title: Relaxation in ferret ventricular myocytes: unusual interplay among calcium transport systems.
abstract: Transport systems responsible for removing Ca2+ from the myoplasm during relaxation in isolated ferret ventricular myocytes were studied using caffeine-induced contractures. Internal calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured with the fluorescent calcium indicator indo-1, and the results were compared with our recent detailed characterizations in rabbit and rat myocytes. Relaxation and [Ca2+]i decline during a twitch in ferret myocytes were fast and similar to that in rat myocytes (i.e. half-time, t 1/2 approximately 100-160 ms). During a caffeine-induced contracture (SR Ca2+ accumulation prevented), relaxation was still relatively fast (t 1/2 = 0.57 s) and similar to relaxation in rabbit supported mainly by a strong Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange. When both the SR Ca2+ uptake and Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange are blocked (by caffeine and 0 Na+, 0 Ca2+ solution) relaxation in the ferret myocyte is remarkably fast (approximately 5-fold) compared with rabbit and rat myocytes. The decline of the Cai2+ transient was also fast under these conditions. These values were similar to those in rat under conditions where relaxation is due primarily to Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange. Additional inhibition of either the sarcolemmal Ca(2+)-ATPase or mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake caused only modest slowing of the relaxation of caffeine-induced contracture in 0 Na+, 0 Ca2+ (t 1/2 increased to approximately 3 s). In rabbit myocytes the relaxation t 1/2 is slowed to 20-30 s by these procedures. Even when the systems responsible for slow relaxation in rabbit ventricular myocytes are inhibited (i.e. sarcolemmal Ca(2+)-ATPase and mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake) along with the SR Ca(2+)-ATPase and Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange, relaxation and [Ca2+]i decline in ferret myocytes remain rapid compared with rabbit myocytes. Ca2+ taken up by mitochondria in rabbit myocytes during a caffeine contracture in 0 Na+, 0 Ca2+ solution gradually returns to the SR after caffeine removal, but this component appears to be much smaller in ferret myocytes under the same conditions. We tested for possible residual Ca2+ transport by each of the four systems which suffice to explain Ca2+ removal from the cytoplasm in rabbit (SR Ca(2+)-ATPase, Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange, sarcolemmal Ca(2+)-ATPase and mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake). We conclude that there is an additional calcium transport system at work in ferret myocytes. For this additional system, our results are most compatible with a trans-sarcolemmal Ca2+ transport, but neither a cation exchanger nor a Ca(2+)-ATPase with characteristics like that in other cardiac cells. This additional system appears able to transport Ca2+ nearly as fast as the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange in rat ventricular myocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Loyola University School of Medicine, Maywood, IL 0153.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bassani
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bassani
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005289:Ferrets; D005453:Fluorescence; D006207:Half-Life; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000378:metabolism; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; D002110:Caffeine; D012964:Sodium; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D002118:Calcium