Calcium imaging of mechanically induced fluxes in tissue-cultured chick heart: role of stretch-activated ion channels

1992 ◽  
Vol 262 (4) ◽  
pp. H1110-H1115 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Sigurdson ◽  
A. Ruknudin ◽  
F. Sachs

Heart rate and contractility are sensitive to stretch. To better understand the origin of these effects, we have studied the effect of mechanical stimuli on a model system of tissue-cultured heart cells. Gently prodding cells with a pipette produced a Ca2+ influx that often led to waves of calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) spreading from the site of stimulation. Ca2+ release could also be produced by pulling on neighboring cells. The response was blocked by removing extracellular Ca2+ or by adding 20 microM Gd3+ to normal saline. The mechanical sensitivity probably arose from stretch-activated ion channels (SACs) based on several lines of evidence. Chick heart cells contain nonselective cation SACs that pass Ca2+ as well as Na+ and K+. Both the SACs and the fluorescence response are blocked by 20 microM Gd3+. Removal of Ca2+ from the extracellular medium blocked the fluorescent response. Cultures without SACs (grown in the absence of embryo extract) had no mechanically induced fluxes. These data contradict the recent claim that SAC activity is a patch-clamp artifact (C.E. Morris and R. Horn, Science Wash. DC 256: 1246-1249, 1991). The SACs had a density of approximately 1/micron 2 and were expected to pass less than 20 fA of Ca2+ current under physiological conditions. The change in intracellular concentration of Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) resulting from activation of SACs may be too small to induce CICR unless the channels pass current into a restricted space (N. LeBlanc and J.R. Hume, Science Wash. DC 248: 372, 1990).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

2002 ◽  
Vol 282 (4) ◽  
pp. H1334-H1340 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. Lamberts ◽  
M. H. P. van Rijen ◽  
P. Sipkema ◽  
P. Fransen ◽  
S. U. Sys ◽  
...  

The role of stretch-activated ion channels (SACs) in coronary perfusion-induced increase in cardiac contractility was investigated in isolated isometrically contracting perfused papillary muscles from Wistar rats. A brief increase in perfusion pressure (3–4 s, perfusion pulse, n = 7), 10 repetitive perfusion pulses ( n = 4), or a sustained increase in perfusion pressure (150–200 s, perfusion step, n = 7) increase developed force by 2.7 ± 1.1, 7.7 ± 2.2, and 8.3 ± 2.5 mN/mm2 (means ± SE, P < 0.05), respectively. The increase in developed force after a perfusion pulse is transient, whereas developed force during a perfusion step remains increased by 5.1 ± 2.5 mN/mm2 ( P < 0.05) in the steady state. Inhibition of SACs by addition of gadolinium (10 μmol/l) or streptomycin (40 and 100 μmol/l) blunts the perfusion-induced increase in developed force. Incubation with 100 μmol/l N ω-nitro-l-arginine [nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibition], 10 μmol/l sodium nitroprusside (NO donation) and 0.1 μmol/l verapamil (L-type Ca2+ channel blockade) are without effect on the perfusion-induced increase of developed force. We conclude that brief, repetitive, or sustained increases in coronary perfusion augment cardiac contractility through activation of stretch-activated ion channels, whereas endothelial NO release and L-type Ca2+channels are not involved.


2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 2777-2785 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Hillsley ◽  
J. L. Kenyon ◽  
T. K. Smith

Myenteric afterhyperpolarizing (AH) neurons are primary afferent neurons within the gastrointestinal tract. Stimulation of the intestinal mucosa evokes action potentials (AP) that are followed by a slow afterhyperpolarization (AHPslow) in the soma. The role of intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ stores in modulating the electrical activity of myenteric AH neurons was investigated by recording membrane potential and bis-fura-2 fluorescence from 34 AH neurons. Mean resting [Ca2+]i was ∼200 nM. Depolarizing current pulses that elicited APs evoked AHPslow and an increase in [Ca2+]i, with similar time courses. The amplitudes and durations of AHPslow and the Ca2+ transient were proportional to the number of evoked APs, with each AP increasing [Ca2+]i by ∼50 nM. Ryanodine (10 μM) significantly reduced both the amplitude and duration (by 60%) of the evoked Ca2+ transient and AHPslow over the range of APs tested (1–15). Calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) was graded and proportional to the number of APs, with each AP triggering a rise in [Ca2+]i of ∼30 nM Ca2+ via CICR. This indicates that CICR amplifies Ca2+ influx. Similar changes in [Ca2+]i and AHPslow were evoked by two APs in control and six APs in ryanodine. Thus, the magnitude of the change in bulk [Ca2+]i and not the source of the Ca2+ is the determinant of the magnitude of AHPslow. Furthermore, lowering of free [Ca2+]i, either by reducing extracellular Ca2+ or injecting high concentrations of Ca2+buffer, induced depolarization, increased excitability, and abolition of AHPslow. In addition, activation of synaptic input to AH neurons elicited a slow excitatory postsynaptic potential (sEPSP) that was completely blocked in ryanodine. These results demonstrate the importance of [Ca2+]i and CICR in sensory processing in AH neurons. Activity-dependent CICR may be a mechanism to grade the output of AH neurons according to the intensity of sensory input.


2000 ◽  
Vol 115 (5) ◽  
pp. 653-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.L. Collier ◽  
G. Ji ◽  
Y.-X. Wang ◽  
M.I. Kotlikoff

Calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) has been observed in cardiac myocytes as elementary calcium release events (calcium sparks) associated with the opening of L-type Ca2+ channels. In heart cells, a tight coupling between the gating of single L-type Ca2+ channels and ryanodine receptors (RYRs) underlies calcium release. Here we demonstrate that L-type Ca2+ channels activate RYRs to produce CICR in smooth muscle cells in the form of Ca2+ sparks and propagated Ca2+ waves. However, unlike CICR in cardiac muscle, RYR channel opening is not tightly linked to the gating of L-type Ca2+ channels. L-type Ca2+ channels can open without triggering Ca2+ sparks and triggered Ca2+ sparks are often observed after channel closure. CICR is a function of the net flux of Ca2+ ions into the cytosol, rather than the single channel amplitude of L-type Ca2+ channels. Moreover, unlike CICR in striated muscle, calcium release is completely eliminated by cytosolic calcium buffering. Thus, L-type Ca2+ channels are loosely coupled to RYR through an increase in global [Ca2+] due to an increase in the effective distance between L-type Ca2+ channels and RYR, resulting in an uncoupling of the obligate relationship that exists in striated muscle between the action potential and calcium release.


2001 ◽  
Vol 153 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven O. Marx ◽  
Steven Reiken ◽  
Yuji Hisamatsu ◽  
Marta Gaburjakova ◽  
Jana Gaburjakova ◽  
...  

Ryanodine receptors (RyRs), intracellular calcium release channels required for cardiac and skeletal muscle contraction, are macromolecular complexes that include kinases and phosphatases. Phosphorylation/dephosphorylation plays a key role in regulating the function of many ion channels, including RyRs. However, the mechanism by which kinases and phosphatases are targeted to ion channels is not well understood. We have identified a novel mechanism involved in the formation of ion channel macromolecular complexes: kinase and phosphatase targeting proteins binding to ion channels via leucine/isoleucine zipper (LZ) motifs. Activation of kinases and phosphatases bound to RyR2 via LZs regulates phosphorylation of the channel, and disruption of kinase binding via LZ motifs prevents phosphorylation of RyR2. Elucidation of this new role for LZs in ion channel macromolecular complexes now permits: (a) rapid mapping of kinase and phosphatase targeting protein binding sites on ion channels; (b) predicting which kinases and phosphatases are likely to regulate a given ion channel; (c) rapid identification of novel kinase and phosphatase targeting proteins; and (d) tools for dissecting the role of kinases and phosphatases as modulators of ion channel function.


1984 ◽  
Vol 247 (2) ◽  
pp. H273-H282
Author(s):  
R. D. Nathan ◽  
M. L. Bhattacharyya

Intracellular recordings were obtained from spheroidal aggregates of 7-day embryonic chick heart cells after 3 days in gyratory culture. Three types of perturbations in the membrane potential were observed under experimental conditions expected to increase intracellular calcium: 1) multiple oscillations (of 5-20 mV peak-to-peak amplitude) during diastole in aggregates exposed to 10-15 mM Ca, 5 microM strophanthidin, or K-free solutions; 2) less periodic spontaneous voltage fluctuations (of less than 1.5 mV peak-to-peak amplitude) in aggregates exposed to solutions containing 22% of the normal [Na], and 3) depolarizing afterpotentials (DAPs), following repolarization of the action potential, in aggregates treated with 20-50 microM A23187, a Ca ionophore, or 5-10 mM caffeine. The oscillations were reduced markedly by 0.03-3.0 microM tetrodotoxin (TTX) and were blocked by 5-10 mM caffeine. Spontaneous voltage fluctuations were increased by raising external Ca, were unaffected by 30 microM TTX, and were blocked by 5 mM caffeine. DAPs were not blocked by 5 mM caffeine or by 0.1 microM TTX and 1 microgram/ml D 600, concentrations that greatly reduced the action potential upstroke velocity and plateau, respectively. Two intracellular electrodes were employed to test for electrotonic coupling between cells within an aggregate. An electrotonic response in one cell could be recorded when current was injected into another cell during recordings of each of the perturbations but was somewhat less during spontaneous voltage fluctuations. Possible ionic mechanisms for the perturbations and for concomitant changes in the configuration of the action potential are discussed.


2001 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 973-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Hill ◽  
Hui Zou ◽  
Simon J. Potocnik ◽  
Gerald A. Meininger ◽  
Michael J. Davis

The smooth muscle of arterioles responds to an increase in intraluminal pressure with vasoconstriction and with vasodilation when pressure is decreased. Such myogenic vasoconstriction provides a level of basal tone that enables arterioles to appropriately adjust diameter in response to neurohumoral stimuli. Key in this process of mechanotransduction is the role of changes in intracellular Ca2+. However, it is becoming clear that considerable complexity exists in the spatiotemporal characteristics of the Ca2+ signal and that changes in intracellular Ca2+ may play roles other than direct effects on the contractile process via activation of myosin light-chain phosphorylation. The involvement of Ca2+ may extend to modulation of ion channels and release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, alterations in Ca2+ sensitivity, and coupling between cells within the vessel wall. The purpose of this brief review is to summarize the current literature relating to Ca2+ and the arteriolar myogenic response. Consideration is given to coupling of Ca2+ changes to the mechanical stimuli, sources of Ca2+, involvement of ion channels, and spatiotemporal aspects of intracellular Ca2+ signaling.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document