Effect of cardioplegic preservation on intracellular calcium transients.
Intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of cardiac function. We investigated the effect of cardioplegic preservation on [Ca2+]i transients in the isolated and perfused guinea pig heart loaded with a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator (fura-2). The measurements of [Ca2+]i transients and isovolumetric left ventricular pressure revealed that [Ca2+]i transients and mechanical responses to [Ca2+]i were markedly altered during 15 minutes of normothermic global ischemia and after reperfusion. First, [Ca2+]i transients remained during ischemia without generation of active force of contraction. Such a manifestation of depressed sensitivity of the myofilaments to Ca2+ persisted for the first 5 minutes after reperfusion. Second, the amplitude of [Ca2+]i was diminished during ischemia and reperfusion. Third, diastolic [Ca2+]i was increased during ischemia and especially at the onset of reperfusion. Bolus infusion of cold St. Thomas' Hospital solution abolished [Ca2+]i transients and left ventricular pressure development at an end-diastolic level. Moreover, improved recovery of left ventricular function during reperfusion afforded by the hypothermic cardioplegia was intimately related to its ability to modulate impaired [Ca2+]i transients and mechanical responses to [Ca2+]i; improvement of systolic left ventricular function appears to be produced by restoration of Ca2+ sensitivity of the myofilaments and the amplitude of [Ca2+]i transients, whereas better diastolic compliance of the left ventricle is ascribed to significantly lower diastolic [Ca2+]i. These results may provide new insight into the mechanism of cardioplegic preservation on the basis of [Ca2+]i transients.
Kato
Y
Y
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
Otani
H
H
Tanaka
K
K
Saito
Y
Y
Fukunaka
M
M
Imamura
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002314:Cardioplegic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D001639:Bicarbonates; D002314:Cardioplegic Solutions; C041711:St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D008274:Magnesium; D002122:Calcium Chloride; D002118:Calcium