Incorporation of sarcolemmal calcium transporters into the Shorten et al. (2007) model of skeletal muscle: equations, coding, and stability

We describe a major development of the Shorten et al. (Shorten et al., 2007) model of skeletal muscle electrophysiology, biochemistry, and mechanics. The model was developed by incorporating equations for sarcolemmal transport of calcium ions, including L-type calcium channel, sodium-calcium exchange, calcium pump, and background calcium channel. The extended model also includes an addition to the equations for extracellular potassium ion movements to enable the exchange of potassium ions between bulk (plasma) concentration and the interstitial and tubular compartments to be modeled. In further research in an accompanying paper (Tasaki et al, 2019), we succeeded in reproducing muscle cramp, as well as its prevention and reversal, by investigating muscle contraction and cramp using this extended model in comparison with the original model.

Incorporation of sarcolemmal calcium transporters into the Shorten et al. (2007) model of skeletal muscle: equations, coding, and stability

We describe a major development of the Shorten et al. (Shorten et al., 2007) model of skeletal muscle electrophysiology, biochemistry, and mechanics. The model was developed by incorporating equations for sarcolemmal transport of calcium ions, including L-type calcium channel, sodium-calcium exchange, calcium pump, and background calcium channel. The extended model also includes an addition to the equations for extracellular potassium ion movements to enable the exchange of potassium ions between bulk (plasma) concentration and the interstitial and tubular compartments to be modeled. In further research in an accompanying paper (Tasaki et al, 2019), we succeeded in reproducing muscle cramp, as well as its prevention and reversal, by investigating muscle contraction and cramp using this extended model in comparison with the original model.

Incorporation of sarcolemmal calcium transporters into the Shorten et al. (2007) model of skeletal muscle: equations, coding, and stability

We describe a major development of the Shorten et al. (Shorten et al., 2007) model of skeletal muscle electrophysiology, biochemistry, and mechanics. The model was developed by incorporating equations for sarcolemmal transport of calcium ions, including L-type calcium channel, sodium-calcium exchange, calcium pump, and background calcium channel. The extended model also includes an addition to the equations for extracellular potassium ion movements to enable the exchange of potassium ions between bulk (plasma) concentration and the interstitial and tubular compartments to be modeled. In further research in an accompanying paper (Tasaki et al, 2019), we succeeded in reproducing muscle cramp, as well as its prevention and reversal, by investigating muscle contraction and cramp using this extended model in comparison with the original model.

Computational evidence for protein-mediated fatty acid transport across the sarcolemma

Long-chain fatty acids (FAs) are important substrates used by the heart to fulfil its energy requirements. Prior to mitochondrial oxidation, blood-borne FAs must pass through the cell membrane of the cardiac myocyte (sarcolemma). The mechanism underlying the sarcolemmal transport of FAs is incompletely understood. The aim of the present study was to estimate the trans-sarcolemmal FA uptake rate using a comprehensive computer model, in which the most relevant mechanisms proposed for cardiac FA uptake were incorporated. Our in silico findings show that diffusion of FA, present in its unbound form (uFA) in close proximity to the outer leaflet of the sarcolemma and serving as sole FA source, is insufficient to account for the physiological FA uptake rate. The inclusion of a hypothetical membrane-associated FA-TFPC (FA-transport-facilitating protein complex) in the model calculations substantially increased the FA uptake rate across the sarcolemma. The model requires that the biological properties of the FA-TFPC allow for increasing the rate of absorption of FA into the outer leaflet and the ‘flip-flop’ rate of FA from the outer to the inner leaflet of the sarcolemma. Experimental studies have identified various sarcolemma-associated proteins promoting cardiac FA uptake. It remains to be established whether these proteins possess the properties predicted by our model. Our findings also indicate that albumin receptors located on the outer leaflet of the sarcolemma facilitate the transfer of FA across the membrane to a significant extent. The outcomes of the computer simulations were verified with physiologically relevant FA uptake rates as assessed in the intact, beating heart in experimental studies.

K+ and Lac- distribution in humans during and after high-intensity exercise: role in muscle fatigue attenuation?

This review describes processes for the distribution of K+ ([K+]) and lactate concentrations ([Lac-]) that are released from contracting muscle at high rates during high-intensity exercise. This results in increased interstitial and venous [K+] and [Lac-] in contracting muscle. Large and rapid increases in plasma [K+] and [Lac-] result in the transport of these ions into red blood cells (RBCs). These ions are distributed to noncontracting tissues within both the plasma and RBC compartments of blood. The extraction of K+ and Lac- from the circulation by noncontracting tissue serves to markedly attenuate exercise-induced increases in plasma [K+] and [Lac-]. This apparent regulation of the plasma compartment by noncontracting tissues helps to maintain favorable concentration gradients for the net movement of [K+] and [Lac-] into the venous side of the microcirculation from interstitial fluids of contracting muscle. This provides conditions that 1) reduce the increase in interstitial [K+], thereby decreasing the magnitude and rate of sarcolemmal depolarization, and 2) favor the sarcolemmal transport of Lac- from within contracting muscle cells, thereby regulating intracellular osmolality and H+ concentration. On cessation of exercise, net K+ uptake by recovering muscle is rapid, with 90–95% recovery of intracellular [K+] within 3.5 min, indicating a very high rate of Na+-K+ pump activity. The K+ extracted by noncontracting tissues during exercise may be slowly released during recovery. During the initial minutes of recovery, recovering muscle continues to release Lac- into the circulation, and noncontracting tissues continue to extract Lac- for up to 30 min. The uptake of Lac- by noncontracting tissues results in elevated intracellular [Lac-]. There is no evidence that Lac- extracted by noncontracting tissues is subsequently released; it is probably metabolized within these cells. We conclude that the uptake of K+ and Lac- by RBCs and noncontracting tissues regulates ion homeostasis within plasma and the interstitial and intracellular compartments of contracting muscle. The regulatory processes help to maintain the function of active muscles by delaying the onset of fatigue during exercise and to restore homeostasis during recovery.

Na(+)-H+ and Na(+)-dependent Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange control pHi in vascular smooth muscle

The mechanisms that control intracellular pH (pHi) in vascular smooth muscle are not fully understood. These studies were performed to determine the identity and relative importance of the sarcolemmal transport systems that mediate net acid efflux in primary cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from canine femoral artery. In HEPES- or HCO3(-)-buffered physiological salt solution (HEPES-PSS, HCO3(-)-PSS), recovery from an acute acid load was totally dependent on external Na+. 5-[N-ethyl-N-isopropyl]amiloride (EIPA, 50 microM) inhibited pHi recovery 100 and 68% in HEPES-PSS and HCO3(-)-PSS, respectively. EIPA-insensitive pHi recovery in HCO3(-)-PSS was inhibited 48% by 4,4'-diisothyocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS). An outwardly directed H+ gradient stimulated amiloride-sensitive 22Na+ uptake, and an inwardly directed HCO3- gradient stimulated amiloride-insensitive 22Na+ uptake. The latter was inhibited by DIDS or prior depletion of cell Cl-. In HEPES-PSS, resting pHi was 7.17 +/- 0.03, was not affected by DIDS, but was lowered by EIPA or by removing extracellular Na+. In HCO3(-)-PSS, resting pHi was 7.25 +/- 0.02 (P less than 0.05) and was not affected by EIPA. Removing extracellular Na+ in the presence of EIPA decreased pHi in HCO3(-)-PSS but not in HEPES-PSS. DIDS lowered resting pHi in HCO3(-)-PSS, after which EIPA further lowered pHi. We conclude that acid efflux from these cells is mediated by a Na(+)-H+ exchanger and a Na(+)-dependent Cl(-)-HCO3- exchanger. In HEPES-PSS, acid efflux via the Na(+)-H+ exchanger maintains resting pHi. In HCO3(-)-PSS, additional acid efflux via the Na(+)-dependent Cl(-)-HCO3- exchanger results in a higher pHi. Although the Na(+)-H+ exchanger is primarily responsible for acid efflux after an acute acid load, the Na(+)-dependent Cl(-)-HCO3- exchanger is responsible for acid efflux under physiological conditions.

SR Ca loading in cardiac muscle preparations based on rapid-cooling contractures

The influence of rest periods on twitches and rapid-cooling contractures (RCCs) was examined in trabeculae from rabbit, rat, guinea pig, and frog ventricle and rabbit atrium. RCCs were used as a relative index of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca content. After increasing rest duration, rabbit and guinea pig ventricles exhibit a decline of both twitch force and RCC force (rest decay). When stimulation is resumed, both twitches and RCCs recover to steady-state levels. The SR (and cells) in these tissues may lose Ca during quiescence and become reloaded with progressive stimulation. Rat ventricle and rabbit atrium exhibited an increase in both twitch and RCC tension as a function of rest duration (rest potentiation). Resumption of stimulation resulted in parallel declines of both twitch and RCC tension approaching steady state. Thus stimulation in rat ventricle and rabbit atrium may lead to a net Ca loss from the SR (and the cell) and quiescence may lead to replenishment of cellular Ca. This major difference in Ca metabolism in mammalian cardiac muscles might be due to a fundamental difference in SR properties or, alternatively, different sarcolemmal transport properties (e.g., action potential configuration, Na-pump). After long rest intervals in rabbit and guinea pig ventricle, RCCs return toward their steady-state value in considerably fewer beats than does twitch tension. This implies that something other than SR refilling is responsible for the slow phase of twitch recovery after rest. In rabbit ventricle increasing frequency or extracellular Ca concentration ([Ca]o) generally increases both twitch and RCC tension. However, decreasing [Ca]o (to 0.2 mM) does not decrease RCCs much despite a dramatic decline in twitch tension (suggesting low twitch tension despite a loaded SR). Rapid rewarming during an RCC usually results in a transient rise in tension (or rewarming "spike"), which is due to a warming-induced increase in myofilament Ca sensitivity. Differences in rewarming spikes among the tissues studied suggest differences in temperature effects on myofilament Ca sensitivity.