title: The effects of changes to action potential duration on the calcium content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in isolated guinea-pig ventricular myocytes.
abstract: We have estimated sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content using rapid application of caffeine on voltage clamped, isolated guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. Caffeine induces the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and this calcium is extruded from the cells by the sarcolemmal Na/Ca exchange. Integrating the inward Na/Ca exchange current thus allows estimations of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content. Ventricular myocytes were stimulated to reach new steady-states by action potential voltage clamps of varying duration. Once contractile steady-state had been reached caffeine was rapidly applied in place of the next action potential and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content measured. Prolonging the action potential duration increased sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content and vice-versa. This calcium loading may underlie the positive inotropic effect of increased action potential duration.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Dovehouse Street, London, SW3 6LY, UK.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Terracciano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tweedie
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: MacLeod
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016276:Ventricular Function
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine; D002118:Calcium