The functional role of cardiac T-tubules explored in a model of rat ventricular myocytes

Author(s):  
Michal Pásek ◽  
Jiři Šimurda ◽  
Georges Christé

The morphology of the cardiac transverse-axial tubular system (TATS) has been known for decades, but its function has received little attention. To explore the possible role of this system in the physiological modulation of electrical and contractile activity, we have developed a mathematical model of rat ventricular cardiomyocytes in which the TATS is described as a single compartment. The geometrical characteristics of the TATS, the biophysical characteristics of ion transporters and their distribution between surface and tubular membranes were based on available experimental data. Biophysically realistic values of mean access resistance to the tubular lumen and time constants for ion exchange with the bulk extracellular solution were included. The fraction of membrane in the TATS was set to 56%. The action potentials initiated in current-clamp mode are accompanied by transient K + accumulation and transient Ca 2+ depletion in the TATS lumen. The amplitude of these changes relative to external ion concentrations was studied at steady-state stimulation frequencies of 1–5 Hz. Ca 2+ depletion increased from 7 to 13.1% with stimulation frequency, while K + accumulation decreased from 4.1 to 2.7%. These ionic changes (particularly Ca 2+ depletion) implicated significant decrease of intracellular Ca 2+ load at frequencies natural for rat heart.

1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (6) ◽  
pp. H2168-H2178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuejin Wu ◽  
Leigh B. MacMillan ◽  
R. Blair McNeill ◽  
Roger J. Colbran ◽  
Mark E. Anderson

Early afterdepolarizations (EAD) caused by L-type Ca2+ current ( I Ca,L) are thought to initiate long Q-T arrhythmias, but the role of intracellular Ca2+ in these arrhythmias is controversial. Rabbit ventricular myocytes were stimulated with a prolonged EAD-containing action potential-clamp waveform to investigate the role of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase) in I Ca,L during repolarization. I Ca,L was initially augmented, and augmentation was dependent on Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum because the augmentation was prevented by ryanodine or thapsigargin. I Ca,Laugmentation was also dependent on CaM kinase, because it was prevented by dialysis with the inhibitor peptide AC3-I and reconstituted by exogenous constitutively active CaM kinase when Ba2+ was substituted for bath Ca2+. Ultrastructural studies confirmed that endogenous CaM kinase, L-type Ca2+ channels, and ryanodine receptors colocalized near T tubules. EAD induction was significantly reduced in current-clamped cells dialyzed with AC3-I (4/15) compared with cells dialyzed with an inactive control peptide (11/15, P = 0.013). These findings support the hypothesis that EADs are facilitated by CaM kinase.


2014 ◽  
Vol 307 (12) ◽  
pp. R1493-R1501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Cros ◽  
Laurent Sallé ◽  
Daniel E. Warren ◽  
Holly A. Shiels ◽  
Fabien Brette

Cardiomyocyte contraction depends on rapid changes in intracellular Ca2+. In mammals, Ca2+ influx as L-type Ca2+ current ( ICa) triggers the release of Ca2+ from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) is critical for excitation-contraction coupling. In fish, the relative contribution of external and internal Ca2+ is unclear. Here, we characterized the role of ICa to trigger SR Ca2+ release in rainbow trout ventricular myocytes using ICa regulation by Ca2+ as an index of CICR. ICa was recorded with a slow (EGTA) or fast (BAPTA) Ca2+ chelator in control and isoproterenol conditions. In the absence of β-adrenergic stimulation, the rate of ICa inactivation was not significantly different in EGTA and BAPTA (27.1 ± 1.8 vs. 30.3 ± 2.4 ms), whereas with isoproterenol (1 μM), inactivation was significantly faster with EGTA (11.6 ± 1.7 vs. 27.3 ± 1.6 ms). When barium was the charge carrier, inactivation was significantly slower in both conditions (61.9 ± 6.1 vs. 68.0 ± 8.7 ms, control, isoproterenol). Quantification revealed that without isoproterenol, only 39% of ICa inactivation was due to Ca2+, while with isoproterenol, inactivation was Ca2+-dependent (∼65%) and highly reliant on SR Ca2+ (∼46%). Thus, SR Ca2+ is not released in basal conditions, and ICa is the main trigger of contraction, whereas during a stress response, SR Ca2+ is an important source of cytosolic Ca2+. This was not attributed to differences in SR Ca2+ load because caffeine-induced transients were not different in both conditions. Therefore, Ca2+ stored in SR of trout cardiomyocytes may act as a safety mechanism, allowing greater contraction when higher contractility is required, such as stress or exercise.


2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (5) ◽  
pp. H2184-H2190 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. N. Eigel ◽  
R. W. Hadley

This study investigated the role of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) in regulating cytosolic intracellular Ca2+concentration ([Ca2+]i) during anoxia/reoxygenation in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. The hypothesis that the NCX is the predominant mechanism mediating [Ca2+]i overload in this model was tested through inhibition of NCX expression by an antisense oligonucleotide. Immunocytochemistry revealed that this antisense oligonucleotide, directed at the area around the start site of the guinea pig NCX1, specifically reduced NCX expression in cultured adult myocytes by 90 ± 4%. Antisense treatment inhibited evoked NCX activity by 94 ± 3% and decreased the rise in [Ca2+]i during anoxia/reoxygenation by 95 ± 3%. These data suggest that NCX is the predominant mechanism mediating Ca2+ overload during anoxia/reoxygenation in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna H. Korzick

The primary purpose of this article is to present a basic overview of some key teaching concepts that should be considered for inclusion in an six- to eight-lecture introductory block on the regulation of cardiac performance for graduate students. Within the context of cardiac excitation-contraction coupling, this review incorporates information on Ca2+ microdomains and local control theory, with particular emphasis on the role of Ca2+ sparks as a key regulatory component of ventricular myocyte contraction dynamics. Recent information pertaining to local Ca2+ cycling in sinoatrial nodal cells (SANCs) as a mechanism underlying cardiac automaticity is also presented as part of the recently described coupled-clock pacemaker system. The details of this regulation are emerging; however, the notion that the sequestration and release of Ca2+ from internal stores in SANCs (similar to that observed in ventricular myocytes) regulates the rhythmic excitation of the heart (i.e., membrane ion channels) is an important advancement in this area. The regulatory role of cardiac adrenergic receptors on cardiac rate and function is also included, and fundamental concepts related to intracellular signaling are discussed. An important point of emphasis is that whole organ cardiac dynamics can be traced back to cellular events regulating intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and, as such, provides an important conceptual framework from which students can begin to think about whole organ physiology in health and disease. Greater synchrony of Ca2+-regulatory mechanisms between ventricular and pacemaker cells should enhance student comprehension of complex regulatory phenomenon in cardiac muscle.


2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (1) ◽  
pp. H246-H255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng Wang ◽  
James Cone ◽  
Yongge Liu

Whether the mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium (mKATP) channel is the trigger or the mediator of cardioprotection is controversial. We investigated the critical time sequences of mKATP channel opening for cardioprotection in isolated rabbit hearts. Pretreatment with diazoxide (100 μM), a selective mKATP channel opener, for 5 min followed by 10 min washout before the 30-min ischemia and 2-h reperfusion significantly reduced infarct size (9 ± 3 vs. 35 ± 3% in control), indicating a role of mKATP channels as a trigger of protection. The protection was blocked by coadministration of the L-type Ca2+ channel blockers nifedipine (100 nM) or 5-hydroxydecanoic acid (5-HD; 50 μM) or by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor chelerythrine (5 μM). The protection of diazoxide was not blocked by 50 μM 5-HD but was blocked by 200 μM 5-HD or 10 μM glybenclamide administrated 5 min before and throughout the 30 min of ischemia, indicating a role of mKATP opening as a mediator of protection. Giving diazoxide throughout the 30 min of ischemia also protected the heart, and the protection was not blocked by chelerythrine. Nifedipine did not affect the ability of diazoxide to open mKATP channels assessed by mitochondrial redox state. In electrically stimulated rabbit ventricular myocytes, diazoxide significantly increased Ca2+ transient but had no effect on L-type Ca2+ currents. Our results suggest that opening of mKATP channels can trigger cardioprotection. The trigger phase may be induced by elevation of intracellular Ca2+ and activation of PKC. During the lethal ischemia, mKATPchannel opening mediates the protection, independent of PKC, by yet unknown mechanisms.


2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (6) ◽  
pp. C1572-C1582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingbo Huang ◽  
Casey van Breemen ◽  
Kuo-Hsing Kuo ◽  
Leif Hove-Madsen ◽  
Glen F. Tibbits

Store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), which is Ca2+ entry triggered by the depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores, has been observed in many cell types, but only recently has it been suggested to occur in cardiomyocytes. In the present study, we have demonstrated SOCE-dependent sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ loading (loadSR) that was not altered by inhibition of L-type Ca2+ channels, reverse mode Na+/Ca2+ exchange (NCX), or nonselective cation channels. In contrast, lowering the extracellular [Ca2+] to 0 mM or adding either 0.5 mM Zn2+ or the putative store-operated channel (SOC) inhibitor SKF-96365 (100 μM) inhibited loadSR at rest. Interestingly, inhibition of forward mode NCX with 30 μM KB-R7943 stimulated SOCE significantly and resulted in enhanced loadSR. In addition, manipulation of the extracellular and intracellular Na+ concentrations further demonstrated the modulatory role of NCX in SOCE-mediated SR Ca2+ loading. Although there is little knowledge of SOCE in cardiomyocytes, the present results suggest that this mechanism, together with NCX, may play an important role in SR Ca2+ homeostasis. The data reported herein also imply the presence of microdomains unique to the neonatal cardiomyocyte. These findings may be of particular importance during open heart surgery in neonates, in which uncontrolled SOCE could lead to SR Ca2+ overload and arrhythmogenesis.


1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (1) ◽  
pp. H8-H17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley J. Martin ◽  
Hector H. Valdivia ◽  
Rolf Bünger ◽  
Robert D. Lasley ◽  
Robert M. Mentzer

Pyruvate has been shown to be a metabolic inotrope in the myocardium. In millimolar concentrations, it has been shown to increase both myocardial phosphorylation potential and the cytosolic [NAD+]-to-[NADH] ratio. To determine if changes in these parameters can alter intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and hence contractile function, Ca2+ transients and cell shortening (CS) were measured in isolated rat ventricular myocytes superfused with a physiological N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine- N′-2-ethanesulfonic acid buffer (11 mmol/l glucose) with and without additional pyruvate,l-lactate, acetate, or isoproterenol. The addition of 5 mmol/l pyruvate resulted in a 33% increase in CS and a 39% increase in systolic [Ca2+]i. These pyruvate effects were 70% of those observed with 100 nmol/l isoproterenol. The mitochondrial monocarboxylate transport inhibitor α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate (250 μmol/l) strongly inhibited pyruvate inotropy, suggesting a substantial obligatory coupling between pyruvate inotropism and its oxidation by the mitochondria. A possible role of the cytosolic [NAD+]-to-[NADH] ratio was assessed by comparing the effects of 20 mmol/ll-lactate to those of equimolar pyruvate. In contrast to 20 mmol/l pyruvate, excess l-lactate failed to appreciably increase CS or systolic [Ca2+]i. The findings imply that, at levels substantially above 5 mmol/l, a portion of pyruvate inotropism might be due to extreme cytosolic [NAD+]-to-[NADH] ratios. This study is the first evidence that augmented [Ca2+]itransients are most likely the mechanism of cardiac pyruvate inotropism.


1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matti Vornanen

The role of sarcolemma and especially sodium pump activity in the control of phasic contractile activity of Ca2+ tolerant myocytes was studied using ouabain and rubidium as sodium pump inhibitors. Initially, ouabain increased both the amplitude of shortening and the frequency of phasic contractions. Later, the amplitude began to decline whereas the frequency of beating continued to rise, often terminating in a steady contracture of the myocyte. Rubidium caused a rapid rise of beating frequency, which reached its full effect within 1–5 min and remained steady after that. The stimulation of contraction frequency and the inhibition of Na+–K+ ATPase were correlated in the case of ouabain but not in the case of rubidium. The results suggest that the stimulation of phasic contractions may be caused by increased uptake of cellular calcium through Na+–Ca+ exchange as a consequence of sodium pump inhibition and (or) depolarization of the sarcolemma by ouabain and rubidium.


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