional Communication ◽  
Cell Tissue ◽  
Physiological Properties ◽  
Rat Hearts ◽  
Junctional Conductance

Ventricular myocytes were isolated from adult rat hearts using the technique of Wittenberg and Robinson (Cell Tissue Res. 216: 231-251, 1981). These cells exhibited morphology, input resistance, time constant, and excitability expected for cells in intact cardiac tissue. Pairs of these cells were electronically coupled, and junctional conductance was unaffected by transjunctional potential or hyperpolarization of both cells. Brief exposure of cell pairs to medium equilibrated with 100% CO2 or containing 0.1 mM octanol quickly and reversibly decreased junctional conductance. We conclude that gap junctions between pairs of ventricular myocytes possess physiological properties like those of junctions in many other tissues. This preparation will be useful in evaluating drug action on junctional communication in heart.

scholarly journals Increased susceptibility of aged hearts to ventricular fibrillation during oxidative stress

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (5) ◽  
pp. H1594-H1605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norishige Morita ◽  
Ali A. Sovari ◽  
Yuanfang Xie ◽  
Michael C. Fishbein ◽  
William J. Mandel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Tissue Level ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Aged Rat ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Inactive Form ◽  
Rat Hearts

Oxidative stress with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) readily promotes early afterdepolarizations (EADs) and triggered activity (TA) in isolated rat and rabbit ventricular myocytes. Here we examined the effects of H2O2 on arrhythmias in intact Langendorff rat and rabbit hearts using dual-membrane voltage and intracellular calcium optical mapping and glass microelectrode recordings. Young adult rat (3–5 mo, N = 25) and rabbit (3–5 mo, N = 6) hearts exhibited no arrhythmias when perfused with H2O2 (0.1–2 mM) for up to 3 h. However, in 33 out of 35 (94%) aged (24–26 mo) rat hearts, 0.1 mM H2O2 caused EAD-mediated TA, leading to ventricular tachycardia (VT) and fibrillation (VF). Aged rabbits (life span, 8–12 yr) were not available, but 4 of 10 middle-aged rabbits (3–5 yr) developed EADs, TA, VT, and VF. These arrhythmias were suppressed by the reducing agent N-acetylcysteine (2 mM) and CaMKII inhibitor KN-93 (1 μM) but not by its inactive form (KN-92, 1 μM). There were no significant differences between action potential duration (APD) or APD restitution slope before or after H2O2 in aged or young adult rat hearts. In histological sections, however, trichrome staining revealed that aged rat hearts exhibited extensive fibrosis, ranging from 10–90%; middle-aged rabbit hearts had less fibrosis (5–35%), whereas young adult rat and rabbit hearts had <4% fibrosis. In aged rat hearts, EADs and TA arose most frequently (70%) from the left ventricular base where fibrosis was intermediate (∼30%). Computer simulations in two-dimensional tissue incorporating variable degrees of fibrosis showed that intermediate (but not mild or severe) fibrosis promoted EADs and TA. We conclude that in aged ventricles exposed to oxidative stress, fibrosis facilitates the ability of cellular EADs to emerge and generate TA, VT, and VF at the tissue level.

Load-Induced Growth Responses in Isolated Adult Rat Hearts

Circulation ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 95 (12) ◽  
pp. 2677-2683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane D. Thienelt ◽  
Ellen O. Weinberg ◽  
Jozef Bartunek ◽  
Beverly H. Lorell
Keyword(s):  
Growth Responses ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Rat Hearts

scholarly journals Effects of acidosis on resting cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ in mammalian myocardium.

1993 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 575-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Gambassi ◽  
R G Hansford ◽  
S J Sollott ◽  
B A Hogue ◽  
E G Lakatta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Free Acid ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Ruthenium Red ◽  
Acetoxymethyl Ester ◽  
Cytosolic Ph ◽  
Bicarbonate Buffer ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Mammalian Myocardium

Acidosis increases resting cytosolic [Ca2+], (Cai) of myocardial preparations; however, neither the Ca2+ sources for the increase in Cai nor the effect of acidosis on mitochondrial free [Ca2+], (Cam) have been characterized. In this study cytosolic pH (pHi) was monitored in adult rat left ventricular myocytes loaded with the acetoxymethyl ester (AM form) of SNARF-1. A stable decrease in the pHi of 0.52 +/- 0.05 U (n = 16) was obtained by switching from a bicarbonate buffer equilibrated with 5% CO2 to a buffer equilibrated with 20% CO2. Electrical stimulation at either 0.5 or 1.5 Hz had no effect on pHi in 5% CO2, nor did it affect the magnitude of pHi decrease in response to hypercarbic acidosis. Cai was measured in myocytes loaded with indo-1/free acid and Cam was monitored in cells loaded with indo-1/AM after quenching cytosolic indo-1 fluorescence with MnCl2. In quiescent intact myocytes bathed in 1.5 mM [Ca2+], hypercarbia increased Cai from 130 +/- 5 to 221 +/- 13 nM. However, when acidosis was effected in electrically stimulated myocytes, diastolic Cai increased more than resting Cai in quiescent myocytes, and during pacing at 1.5 Hz diastolic Cai was higher (285 +/- 17 nM) than at 0.5 Hz (245 +/- 18 nM; P &lt; 0.05). The magnitude of Cai increase in quiescent myocytes was not affected either by sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ depletion with ryanodine or by SR Ca2+ depletion and concomitant superfusion with a Ca(2+)-free buffer. In unstimulated intact myocytes hypercarbia increased Cam from 95 +/- 12 to 147 +/- 19 nM and this response was not modified either by ryanodine and a Ca(2+)-free buffer or by 50 microM ruthenium red in order to block the mitochondrial uniporter. In mitochondrial suspensions loaded either with BCECF/AM or indo-1/AM, acidosis produced by lactic acid addition decreased both intra- and extramitochondrial pH and increased Cam. Studies of mitochondrial suspensions bathed in indo-1/free acid-containing solution showed an increase in extramitochondrial Ca2+ after the addition of lactic acid. Thus, in quiescent myocytes, cytoplasmic and intramitochondrial buffers, rather than transsarcolemmal Ca2+ influx or SR Ca2+ release, are the likely Ca2+ sources for the increase in Cai and Cam, respectively; additionally, Ca2+ efflux from the mitochondria may contribute to the raise in Cai. In contrast, in response to acidosis, diastolic Cai in electrically stimulated myocytes increases more than resting Cai in quiescent cells; this suggests that during pacing, net cell Ca2+ gain contributes to enhance diastolic Cai.

scholarly journals Altered Na/Ca exchange distribution in ventricular myocytes from failing hearts

2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (2) ◽  
pp. H262-H268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanne C. Gadeberg ◽  
Simon M. Bryant ◽  
Andrew F. James ◽  
Clive H. Orchard
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Cell Voltage ◽  
Coronary Artery Ligation ◽  
Sham Operation ◽  
Ca Current ◽  
Artery Ligation ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
Rat Hearts ◽  
T Tubules

In mammalian cardiac ventricular myocytes, Ca efflux via Na/Ca exchange (NCX) occurs predominantly at T tubules. Heart failure is associated with disrupted t-tubular structure, but its effect on t-tubular function is less clear. We therefore investigated t-tubular NCX activity in ventricular myocytes isolated from rat hearts ∼18 wk after coronary artery ligation (CAL) or corresponding sham operation (Sham). NCX current ( INCX) and l-type Ca current ( ICa) were recorded using the whole cell, voltage-clamp technique in intact and detubulated (DT) myocytes; intracellular free Ca concentration ([Ca]i) was monitored simultaneously using fluo-4. INCX was activated and measured during application of caffeine to release Ca from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Whole cell INCX was not significantly different in Sham and CAL myocytes and occurred predominantly in the T tubules in Sham myocytes. CAL was associated with redistribution of INCX and ICa away from the T tubules to the cell surface and an increase in t-tubular INCX/ ICa density from 0.12 in Sham to 0.30 in CAL myocytes. The decrease in t-tubular INCX in CAL myocytes was accompanied by an increase in the fraction of Ca sequestered by SR. However, SR Ca content was not significantly different in Sham, Sham DT, and CAL myocytes but was significantly increased by DT of CAL myocytes. In Sham myocytes, there was hysteresis between INCX and [Ca]i, which was absent in DT Sham but present in CAL and DT CAL myocytes. These data suggest altered distribution of NCX in CAL myocytes.

scholarly journals Enhanced activity of ventricular Na+-HCO3− cotransport in pressure overload hypertrophy

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (2) ◽  
pp. H1254-H1264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taku Yamamoto ◽  
Takeshi Shirayama ◽  
Tomohiko Sakatani ◽  
Tomosaburo Takahashi ◽  
Hideo Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Aortic Constriction ◽  
Ph Indicator ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Acid Extrusion

The Na+-HCO3− cotransporter (NBC) plays a key role in intracellular pH (pHi) regulation in normal ventricular muscle. However, the state of NBC in nonischemic hypertrophied hearts is unresolved. In this study, we examined functional and molecular properties of NBC in adult rat ventricular myocytes. The cells were enzymatically isolated from both normal and hypertrophied hearts. Ventricular hypertrophy was induced by pressure overload created by suprarenal abdominal aortic constriction of 50% for 7 wk. pHi was measured in single cells using the fluorescent pH indicator 2′,7′-bis(2-carboxyethyl)5-( 6 )carboxyfluorescein. Real-time PCR analysis was used to quantitatively assess expression of NBC-encoding mRNA, including SLC4A4 (encoding electrogenic NBC, NBCe1) and SLC4A7 (electroneutral NBC, NBCn1). Our results demonstrate that: 1) mRNA levels of both the electrogenic NBCe1 (SLC4A4) and electroneutral NBCn1 (SLC4A7) forms of NBC were increased by aortic constriction, 2) the onset of NBC upregulation occurred within 3 days after constriction, 3) normal and hypertrophied ventricles displayed regional differences in NBC expression, 4) acid extrusion via NBC ( JNBC) was increased significantly in hypertrophied myocytes, 5) although acid extrusion via Na+/H+ exchange was also increased in hypertrophied myocytes, the relative enhancement of JNBC was larger, 6) membrane depolarization markedly increased JNBC in hypertrophied myocytes, and 7) losartan, an ANG II AT1 receptor antagonist, significantly attenuated the upregulation of both NBCs induced by 3 wk of aortic constriction. Enhanced NBC activity during hypertrophic development provides a mechanism for intracellular Na+ overload, which may render the ventricles more vulnerable to Ca2+ overload during ischemia-reperfusion.

scholarly journals Glycolytic inhibition causes spontaneous ventricular fibrillation in aged hearts

2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (1) ◽  
pp. H180-H191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norishige Morita ◽  
Jong-Hwan Lee ◽  
Aneesh Bapat ◽  
Michael C. Fishbein ◽  
William J. Mandel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ventricular Fibrillation ◽  
Connexin 43 ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Triggered Activity ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Rat Hearts ◽  
Intracellular Calcium Ion ◽  
Dependent Protein ◽  
Isolated Cardiac Myocytes ◽  
Delayed Afterdepolarizations

Selective glycolytic inhibition (GI) promotes electromechanical alternans and triggered beats in isolated cardiac myocytes. We sought to determine whether GI promotes triggered activity by early afterdepolarization (EAD) or delayed afterdepolarizations in intact hearts isolated from adult and aged rats. Dual voltage and intracellular calcium ion (Cai2+) fluorescent optical maps and single cell glass microelectrode recordings were made from the left ventricular (LV) epicardium of isolated Langendorff-perfused adult (∼4 mo) and aged (∼24 mo) rat hearts. GI was induced by replacing glucose with 10 mM pyruvate in oxygenated Tyrode's. Within 20 min, GI slowed Cai2+ transient decline rate and shortened action potential duration in both groups. These changes were associated with ventricular fibrillation (VF) in the aged hearts (64 out of 66) but not in adult hearts (0 out of 18; P < 0.001). VF was preceded by a transient period of focal ventricular tachycardia caused by EAD-mediated triggered activity leading to VF within seconds. The VF was suppressed by the ATP-sensitive K (KATP) channel blocker glibenclamide (1 μM) but not (0 out of 7) by mitochondrial KATP block. The Ca-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) blocker KN-93 (1 μM) prevented GI-mediated VF ( P < 0.05). Block of Na-Ca exchanger (NCX) by SEA0400 (2 μM) prevented GI-mediated VF (3 out of 6), provided significant bradycardia did not occur. Aged hearts had significantly greater LV fibrosis and reduced connexin 43 than adult hearts ( P < 0.05). We conclude that in aged fibrotic unlike in adult rat hearts, GI promotes EADs, triggered activity, and VF by activation of KATP channels CaMKII and NCX.

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