The increase of extracellular Ca2+ from physiological concentrations to hypercalcemia impairs sino-atrial automaticity

EP Europace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
AG Torrente ◽  
L Fossier ◽  
M Baudot ◽  
E Torre ◽  
I Bidaud ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): ESC FRM Lefoulon Delalande Aims To investigate whether extracellular hypercalcemia alters the conduction through L-type Ca2+ channels (LTCCs), impairing the pacemaker activity of the heart. Introduction In the sino-atrial node (SAN), membrane currents and the dynamics of intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) generate the pacemaker activity of the heart. SAN dysfunctions (SNDs) harm heart automaticity and have been associated with abnormal dynamics of [Ca2+]i. The LTCCs, Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 carry the main Ca2+ influx of SAN cells, which is necessary to sustain [Ca2+]i dynamics. Modified extracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o) could alter Ca2+ influx through these channels. For example, cancer and hyperparathyroidism can raise [Ca2+]o, causing an extracellular hypercalcemia that could alter [Ca2+]i dynamics and impair SAN activity and heart automaticity. Methods and results To test this hypothesis, we measured contractions, [Ca2+]i release and L-type Ca2+ current (ICa,L) in spontaneous cells of the murine SAN. Then, we recorded rate and propagation of the spontaneous action potentials (APs) generated by the SAN tissue ex-vivo. In spontaneously beating SAN cells, we observed that the modification of [Ca2+]o affected [Ca2+]i and cell contractility through changes of ICa,L. In particular, the increase of [Ca2+]o dysregulated pacemaker activity, likely through excessive Ca2+ influx mediated by Cav1.2. [Ca2+]o increase to hypercalcemia induced arrhythmia also in the intact SAN tissues, activating ectopic leading regions of pacemaking and impairing conduction towards the atria. Conclusions Hypercalcemia causes excessive Cav1.2-mediated Ca2+ influx, which alters [Ca2+]I leading to pacemaker impairment. Modulation of LTCC may reduce pacemaker dysfunctions, preventing SND progression.

1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (6) ◽  
pp. H2793-H2806 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Kodama ◽  
M. R. Nikmaram ◽  
M. R. Boyett ◽  
R. Suzuki ◽  
H. Honjo ◽  
...  

The effect of block of the L-type Ca2+ current by 2 microM nifedipine and of the Na+ current by 20 microM tetrodotoxin on the center (normally the leading pacemaker site) and periphery (latent pacemaker tissue) of the rabbit sinoatrial node was investigated. Spontaneous action potentials were recorded with microelectrodes from either an isolated right atrium containing the whole node or small balls of tissue (approximately 0.3-0.4 mm in diameter) from different regions of the node. Nifedipine abolished the action potential in the center, but not usually in the periphery, in both the intact sinoatrial node and the small balls. Tetrodotoxin had no effect, on electrical activity in small balls from the center, but it decreased the takeoff potential and upstroke velocity and slowed the spontaneous activity (by 49 +/- 10%; n = 11) in small balls from the periphery. It is concluded that whereas the L-type Ca2- current plays an obligatory role in pacemaking in the center, the Na+ current plays a major role in pacemaking in the periphery.


2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 457-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Nicholls

Synaptosomes (isolated nerve terminals) have been studied for more than 40 years. The preparation allows aspects of transmitter metabolism and release to be studied ex vivo from specific brain regions of animals of any age. Conditions can be devised to enable the terminals to fire spontaneous action potentials, allowing the presynaptic control of glutamate exocytosis to be studied. Recent developments have greatly increased the sensitivity with which the bioenergetics of the intra-synaptosomal mitochondria can be investigated.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Talssi ◽  
I Bidaud ◽  
P Mesirca ◽  
M Mangoni

Abstract Introduction The cholinergic regulation of heart rate (HR) is mediated by acetylcholine (ACh)-dependent activation of M2-receptors (M2R). Activated M2R promote release of the βγ-subunit of G-proteins to directly gate GIRK1/4 channels (underlying the cardiac IKACh current), while αi-subunits inhibit adenylate cyclase (AC) activity. AC inhibition reduces the intracellular concentration of cAMP, decreasing the activity of ion channels involved in pacemaking, including “funny” f-(HCN4) and L-type Cav1.3 calcium channels. Purpose To determine the importance of L-type Cav1.3 channels in the cholinergic regulation of heart rate. Methods We recorded the frequency and the position of the pacemaker leading site in ex vivo sinus nodes and the HR of isolated Langendorff perfused hearts of mice in control or during ACh perfusion. We used control wild type (WT) mice, and five genetically modified mouse models: Cav1.3 knockout (KO, ablated Cav1.3-mediated L-type current), GIRK4KO (ablated IKACh current), HCN4-CNBD (selective deletion of cAMP-dependent regulation of HCN4), GIRK4KO/HCN4-CNBD and GIRK4KO/Cav1.3KO. Results Data from optical mapping experiments showed that, under basal conditions, perfusion of 3 μM ACh significantly reduced the frequency of action potentials in WT (44%), HCN4-CNBD (38%), Cav1.3KO (65%) and GIRK4KO (8%) isolated mouse sinus node tissues. ACh application did not significantly affect the frequency of action potentials recorded in tissue from GIRK4KO/HCN4-CNBD and GIRK4KO/Cav1.3KO animals. Furthermore, in all the sinus node tissues tested, regardless of the genotypes, ACh shifted the pacemaker leading site from its normal position by at least 0.7 mm. Upon stimulation of the β-adrenergic pathway by Isoproterenol, to reproduce conditions of accentuated antagonism, 3μM ACh reduced HR in isolated hearts from WT (43.8%), HCN4-CNBD (38.7%), Cav1.3KO (25,4%), GIRK4KO (16.9%) and GIRK4KO/HCN4-CNBD (16.4%) mice. No significant HR reduction was recorded in hearts from GIRK4KO/Cav1.3KO animals. Conclusion Our data indicate that L-type Cav1.3 channels are involved in cholinergic regulation of heart rate in mice. In addition, when the intracellular concentration of cAMP is elevated (i.e. under conditions of accentuated antagonism), the cholinergic regulation of sinus node pacemaking is predominantly ensured by Cav1.3 and KACh channels. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): “Fondation pour la recherche medicale” FRM


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3561
Author(s):  
Jumpei Ito ◽  
Tomomi Minemura ◽  
Sébastien Wälchli ◽  
Tomoaki Niimi ◽  
Yoshitaka Fujihara ◽  
...  

Aldosterone excess is a cardiovascular risk factor. Aldosterone can directly stimulate an electrical remodeling of cardiomyocytes leading to cardiac arrhythmia and hypertrophy. L-type and T-type voltage-gated calcium (Ca2+) channels expression are increased by aldosterone in cardiomyocytes. To further understand the regulation of these channels expression, we studied the role of a transcriptional repressor, the inhibitor of differentiation/DNA binding protein 2 (Id2). We found that aldosterone inhibited the expression of Id2 in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and in the heart of adult mice. When Id2 was overexpressed in cardiomyocytes, we observed a reduction in the spontaneous action potentials rate and an arrest in aldosterone-stimulated rate increase. Accordingly, Id2 siRNA knockdown increased this rate. We also observed that CaV1.2 (L-type Ca2+ channel) or CaV3.1, and CaV3.2 (T-type Ca2+ channels) mRNA expression levels and Ca2+ currents were affected by Id2 presence. These observations were further corroborated in a heart specific Id2- transgenic mice. Taken together, our results suggest that Id2 functions as a transcriptional repressor for L- and T-type Ca2+ channels, particularly CaV3.1, in cardiomyocytes and its expression is controlled by aldosterone. We propose that Id2 might contributes to a protective mechanism in cardiomyocytes preventing the presence of channels associated with a pathological state.


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