title: Ca2+ transients in cardiac myocytes measured with high and low affinity Ca2+ indicators.
abstract: Intracellular calcium ion ([Ca2+]i) transients were measured in voltage-clamped rat cardiac myocytes with fura-2 or furaptra to quantitate rapid changes in [Ca2+]i. Patch electrode solutions contained the K+ salt of fura-2 (50 microM) or furaptra (300 microM). With identical experimental conditions, peak amplitude of stimulated [Ca2+]i transients in furaptra-loaded myocytes was 4- to 6-fold greater than that in fura-2-loaded cells. To determine the reason for this discrepancy, intracellular fura-2 Ca2+ buffering, kinetics of Ca2+ binding, and optical properties were examined. Decreasing cellular fura-2 concentration by lowering electrode fura-2 concentration 5-fold, decreased the difference between the amplitudes of [Ca2+]i transients in fura-2 and furaptra-loaded myocytes by twofold. Thus, fura-2 buffers [Ca2+]i under these conditions; however, Ca2+ buffering is not the only factor that explains the different amplitudes of the [Ca2+]i transients measured with these indicators. From the temporal comparison of the [Ca2+]i transients measured with fura-2 and furaptra, the apparent reverse rate constant for Ca2+ binding of fura-2 was at least 65s-1, much faster than previously reported in skeletal muscle fibers. These binding kinetics do not explain the difference in the size of the [Ca2+]i transients reported by fura-2 and furaptra. Parameters for fura-2 calibration, Rmin, Rmax, and beta, were obtained in salt solutions (in vitro) and in myocytes exposed to the Ca2+ ionophore, 4-Br A23187, in EGTA-buffered solutions (in situ). Calibration of fura-2 fluorescence signals with these in situ parameters yielded [Ca2+]i transients whose peak amplitude was 50-100% larger than those calculated with in vitro parameters. Thus, in vitro calibration of fura-2 fluorescence significantly underestimates the amplitude of the [Ca2+]i transient. These data suggest that the difference in amplitude of [Ca2+]i transients in fura-2 and furaptra-loaded myocytes is due, in part, to Ca2+ buffering by fura-2 and use of in vitro calibration parameters.
authors.affiliation: Bockus Research Institute, Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19146.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Berlin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Konishi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D002021:Buffers; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D016257:Fura-2 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010080:Oxazoles; D051381:Rats; D012518:Sarcomeres / Q000378:metabolism; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D002021:Buffers; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D010080:Oxazoles; C058776:2-(2-(5-carboxy)oxazole)-5-hydroxy-6-aminobenzofuran-N,N,O-triacetic acid; D000001:Calcimycin; C033170:4-bromo-A-23187; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2