title: Myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity in intact versus skinned rat ventricular muscle.
abstract: The Ca2+ sensitivity of myofilaments was compared before and after skinning in the same rat trabeculae at a diastolic sarcomere length of 2.2 to 2.3 microns. Trabeculae from rat right ventricle were loaded with fura-2 salt by iontophoretic microinjection, and [Ca2+]i was determined from the epifluorescence at 510 nm when excited at 340 and 380 nm. Steady-state activation was achieved by stimulating the muscle at 10 Hz after 10 to 20 minutes of application of ryanodine (5 mumol/L). The muscles were then skinned with Triton X-100 (1%) for 15 to 25 minutes and subsequently activated with solutions containing varied [Ca2+]. The intact force-[Ca2+] relation was highly cooperative (Hill coefficient, 4.87 +/- 0.35; n = 10), with a low [Ca2+]i required for half-maximal activation (K1/2) (0.62 +/- 0.03 mumol/L). After skinning, the Hill coefficient fell to 2.72 and the K 1/2 shifted rightward to 2.2 mumol/L in the presence of 1.2 mmol/L free Mg2+. Because of uncertainty regarding the appropriate [Mg2+], we measured [Mg2+]i at 0.72 +/- 0.06 mmol/L (n = 11) with Mg-fura-2 salt. When activating solutions were modified to contain [Mg2+] = 0.5 mmol/L, the force-[Ca2+] relation was shifted to the left (K 1/2 = 0.93 +/- 0.1, n = 10) with a Hill coefficient of 3.75 +/- 0.37, but the changes were not sufficient to superimpose with the intact force-[Ca2+] relation (P < .05 versus intact). These results suggest that, despite the significant effect of Mg2+ on the force-[Ca2+] relation in skinned muscles, the Ca2+ responsiveness of the myofilaments is still altered by skinning.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Backx
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azan-Backx
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marban
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006706:Homeostasis; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D016276:Ventricular Function
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium