Calcium compartmentation in cardiac tissue culture: the effects of extracellular sodium depletion.

The effect of extracellular sodium depletion upon cellular calcium distribution in myocardial tissue culture is studied with the use of sucrose or lithium chloride as substitutes for sodium. With sucrose substitution more than 50% of the increase in calcium at the cellular surface secondary to [Na]0 depletion is probably localized to a screening layer with the remainder bound to the sarcolemma of the cell. Calcium distribution (sucrose substituted) is studied under three different perfusion conditions: (1) In HEPES-buffered perfusate (pH = 7.1-7.35) the 113% gain in Ca at the cellular surface upon 33 mM [Na]0 perfusion is rapidly exchangeable, completely lanthanum (La) displaceable and more than 90% reversible. 5 X 10(-5) verapamil does not affect the response. (2) In 10 mM Pi (phosphate) solution at pH = 7.15, in which a slowly exchangeable mitochondrial Ca compartment is added, the gain in Ca after low [Na]0 is again rapidly exchangeable and 85% reversible that is, similar to the response in HEPES-buffered solution. (3) In 10 mM Pi solution at pH = 7.35 in which slow phase calcium uptake in 133 mM [Na]0 is increased, the initial rapid Ca response to low [Na]0 is similar to that in (1) and (2) but the slow phase uptake rate is further increased by 3.75 times. The major portion of this uptake is not reversible upon return to 133 mM [Na]0. The results distinguish two markedly different effects of [Na]0 depletion in tissue culture dependent upon the pre Na-depletion state of Ca compartmentation: (1) Addition of almost all the calcium to rapidly exchangeable sites at the cellular surface when exchange is limited to these sites and to mitochondria. (2) Further addition of calcium to more slowly exchangeable cellular site(s) when slow phase uptake is increased, by elevation of Pi at pH = 7.35, prior to low [Na]0 perfusion.

Effects of cations, phospholipases, and neuraminidase on calcium binding to "gas-dissected" membranes from cultured cardiac cells.

Sarcolemmal membranes prepared by "gas dissection" from monolayers of cultured neonatal rat heart cells were studied with respect to their ability to bind calcium. Lanthanum displacement of calcium was 168 +/- 7 nmol/mg sarcolammel protein. This represents 3.21 mmol Ca/kg dry weight original cells on the basis of the measured membrane protein: dry cell weight ratio of 19.1 g/kg. Lanthanum-displaceable calcium from whole cells was essentially equal (3.32 mmol/kg dry weight), which indicates that all calcium displaceable from whole cells by lanthanum is localized to sarcolemmal sites. The potency of a series of divalent cations for calcium displacement from the sarcolemma was according to similarity of their crystal radii to that of calcium (cadmium greater than manganese greater than magnesium). This order was the same for the cations' ability to displace calcium from whole cells and for their ability to uncouple excitation from contraction in neonatal papillary muscle. The membranes were treated with four enzymes: phospholipase A2, phospholipase C, phopholipase D, and neuraminidase. Phospholipase A2 and phospholipase D produced significantly increased calcium-binding. The increased binding secondary to phospholipase A2 treatment was eliminated by an albumin wash which was indicative of binding to the fatty acid product of hydrolysis. The increase after phospholipase D treatment can be attributed to an increase in phosphatidate, with attendant increase in net anionic charge on the membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium compartmentalization in cultured and adult myocardium: activation of a caffeine-sensitive component.

Calcium (Ca) exchange was studied under various perfusion conditions in monolayer myocardial culture and in the interventricular septum of the rabbit. In cultured cells perfused in HEPES buffered medium or in 10 mM phosphate (Pi), pH less than 7.2, 10 mM caffeine produced no change in 45Ca uptake rate. By contrast, increase of pH to 7.35 in the presence of 10 mM Pi caused 45Ca uptake rate to increase by more than two-fold when caffeine was added. Control 45Ca uptake (prior to caffeine) was markedly increased in 10 mM Pi, pH = 7.35 as compared to the two other perfusion conditions in the cultured cells. The same sequence of response of 47Ca uptake rate to caffeine was found in the rabbit septum, i.e. no increased uptake under HEPES or Pi, pH less than 7.2 perfusion, but significant increase under 10 mM Pi, pH 7.35 with development of progressive contracture only in the last case. Two other conditions produced sensitivity (both in 47Ca uptake and contracture) to caffeine in the septum. Preperfusion with ouabain in HEPES buffer increased caffeine sensitivity proportional to ouabain concentration (5 X 10(-7) to 10(-5) M) as did preperfusion with vanadate at low concentration (1 to 3 X 10(-6) M). The results suggest that activation of Ca uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is dependent upon a threshold of cellular Ca and that a stable contractile state is possible in the absence of SR activation in both cultured cells and adult ventricular tissue.

Sialic acid: effect of removal on calcium exchangeability of cultured heart cells.

Specific removal of sialic acid from cultured heart cells with purified neuraminidase increases cellular calcium exchangeability. Potassium exchange is unaffected or slightly decreased. Sialic acid removal also permits lanthanum, normally restricted to the cellular surface, to enter the cells and displace more than 80 percent of cellular calcium. The results indicate a specific role of cellular surface components in the control of calcium exchangeability in the heart.

Localization of contractile-dependent Ca: comparison of Mn and verapamil in cardiac and skeletal muslce.

The effects of two excitation-contraction uncoupling agents, manganese (Mn) and verapamil, are compared in heart and fast-twitch skeletal muscle. Particular attention is given to the effect of the agents on the first contraction following a period of quiescence when the agents are administered during the quiescent period. Mn significantly diminishes dP/dt of the first beat in heart muscle, whereas verapamil has no significant effect. Neither Mn nor verapamil has a significant effect on the first postquiescent contraction in skeletal muscle, though verapamil produces a diminution of dP/dt in subsequent contractions in both tissues. A comparison of the effect of the agents on 45Ca exchange in heart cells in tissue culture indicates that Mn induces a rapid displacement of a rapidly exchangeable component of heart-cell calcium with subsequent inhibiton of influx. Verapamil, by contrast, produces no rapid displacement but only an inhibiton of influx. The functional and Ca-exchange effect of the two agents are compatible with a model which places most of the contractile-dependent Ca at the cellular surface in heart muscle and at deeper, intracellular sites in fast-twitch skeletal muscle.