scholarly journals Warmer, faster, stronger: Ca2+ cycling in avian myocardium

2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (19) ◽  
pp. jeb228205
Author(s):  
Tatiana S. Filatova ◽  
Denis V. Abramochkin ◽  
Holly A. Shiels

ABSTRACTBirds occupy a unique position in the evolution of cardiac design. Their hearts are capable of cardiac performance on par with, or exceeding that of mammals, and yet the structure of their cardiomyocytes resembles those of reptiles. It has been suggested that birds use intracellular Ca2+ stored within the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) to power contractile function, but neither SR Ca2+ content nor the cross-talk between channels underlying Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) have been studied in adult birds. Here we used voltage clamp to investigate the Ca2+ storage and refilling capacities of the SR and the degree of trans-sarcolemmal and intracellular Ca2+ channel interplay in freshly isolated atrial and ventricular myocytes from the heart of the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). A trans-sarcolemmal Ca2+ current (ICa) was detectable in both quail atrial and ventricular myocytes, and was mediated only by L-type Ca2+ channels. The peak density of ICa was larger in ventricular cells than in atrial cells, and exceeded that reported for mammalian myocardium recorded under similar conditions. Steady-state SR Ca2+ content of quail myocardium was also larger than that reported for mammals, and reached 750.6±128.2 μmol l−1 in atrial cells and 423.3±47.2 μmol l−1 in ventricular cells at 24°C. We observed SR Ca2+-dependent inactivation of ICa in ventricular myocytes, indicating cross-talk between sarcolemmal Ca2+ channels and ryanodine receptors in the SR. However, this phenomenon was not observed in atrial myocytes. Taken together, these findings help to explain the high-efficiency avian myocyte excitation–contraction coupling with regard to their reptilian-like cellular ultrastructure.

1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (4) ◽  
pp. H1178-H1189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satomi Adachi-Akahane ◽  
Lars Cleemann ◽  
Martin Morad

The amplification factor of dihydropyridine (DHP)/ryanodine receptors was defined as the amount of Ca2+ released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) relative to the influx of Ca2+ through L-type Ca2+ channels in rat ventricular myocytes. The amplification factor showed steep voltage dependence at potentials negative to −10 mV but was less dependent on voltage at potentials positive to this value. In cells dialyzed with 0.2 mM cAMP in addition to 2 mM fura 2, the Ca2+-channel agonist (−)-BAY K 8644 enhanced Ca2+-channel current ( I Ca), shifted the activation curve by −10 mV, and significantly delayed its inactivation. Surprisingly, BAY K 8644 reduced the amplification factor by 50% at all potentials, even though the caffeine-releasable Ca2+ stores were mostly intact at holding potentials of −90 mV. In contrast, brief elevation of extracellular Ca2+ activity from 2 to 10 mM enhanced both I Ca and intracellular Ca2+ transients in the absence or presence of BAY K 8644 but had no significant effect on the amplification factor. BAY K 8644 abolished the direct dependence of the rate of inactivation of I Ca on the release of Ca2+ from the SR. These findings suggest that the gain of the Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release in cardiac myocytes is regulated by the gating kinetics of cardiac L-type Ca2+ channels via local exchange of Ca2+ signals between DHP and ryanodine receptors and that BAY K 8644 suppresses the amplification factor through attenuation of the Ca2+-dependent inactivation of Ca2+ channels.


2021 ◽  
Vol 473 (3) ◽  
pp. 477-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Dong Zhang ◽  
Phung N. Thai ◽  
Deborah K. Lieu ◽  
Nipavan Chiamvimonvat

AbstractSmall-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK, KCa2) channels are encoded by KCNN genes, including KCNN1, 2, and 3. The channels play critical roles in the regulation of cardiac excitability and are gated solely by beat-to-beat changes in intracellular Ca2+. The family of SK channels consists of three members with differential sensitivity to apamin. All three isoforms are expressed in human hearts. Studies over the past two decades have provided evidence to substantiate the pivotal roles of SK channels, not only in healthy heart but also with diseases including atrial fibrillation (AF), ventricular arrhythmia, and heart failure (HF). SK channels are prominently expressed in atrial myocytes and pacemaking cells, compared to ventricular cells. However, the channels are significantly upregulated in ventricular myocytes in HF and pulmonary veins in AF models. Interests in cardiac SK channels are further fueled by recent studies suggesting the possible roles of SK channels in human AF. Therefore, SK channel may represent a novel therapeutic target for atrial arrhythmias. Furthermore, SK channel function is significantly altered by human calmodulin (CaM) mutations, linked to life-threatening arrhythmia syndromes. The current review will summarize recent progress in our understanding of cardiac SK channels and the roles of SK channels in the heart in health and disease.


1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (6) ◽  
pp. H1902-H1913 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Golod ◽  
Rajiv Kumar ◽  
Ronald W. Joyner

Action potential conduction through the atrium and the ventricle of the heart depends on the membrane properties of the atrial and ventricular cells, particularly with respect to the determinants of the initiation of action potentials in each cell type. We have utilized both current- and voltage-clamp techniques on isolated cells to examine biophysical properties of the two cell types at physiological temperature. The resting membrane potential, action potential amplitude, current threshold, voltage threshold, and maximum rate of rise measured from atrial cells (−80 ± 1 mV, 109 ± 3 mV, 0.69 ± 0.05 nA, −59 ± 1 mV, and 206 ± 17 V/s, respectively; means ± SE) differed significantly ( P < 0.05) from those values measured from ventricular cells (−82.7 ± 0.4 mV, 127 ± 1 mV, 2.45 ± 0.13 nA, −46 ± 2 mV, and 395 ± 21 V/s, respectively). Input impedance, capacitance, time constant, and critical depolarization for activation also were significantly different between atrial (341 ± 41 MΩ, 70 ± 4 pF, 23.8 ± 2.3 ms, and 19 ± 1 mV, respectively) and ventricular (16.5 ± 5.4 MΩ, 99 ± 4.3 pF, 1.56 ± 0.32 ms, and 36 ± 1 mV, respectively) cells. The major mechanism of these differences is the much greater magnitude of the inward rectifying potassium current in ventricular cells compared with that in atrial cells, with an additional difference of an apparently lower availability of inward Na current in atrial cells. These differences in the two cell types may be important in allowing the atrial cells to be driven successfully by normal regions of automaticity (e.g., the sinoatrial node), whereas ventricular cells would suppress action potential initiation from a region of automaticity (e.g., an ectopic focus).


1998 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 2159-2168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley M. Palmer ◽  
Anne M. Thayer ◽  
Steven M. Snyder ◽  
Russell L. Moore

The effects of run endurance training and fura 2 loading on the contractile function and Ca2+ regulation of rat left ventricular myocytes were examined. In myocytes not loaded with fura 2, the maximal extent of myocyte shortening was reduced with training under our pacing conditions [0.5 Hz at 2.0 and 0.75 mM external Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o)], although training had no effect on the temporal characteristics. The “light” loading of myocytes with fura 2 markedly suppressed (∼50%) maximal shortening in the sedentary and trained groups, although the temporal characteristics of myocyte shortening were significantly prolonged in the trained group. No discernible differences in the dynamic characteristics of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]) transient were detected at 2.0 mM [Ca2+]o, although peak [Ca2+] and rate of [Ca2+] rise during caffeine contracture were greater in the trained state at 0.75 mM [Ca2+]o. We conclude that training induced a diminished myocyte contractile function under the conditions studied here and a more effective coupling of inward Ca2+ current to sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release at low [Ca2+]o, and that fura 2 and its loading vehicle DMSO significantly alter the intrinsic characteristics of myocyte contractile function and Ca2+ regulation.


2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (1) ◽  
pp. H317-H327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaharu Nakayama ◽  
Xinhua Yan ◽  
Robert L. Price ◽  
Thomas K. Borg ◽  
Kenta Ito ◽  
...  

ANG II type 2 receptor (AT2) is upregulated in failing hearts, but its effect on myocyte contractile function is not known. We measured fractional cell shortening and intracellular Ca2+ concentration transients in left ventricular myocytes derived from transgenic mice in which ventricle-specific expression of AT2 was driven by the myosin light chain 2v promoter. Confocal microscopy studies confirmed upregulation of AT2 in the ventricular myocytes and partial colocalization of AT2 with AT1. Three components of contractile performance were studied. First, baseline measurements (0.5 Hz, 1.5 mmol/l extracellular Ca2+ concentration, 25°C) and study of contractile reserve at faster pacing rates (1–5 Hz) revealed Ca2+-dependent contractile dysfunction in myocytes from AT2 transgenic mice. Comparison of two transgenic lines suggested a dose-dependent relationship between magnitude of contractile dysfunction and level of AT2 expression. Second, activity of the Na+/H+ exchanger, a dominant transporter that regulates beat-to-beat intracellular pH, was impaired in the transgenic myocytes. Third, the inotropic response to β-adrenergic versus ANG II stimulation differed. Both lines showed impaired contractile response to β-adrenergic stimulation. ANG II elicited an increase in contractility and intracellular Ca2+ in wild-type myocytes but caused a negative inotropic effect in myocytes from AT2 transgenic mice. In contrast with β-adrenergic response, the depressed response to ANG II was related to level of AT2 overexpression. The depressed response to ANG II was also present in myocytes from young transgenic mice before development of heart failure. Thus chronic overexpression of AT2 has the potential to cause Ca2+- and pH-dependent contractile dysfunction in ventricular myocytes, as well as loss of the inotropic response to ANG II.


2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (1) ◽  
pp. H193-H203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noriyuki Nomura ◽  
Hiroshi Satoh ◽  
Hajime Terada ◽  
Masaki Matsunaga ◽  
Hiroshi Watanabe ◽  
...  

In hearts, intracellular acidosis disturbs contractile performance by decreasing myofibrillar Ca2+ response, but contraction recovers at prolonged acidosis. We examined the mechanism and physiological implication of the contractile recovery during acidosis in rat ventricular myocytes. During the initial 4 min of acidosis, the twitch cell shortening decreased from 2.3 ± 0.3% of diastolic length to 0.2 ± 0.1% (means ± SE, P < 0.05, n = 14), but in nine of these cells, contractile function spontaneously recovered to 1.5 ± 0.3% at 10 min ( P < 0.05 vs. that at 4 min). During the depression phase, both the diastolic intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and Ca2+ transient (CaT) amplitude increased, and the twitch [Ca2+]i decline prolonged significantly ( P < 0.05). In the cells that recovered, a further increase in CaT amplitude and a reacceleration of twitch [Ca2+]i decline were observed. The increase in diastolic [Ca2+]i was less extensive than the increase in the cells that did not recover ( n = 5). Blockade of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function by ryanodine (10 μM) and thapsigargin (1 μM) or a selective inhibitor of Ca2+-calmodulin kinase II, 2-[ N- (2-hydroxyethyl)- N-(4-methoxybenzenesulfonyl)] amino- N-(4-chlorocinnamyl)- N-methyl benzylamine (1 μM) completely abolished the reacceleration of twitch [Ca2+]i decline and almost eliminated the contractile recovery. We concluded that during prolonged acidosis, Ca2+-calmodulin kinase II-dependent reactivation of SR Ca2+ uptake could increase SR Ca2+ content and CaT amplitude. This recovery can compensate for the decreased myofibrillar Ca2+ response, but may also cause Ca2+ overload after returning to physiological pHi.


2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (2) ◽  
pp. H476-H481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loren E. Wold ◽  
Jack T. Saari ◽  
Jun Ren

Dietary copper deficiency leads to cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, derangement of myofibrils, and impaired cardiac contractile and electrophysiological function. The purpose of this study was to determine whether impaired cardiac function from copper deficiency is due to depressed contractile function at the single myocyte level. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets that were either copper adequate (5.59–6.05 μg copper/g body wt; n = 11) or copper deficient (0.29–0.34 μg copper/g body wt; n = 11) for 5 wk. Ventricular myocytes were dispersed and mechanical properties were evaluated using the SoftEdge video-based edge-detection system. Intracellular Ca2+ transients were examined using fura 2-acetoxymethyl ester. Myocytes were electrically stimulated to contract at 0.5 Hz. Properties evaluated included peak shortening (PS), time to peak shortening (TPS), time to 90% relengthening (TR90), and maximal velocities of shortening and relengthening (±d L/d t). Myocytes from the copper-deficient rat hearts exhibited significantly enhanced PS values associated with shortened TR90 measurements compared with those from copper-adequate rat hearts. The ±d L/d t values were enhanced and the intracellular Ca2+ transient decay rate was depressed in myocytes from copper-deficient rats. These data indicate that impaired cardiac contractile function that is seen in copper-deficient whole hearts might not be due to depressed cardiac contractile function at the single cell level but rather to other mechanisms such as cardiac fibrosis.


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.


2004 ◽  
Vol 286 (3) ◽  
pp. H1154-H1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir E. Bondarenko ◽  
Glenna C. L. Bett ◽  
Randall L. Rasmusson

We have developed a model of Ca2+ handling in ferret ventricular myocytes. This model includes a novel L-type Ca2+ channel, detailed intracellular Ca2+ movements, and graded Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR). The model successfully reproduces data from voltage-clamp experiments, including voltage- and time-dependent changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), L-type Ca2+ channel current ( ICaL) inactivation and recovery kinetics, and Ca2+ sparks. The development of graded CICR is critically dependent on spatial heterogeneity and the physical arrangement of calcium channels in opposition to ryanodine-sensitive release channels. The model contains spatially distinct subsystems representing the subsarcolemmal regions where the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) abuts the T-tubular membrane and where the L-type Ca2+ channels and SR ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are localized. There are eight different types of subsystems in our model, with between one and eight L-type Ca2+ channels distributed binomially. This model exhibits graded CICR and provides a quantitative description of Ca2+ dynamics not requiring Monte-Carlo simulations. Activation of RyRs and release of Ca2+ from the SR depend critically on Ca2+ entry through L-type Ca2+ channels. In turn, Ca2+ channel inactivation is critically dependent on the release of stored intracellular Ca2+. Inactivation of ICaL depends on both transmembrane voltage and local [Ca2+]i near the channel, which results in distinctive inactivation properties. The molecular mechanisms underlying many ICaL gating properties are unclear, but [Ca2+]i dynamics clearly play a fundamental role.


2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (10) ◽  
pp. H2008-H2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Kučerová ◽  
Hideo A. Baba ◽  
Peter Bokník ◽  
Larissa Fabritz ◽  
Alexander Heinick ◽  
...  

Calsequestrin (CSQ) is a Ca2+ storage protein that interacts with triadin (TRN), the ryanodine receptor (RyR), and junctin (JUN) to form a macromolecular tetrameric Ca2+ signaling complex in the cardiac junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Heart-specific overexpression of CSQ in transgenic mice (TGCSQ) was associated with heart failure, attenuation of SR Ca2+ release, and downregulation of associated junctional SR proteins, e.g., TRN. Hence, we tested whether co-overexpression of CSQ and TRN in mouse hearts (TGCxT) could be beneficial for impaired intracellular Ca2+ signaling and contractile function. Indeed, the depressed intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca]i) peak amplitude in TGCSQ was normalized by co-overexpression in TGCxT myocytes. This effect was associated with changes in the expression of cardiac Ca2+ regulatory proteins. For example, the protein level of the L-type Ca2+ channel Cav1.2 was higher in TGCxT compared with TGCSQ. Sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) expression was reduced in TGCxT compared with TGCSQ, whereas JUN expression and [3H]ryanodine binding were lower in both TGCxT and TGCSQ compared with wild-type hearts. As a result of these expressional changes, the SR Ca2+ load was higher in both TGCxT and TGCSQ myocytes. In contrast to the improved cellular Ca2+, transient co-overexpression of CSQ and TRN resulted in a reduced survival rate, an increased cardiac fibrosis, and a decreased basal contractility in catheterized mice, working heart preparations, and isolated myocytes. Echocardiographic and hemodynamic measurements revealed a depressed cardiac performance after isoproterenol application in TGCxT compared with TGCSQ. Our results suggest that co-overexpression of CSQ and TRN led to a normalization of the SR Ca2+ release compared with TGCSQ mice but a depressed contractile function and survival rate probably due to cardiac fibrosis, a lower SERCA2a expression, and a blunted response to β-adrenergic stimulation. Thus the TRN-to-CSQ ratio is a critical modulator of the SR Ca2+ signaling.


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