• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.529-543
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• 2020

In contrast to ventricular myocytes, the structural and functional importance of atrial transverse tubules (T-tubules) is not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated the ultrastructure of T-tubules of living rat atrial myocytes in comparison with ventricular myocytes. Nanoscale cell surface imaging by scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) was accompanied by confocal imaging of intracellular T-tubule network, and the effect of removal of T-tubules on atrial excitation-contraction coupling (EC-coupling) was observed. By SICM imaging, we classified atrial cell surface into 4 subtypes. About 38% of atrial myocytes had smooth cell surface with no clear T-tubule openings and intracellular T-tubules (smooth-type). In 33% of cells, we found a novel membrane nanostructure running in the direction of cell length and named it 'longitudinal fissures' (LFs-type). Interestingly, T-tubule openings were often found inside the LFs. About 17% of atrial cells resembled ventricular myocytes, but they had smaller T-tubule openings and a lower Z-groove ratio than the ventricle (ventricular-type). The remaining 12% of cells showed a mixed structure of each subtype (mixed-type). The LFs-, ventricular-, and mixed-type had an appreciable amount of reticular form of intracellular T-tubules. Formamide-induced detubulation effectively removed atrial T-tubules, which was confirmed by both confocal images and decreased cell capacitance. However, the LFs remained intact after detubulation. Detubulation reduced action potential duration and L-type Ca²⁺ channel (LTCC) density, and prolonged relaxation time of the myocytes. Taken together, we observed heterogeneity of rat atrial T-tubules and membranous ultrastructure, and the alteration of atrial EC-coupling by disruption of T-tubules.

• 약학회지
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.247-250
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• 2011

An increase in ventricular pressure can alter cardiac excitation and contraction. Recent report has demonstrated that fluid pressure (FP) suppresses L-type $Ca^{2+}$ current with acceleration of the current inactivation in ventricular myocytes. Since the L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels known to be regulated by intracellular pH ($pH_i$), this study was designed to explore whether pressurized fluid flow affects pHi in isolated rat ventricular myocytes. A flow of pressurized (~16 dyne/$cm^2$) fluid, identical to that bathing the myocytes, was applied onto single myocytes, and intracellular $H^+$ concentration was monitored using confocal $H^+$ imaging. FP significantly decreased $pH_i$ by $0.07{\pm}0.01$ pH units (n=16, P<0.01). Intracellular acidosis enhances the activity of $Na^+-H^+$ exchanger (NHE). Therefore, we examined if the NHE activity is increased by FP using the NHE inhibitor, HOE642. Although HOE642 did not alter $pH_i$ in control conditions, it decreased $pH_i$ in cells pre-exposed to FP, suggesting enhancement of NHE activity by FP. In addition, FP-induced intracellular acidosis was larger in cells pre-treated with HOE642 than in cells under the control conditions. These results suggest that FP induces intracellular acidosis and that NHE may contribute to extrude $H^+$ during the FP-induced acidosis in rat ventricular myocytes.

• 약학회지
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• 제58권4호
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• pp.245-249
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• 2014

Murrayafoline-A (1-methoxy-3-methylcarbazole) is a monomeric carbazole alkaloid found in Murraya euchrestifolia HAYATA and Glycosmis stenocarpa. We have recently shown that murrayafoline-A has positive inotropic effect in isolated rat ventricular myocytes. To know possible mechanisms for the positive inotropic effect of murrayafoline-A we examined the effects of murrayafoline-A on in situ behavior of cardiac $Ca^{2+}$ release units ('$Ca^{2+}$ sparks') and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) $Ca^{2+}$ loading using confocal $Ca^{2+}$ imaging method in single rat ventricular myocytes. Murrayafoline-A significantly increased the frequency (events/($10^3{\mu}m^2{\cdot}s$)) of $Ca^{2+}$ sparks in a concentration-dependent manner, with an $EC_{50}$ of $28{\pm}6.4{\mu}M$ and a maximal ~twofold change. The $Ca^{2+}$ content in the SR, measured as caffeine (10 mM)-induced $Ca^{2+}$ transient, was significantly increased by murrayafoline-A (${\approx}$116% and ${\approx}$123% of control at 25 and 100 ${\mu}M$, respectively). In addition, murrayafoline-A significantly increased the fractional $Ca^{2+}$ release, suggesting increase in the efficacy of $Ca^{2+}$ release at given SR $Ca^{2+}$ loading. These results suggest that murrayafoline-A may enhance contractility via increase in $Ca^{2+}$ release from the SR through the ryanodine receptors in ventricular myocytes.

• 약학회지
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• 제55권2호
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• pp.168-171
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• 2011

Chrysosplenol C [5,6-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dimethoxychromen-4-one] is a flavonoid found in Miliusa balansae and Pterocaulon sphacelatum. We have recently shown that chrysosplenol C has positive inotropic effect in isolated rat ventricular myocytes. In the present study, we explored a possible mechanism for the positive inotropic effect of chrysosplenol C by examining intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ transients during action potentials. The intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ transients were measured by confocal $Ca^{2+}$ imaging in field-stimulated single rat ventricular myocytes. Chrysosplenol C (50 ${\mu}M$) significantly increased the magnitudes (${\Delta}F/F_0$) of $Ca^{2+}$ transients (control, $1.08{\pm}0.05$; chrysosplenol C, $1.25{\pm}0.03$; n=8, P<0.01). Half decay time of the action potential-induced $Ca^{2+}$ transient was not altered by chrysosplenol C (50 ${\mu}M$) (control, $154{\pm}6$ ms; chrysosplenol C, $167{\pm}11$ ms; n=21). The $Ca^{2+}$ content in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), measured as caffeine (10 mM)-induced $Ca^{2+}$ transient, was significantly decreased by chrysosplenol C (50 ${\mu}M$). These results indicate that chrysosplenol C increases $Ca^{2+}$ transients without altering $Ca^{2+}$ removal kinetics in ventricular myocytes, providing a possible mechanism for its positive inotropic effect.

• 약학회지
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.111-117
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• 2006

Cardiac chambers serve as mechanosensory systems during the haemodynamic or mechanical disturbances. To examine a possible role of fluid pressure (FP) in the regulatien of atrial $Ca^{2+}$ signaling we investigated the effect of FP on L-type $Ca^{2+}$ current $(I_{Ca})$ in rat ventricular myocytes using whole-cell patch-clamp technique. FP $(\sim40cm\;H_2O)$ was applied to whole area of single myocytes with electronically controlled micro-jet system. FP suppressed the magnitude of peak $I_{Ca}$ by $\cong25\%$ at 0 mV without changing voltage dependence of the current-voltage relationship. FP significantly accelerated slow component in inactivation of $I_{Ca}$, but not its fast component. Analysis of steady-state inactivation curve revealed a reduction of the number of $Ca^{2+}$ channels available for activity in the presence of FP. Dialysis of myocytes with high concentration of immobile $Ca^{2+}$ buffer partially attenuated the FP-induced suppression of $I_{Ca}$. In addition, the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ buttering abolished the FP-induced acceleration of slow component in $I_{Ca}$ inactivation. These results indicate that FP sup-presses $Ca^{2+}$ currents, in part, by increasing cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ concentration.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.386-392
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• 2012

The endothelin (ET) signaling pathway controls many physiological processes in myocardium and often becomes upregulated in heart diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ET receptor upregulation on the contractile function of adult ventricular myocytes. Primary cultured adult rat ventricular myocytes were used as a model system of ET receptor overexpression in the heart. Endothelin receptor type A ($ET_A$) or type B ($ET_B$) was overexpressed by Adenoviral infection, and the twitch responses of infected ventricular myocytes were measured after ET-1 stimulation. Overexpression of $ET_A$ exaggerated positive inotropic effect (PIE) and diastolic shortening of ET-1, and induced a new twitch response including twitch broadening. On the contrary, overexpression of $ET_B$ increased PIE of ET-1, but did not affect other two twitch responses. Control myocytes expressing endogenous receptors showed a parallel increase in twitch amplitude and systolic $Ca^{2+}$ in response to ET-1. However, intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ did not change in proportion to the changes in contractility in myocytes overexpressing $ET_A$. Overexpression of $ET_A$ enhanced both systolic and diastolic contractility without parallel changes in $Ca^{2+}$. Differential regulation of this nature indicates that upregulation of $ET_A$ may contribute to diastolic myocardial dysfunction by selectively targeting myofilament proteins that regulate resting cell length, twitch duration and responsiveness to prevailing $Ca^{2+}$.

• 약학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.129-138
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• 1984

Specific [$^{3}H$] ouabain binding and $Ca^{2+}$ -uptake were measured to elucidate the role of high affinity [$^{3}H$] ouabain binding site in rat cardiac myocytes which contain 65% of rod cells. High affinity [$^{3}$H] ouabain binding site, which is about 3% of total pump sites, with apparent dissociation constant ($K_{D}$) of $1.1{\times}10^{-7}M$ and maximum binding site concentration (Bmax) of 1.2 pmol/mg protein ($1.754{\times}10^{5}cells$) were identified. At the concentration of $10^{-7}M$ to $10^{-4}M$, ouabain produced concentration dependent increase in $Ca^{2+}$-uptake of myocytes. The effect of ouabain on $Ca^{2+}$-uptake was not effected by membrane depolarization (elevated K+ in incubation medium) or verapamil. These results suggest that in rat ventricular myocytes the ouabain receptor complex to high affinity site may increase Na+ - $Ca^{2+}$ exchange across the sarcolemmal membrane by inhibition of Na+, K+ - ATPase.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제5권6호
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• pp.487-494
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• 2001

During depolarization, extrusion of $Ca^{2+}$ from sarcoplasmic reticulum through forward-mode $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchange was studied in the rat ventricular myocytes patch-clamped in whole-cell configuration. In order to confine the $Ca^{2+}$ responses in a micro-domain by limiting the $Ca^{2+}$ diffusion time, rat ventricular myocytes were dialyzed with high (14 mM) EGTA. $K^+$ current was suppressed by substituting KCl with 105 mM CsCl and 20 mM TEA in the pipette filling solution and by omitting KCl in the external Tyrode solution. $Cl^-$ current was suppressed by adding 0.1 mM DIDS in the external Tyrode solution. During stimulation roughly mimicking action potential, the initial outward current was converted into inward current, $47{\pm}1%$ of which was suppressed by 0.1 mM $CdCl_2.$ 10 mM caffeine increased the remaining inward current after $CdCl_2$ in a cAMP-dependent manner. This caffeine-induced inward current was blocked by $1\;{\mu}M$ ryanodine, $10\;{\mu}M$ thapsigargin, 5 mM $NiCl_2,$ or by $Na^+\;and\;Ca^{2+}$ omission, but not by $0.1\;{\mu}M$ isoproterenol. The $I{\sim}V$ relationship of the caffeine-induced current elicited inward current from -45 mV to +3 mV with the peak at -25 mV. Taken together, it is concluded that, during activation of the rat ventricular myocyte, forward-mode $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchange extrudes a fraction of $Ca^{2+}$ released from sarcoplasmic reticulum mainly by voltage-sensitive release mechanism in a micro-domain in the t-tubule, which is functionally separable from global $Ca^{2+}{_i}$ by EGTA.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.101-110
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• 2004

Voltage-sensitive release mechanism was pharmacologically dissected from the $Ca^{2+}-induced\;Ca^{2+}\;release$ in the SR $Ca^{2+}$ release in the rat ventricular myocytes patch-clamped in a whole-cell mode. SR $Ca^{2+}$ release process was monitored by using forward-mode $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchange after restriction of the interactions between $Ca^{2+}$ from SR and $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchange within micro-domains with heavy cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ buffering with 10 mM BAPTA. During stimulation every 10 s with a pulse roughly mimicking action potential, the initial outward current gradually turned into a huge inward current of $-12.9{\pm}0.5\;pA/pF$. From the inward current, two different inward $I_{NCX}s$ were identified. One was $10\;{\mu}M$ ryanodine-sensitive, constituting $14.2{\pm}2.3%$. It was completely blocked by $CdCl_2$ (0.1 mM and 0.5 mM) and by $Na^+-depletion$. The other was identified by 5 mM $NiCl_2$ after suppression of $I_{CaL}$ and ryanodine receptor, constituting $14.8{\pm}1.6%$. This latter was blocked by either 10 mM caffeine-induced SR $Ca^{2+}-depletion$ or 1 mM tetracaine. IV-relationships illustrated that the latter was activated until the peak in $30{\sim}35\;mV$ lower voltages than the former. Overall, it was concluded that the SR $Ca^{2+}$ release process in the rat ventricular myocytes is mediated by the voltage-sensitive release mechanism in addition to the $Ca^{2+}-induced-Ca^{2+}\;release$.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.85-98
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• 1989

The ventricular myocardia of 14, 16, 18 and 20-day-old rat fetuses and newborns have been studies by light and electron microscopic morphometrics. The volume density of the myocyte and interstitial compartments as well as volume, surface and numerical density of nuclei were estimated by light microscopic morphometrics. Whereas, the volume density of myofibrils and glycogen granules as well as the volume, surface and numerical density of mitochondria were assessed by electron microscopic morphometrics. The volume density of myocyte compartment of the ventricular myocardia in developing fetuses decreased, but increased in newborn rats. On the other hand, the volume density of the interstitial compartment increased in growing fetuses and decreased in newborns. In all groups the volume, surface and numerical density of nuclei decreased gradually with elongation of myocytes. Conversely, the volume, surface and numerical density of mitochondria and volume density of myofibrils and glycogen granules in ventricular myocytes incresed. The increase in numerical density of mitochondria probably reflects an increase in metabolic activity. Sarcomere length also increased during development.