Ouabain potentiation and Ca release from sarcoplasmic reticulum in cardiac and skeletal muscle cells

In this article, we describe a possible mechanism of ouabain potentiation in heart based on the following findings in cardiac and skeletal muscles of various species. (1) In heart ventricle muscles of frog and guinea pig, the ouabain potentiation is produced without an effect on Ca influx. In both frog and cat heart ventricle muscles, ouabain potentiates the rapid cooling contracture with or without caffeine in a Ca-deprived medium. It follows, therefore, that the ouabain potentiation is produced by an "intracellular" mechanism. (2) In crab single muscle fibers, contractile responses such as twitch, potassium-induced contracture, caffeine-induced contracture, and water-induced contracture are remarkably potentiated if ouabain is present within the fibers by microinjection, whereas the situation is reversed if the drug is given extracellularly. (3) The ouabain potentiated the Ca release from fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum (FSR) isolated from cat, guinea pig, and frog heart and from skeletal muscles as a result of the procedures used, such as changing the ionic environment. (4) In frog, cat, and guinea pig heart ventricle muscles, a reduction of contractility as a result of pretreatment with urea–Ringer's was completely cancelled by ouabain almost without influencing the membrane depolarization. Based on these findings and others, the deduction was made that the positive inotropic effect of cardiac glycosides on the heart is brought about by potentiation of contraction – Ca release from the intracellular store sites, namely the sarcoplasmic reticulum.