Simulated ischemia and intracellular pH in isolated ventricular muscle

1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (2) ◽  
pp. C365-C376 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Vanheel ◽  
L. Leybaert ◽  
A. De Hemptinne ◽  
I. Leusen

Isolated guinea pig papillary muscles were subjected to an in vitro model of ischemia, consisting of superfusion arrest and immersion in paraffin oil, which results in restriction of substrate supply and metabolite washout. Intracellular pH (pHi) and surface pH (pHs) were measured with glass microelectrodes. Contractile force declined to 82% of the pre-“ischemic” value after 2 min and to 37% of the control value after 10 min. In addition, a shortening of the time to peak and duration of contraction was noted. The rate of force development decreased later than the rate of relaxation. After 10 min, pHi was acidified on average 0.08 pH unit, which is about one-third of the measured pHs change. Tripling the ischemic pHi change by reduction of the intracellular buffering power only slightly increased the rate of tension decline. Experimental pHi changes of similar magnitude, induced during normal superfusion, had a smaller effect on contractile force and failed to reproduce the characteristic changes in time course of the contraction. It is concluded that, in our condition of simulated ischemia, the intracellular acidification cannot account fully for the rapid decline in contractility.

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (4) ◽  
pp. H1653-H1659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Baker ◽  
Charles H. Redfern ◽  
Mark D. Harwood ◽  
Paul C. Simpson ◽  
Bruce R. Conklin

Although increased Gi signaling has been associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in humans, its role is not clear. Our goal was to determine the effects of chronically increased Gi signaling on myocardial function. We studied transgenic mice that expressed a Gi-coupled receptor (Ro1) that was targeted to the heart and regulated by a tetracycline-controlled expression system. Ro1 expression for 8 wk resulted in abnormal contractions of right ventricular muscle strips in vitro. Ro1 expression reduced myocardial force by >60% (from 35 ± 3 to 13 ± 2 mN/mm2, P < 0.001). Nevertheless, sensitivity to extracellular Ca2+ was enhanced. The extracellular [Ca2+] resulting in half-maximal force was lower with Ro1 expression compared with control (0.41 ± 0.05 vs. 0.88 ± 0.05 mM, P < 0.001). Ro1 expression slowed both contraction and relaxation kinetics, increasing the twitch time to peak (143 ± 6 vs. 100 ± 4 ms in control, P < 0.001) and the time to half relaxation (124 ± 6 vs. 75 ± 6 ms in control, P < 0.001). Increased pacing frequency increased contractile force threefold in control myocardium ( P < 0.001) but caused no increase of force in Ro1-expressing myocardium. When stimulation was interrupted with rests, postrest force increased in control myocardium, but there was postrest decay of force in Ro1-expressing myocardium. These results suggest that defects in contractility mediated by Gi signaling may contribute to the development of dilated cardiomyopathy.


1990 ◽  
Vol 258 (2) ◽  
pp. H452-H459 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Shepherd ◽  
M. Vornanen ◽  
G. Isenberg

We describe the first observations of isolated mammalian guinea pig ventricular myocytes that combine measurements of contractile force with the voltage-clamp method. The myocytes were attached by poly-L-lysine to the beveled ends of a pair of thin glass rods having a compliance of 0.76 m/N. The contractile force of a cell caused a 1- to 3-microm displacement of the rods; the motion of which was converted to an output voltage by phototransistors. By the use of the whole cell patch-clamp technique, the cells were depolarized at 1 Hz with 200-ms-long clamp pulses from -45 to +5 mV (35 degrees C, 3.6 mM CaCl2). Isometric force began after a latency of 7 +/- 2 ms, peaked at 93 +/- 21 ms, and relaxed (90%) at 235 +/- 63 ms. The time course of force was always faster than that of isotonic shortening (time to peak 154 +/- 18 ms). With 400-ms-long depolarizations, a tonic component was recorded as either sustained force or sustained shortening that decayed on repolarization. Substitution of Ca by Sr in the bath increased the inward current through Ca channels but slowed down the time course of force development. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that activator calcium derives mainly from internal stores and that Ca release needs Ca entry through channels.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 2585-2604 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Gordon ◽  
N. Tyreman ◽  
V. F. Rafuse ◽  
J. B. Munson

Gordon, T., N. Tyreman, V. F. Rafuse, and J. B. Munson. Fast-to-slow conversion following chronic low-frequency activation of medial gastrocnemius muscle in cats. I. Muscle and motor unit properties. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 2585–2604, 1997. This study of cat medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle and motor unit (MU) properties tests the hypothesis that the normal ranges of MU contractile force, endurance, and speed are directly associated with the amount of neuromuscular activity normally experienced by each MU. We synchronously activated all MUs in the MG muscle with the same activity (20 Hz in a 50% duty cycle) and asked whether conversion of whole muscle contractile properties is associated with loss of the normal heterogeneity in MU properties. Chronically implanted cuff electrodes on the nerve to MG muscle were used for 24-h/day stimulation and for monitoring progressive changes in contractile force, endurance, and speed by periodic recording of maximal isometric twitch and tetanic contractions under halothane anesthesia. Chronic low-frequency stimulation slowed muscle contractions and made them weaker, and increased muscle endurance. The most rapid and least variable response to stimulation was a decline in force output of the muscle and constituent MUs. Fatigue resistance increased more slowly, whereas the increase in time to peak force varied most widely between animals and occurred with a longer time course than either force or endurance. Changes in contractile force, endurance, and speed of the whole MG muscle accurately reflected changes in the properties of the constituent MUs both in extent and time course. Normally there is a 100-fold range in tetanic force and a 10-fold range in fatigue indexes and twitch time to peak force. After chronic stimulation, the range in these properties was significantly reduced and, even in MU samples from single animals, the range was shown to correspond with the slow (type S) MUs of the normal MG. In no case was the range reduced to less than the type S range. The same results were obtained when the same chronic stimulation pattern of 20 Hz/50% duty cycle was imposed on paralyzed muscles after hemisection and unilateral deafferentation. The findings that the properties of MUs still varied within the normal range of type S MUs and were still heterogeneous despite a decline in the variance in any one property indicate that the neuromuscular activity can account only in part for the wide range of muscle properties. It is concluded that the normal range of properties within MU types reflects an intrinsic regulation of properties in the multinucleated muscle fibers.


2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (5) ◽  
pp. E478-E485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Corriveau ◽  
Jean-Charles Pasquier ◽  
Simon Blouin ◽  
Diego Bellabarba ◽  
Éric Rousseau

This study compares the functional consequences of levothyroxine (T4) treatment during pregnancy as well as the acute affects of triiodothyronine (T3) on spontaneous uterine contractile activities observed in vitro. Uterine biopsies were obtained from consenting women undergoing elective caesarean at term ( n = 28). Spontaneous contractile activities from T4-treated pregnant women ( n = 8) were compared with control patients ( n = 20) by isometric tension measurements. Effects of acute T3 and T4 on control tissues were also monitored. Area under the curve, amplitude, time to peak, duration, and frequency were quantified. In uterine strips from women treated for hypothyroidism, phasic uterine contractions of larger amplitude (+77%) were observed, with a prolonged duration at 90% relaxation (+138%) and reduced frequency (−55%) compared with values of the control group. The addition of exogenous T3 in vitro on control strips induced a significant increase in the duration of the contractions and a significant decrease in frequency ( P < 0.05), which partially mimics the results obtained in strips from T4-treated women. Significant modifications of contractile properties were observed in strips from pregnant women treated with levothyroxine, consistent with those observed with the addition of exogenous T3. Clinical practices of modern obstetrics should take into account the effect of thyroid hormones on uterine contractions' time course to ensure a tighter followup at the end of pregnancy to achieve safer delivery.


2018 ◽  
Vol 315 (2) ◽  
pp. R397-R407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Till S. Harter ◽  
Alexandra G. May ◽  
William J. Federspiel ◽  
Claudiu T. Supuran ◽  
Colin J. Brauner

Accumulating evidence is highlighting the importance of a system of enhanced hemoglobin-oxygen (Hb-O2) unloading for cardiovascular O2 transport in teleosts. Adrenergically stimulated sodium-proton exchangers (β-NHE) create H+ gradients across the red blood cell (RBC) membrane that are short-circuited in the presence of plasma-accessible carbonic anhydrase (paCA) at the tissues; the result is a large arterial-venous pH shift that greatly enhances O2 unloading from pH-sensitive Hb. However, RBC intracellular pH (pHi) must recover during venous transit (31–90 s) to enable O2 loading at the gills. The halftimes ( t1/2) and magnitudes of RBC β-adrenergic stimulation, short-circuiting with paCA and recovery of RBC pHi, were assessed in vitro, on rainbow trout whole blood, and using changes in closed-system partial pressure of O2 as a sensitive indicator for changes in RBC pHi. In addition, the recovery rate of RBC pHi was assessed in a continuous-flow apparatus that more closely mimics RBC transit through the circulation. Results indicate that: 1) the t1/2 of β-NHE short-circuiting is likely within the residence time of blood in the capillaries, 2) the t1/2 of RBC pHi recovery is 17 s and within the time of RBC venous transit, and 3) after short-circuiting, RBCs reestablish the initial H+ gradient across the membrane and can potentially undergo repeated cycles of short-circuiting and recovery. Thus, teleosts have evolved a system that greatly enhances O2 unloading from pH-sensitive Hb at the tissues, while protecting O2 loading at the gills; the resulting increase in O2 transport per unit of blood flow may enable the tremendous athletic ability of salmonids.


2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1467-1477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Hanley ◽  
Lawrence Rosenberg

Abstract Tissue plasticity is well documented in the context of pancreatic regeneration and carcinogenesis, with recent reports implicating dedifferentiated islet cells both as endocrine progenitors and as the cell(s) of origin in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Accordingly, it is noteworthy that accumulating evidence suggests that TGFβ signaling is essential to pancreatic endocrine development and maintenance, whereas its loss is associated with the progression to pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to examine the role of TGFβ in an in vitro model of islet morphogenetic plasticity. Human islets were embedded in a collagen gel and cultured under conditions that induced transformation into duct-like epithelial structures (DLS). Addition of TGFβ caused a dose-dependent decrease in DLS formation. Although it was demonstrated that collagen-embedded islets secrete low levels of TGFβ, antibody-mediated neutralization of this endogenously released TGFβ improved DLS formation rates, suggesting local TGFβ concentrations may in fact be higher. Time course studies indicated that TGFβ signaling was associated with an increase in ERK and p38 MAPK phosphorylation, although inhibitor-based studies were consistent with an islet endocrine-stabilizing effect mediated by p38 alone. Localization of TGFβ signaling molecules suggested that the action of TGFβ is directly on the β-cell to inhibit apoptosis and thus stabilize endocrine phenotype.


1985 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Simchowitz ◽  
A Roos

The intracellular pH (pHi) of isolated human peripheral blood neutrophils was measured from the fluorescence of 6-carboxyfluorescein (6-CF) and from the equilibrium distribution of [14C]5,5-dimethyloxazolidine -2,4-dione (DMO). At an extracellular pH (pHo) of 7.40 in nominally CO2-free medium, the steady state pHi using either indicator was approximately 7.25. When pHo was suddenly raised from 7.40 to 8.40 in the nominal absence of CO2, pHi slowly rose by approximately 0.35 during the subsequent hour. A change of similar magnitude in the opposite direction occurred when pHo was reduced to 6.40. Both changes were reversible. Intrinsic intracellular buffering power, determined by using graded pulses of CO2 or NH4Cl, was approximately 50 mM/pH over the pHi range of 6.8-7.9. The course of pHi obtained from the distribution of DMO was followed during and after imposition of intracellular acid and alkaline loads. Intracellular acidification was brought about either by exposing cells to 18% CO2 or by prepulsing with 30 mM NH4Cl, while pHo was maintained at 7.40. In both instances, pHi (6.80 and 6.45, respectively) recovered toward the control value at rates of 0.029 and 0.134 pH/min. These rates were reduced by approximately 90% either by 1 mM amiloride or by replacement of extracellular Na with N-methyl-D-glucamine. Recovery was not affected by 1 mM SITS or by 40 mM alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate (CHC), which inhibits anion exchange in neutrophils. Therefore, recovery from acid loading is probably due to an exchange of internal H for external Na. Intracellular alkalinization was achieved by exposing the cells to 30 mM NH4Cl or by prepulsing with 18% CO2, both at a constant pHo 7.40. In both instances, pHi, which was 7.65 and 7.76, respectively, recovered to the control value. The recovery rates (0.033 and 0.077 pH/min, respectively) were reduced by 80-90% either by 40 mM CHC or by replacement of extracellular Cl with p-aminohippurate (PAH). SITS, amiloride, and ouabain (0.1 mM) were ineffective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


1998 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 1318-1329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Picard ◽  
Rene Rouet ◽  
Frederic Flais ◽  
Pierre Ducouret ◽  
Gerard Babatasi ◽  
...  

Background Bupivacaine may have toxic cardiovascular effects when accidentally administered by intravascular injection. However, its electrophysiologic effects in the presence of myocardial ischemia remain unknown. The authors evaluated the electrophysiologic and anti- and proarrhythmic effects of bupivacaine in an in vitro model of the ischemic and reperfused myocardium. Methods In a double-chamber bath, a guinea pig right ventricular muscle strip was subjected partly to normal conditions and partly to simulated ischemia followed by reperfusion. The electrophysiologic effects of bupivacaine were studied at 1, 5, and 10 microM concentrations. Results Bupivacaine (5 and 10 microM) decreased the maximal upstroke velocity of the action potential (Vmax) in normoxic conditions and further decreased (10 microM) the Vmax decrease induced by ischemic conditions. Bupivacaine reduced the mean occurrence time to the onset of myocardial conduction blocks (9 +/- 3 min; mean +/- SD; P &lt; 0.005 with 5 and 10 microM, compared with 17 +/- 6 min during simulated ischemia with no drug or control), and it increased the number of preparations that became inexcitable to pacing (55% of preparations, with 1 microM and 100% with 5 and 10 microM, compared with 17% for the control group). The incidence of spontaneous arrhythmias was reduced by 5 and 10 microM bupivacaine during ischemia and reperfusion and was enhanced by 1 microM bupivacaine during the ischemic phase. Conclusions In guinea pig myocardium under ischemic conditions, bupivacaine induced a loss of excitability at concentrations of 5 and 10 microM. Proarrhythmic effects observed at 1 microM were considered as lower than the cardiotoxic range in normoxic conditions. The incidence of reperfusion arrhythmias was decreased at all concentrations.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document