title: Molecular distribution of volume-regulated chloride channels (ClC-2 and ClC-3) in cardiac tissues.
abstract: The molecular identification of cardiac chloride channels has provided probes to investigate their distribution and abundance in heart. In this study, the molecular expression and distribution of volume-regulated chloride channels ClC-2 and ClC-3 in cardiac tissues were analyzed and quantified. Total RNA was isolated from atria and ventricles of several species (dog, guinea pig, and rat) and subjected to a quantitative RT-PCR strategy. ClC-2 and ClC-3 mRNA expression were calculated relative to beta-actin expression within these same tissues. The transcriptional levels of ClC-3 mRNA were between 1.8 and 10.2% of beta-actin expression in atria and between 3.4 and 8.6% of beta-actin in ventricles (n = 3 for each tissue). The levels of ClC-2 in both atria and ventricles were significantly less than those measured for ClC-3 (n = 3; P < 0.05). ClC-2 mRNA levels were between 0.04-0.08% and 0.03-0.18% of beta-actin expression in atria and ventricles, respectively (n = 3 for each tissue). Immunoblots of atrial and ventricular wall protein extracts demonstrated ClC-2- and ClC-3-specific immunoreactivity at 97 and 85 kDa, respectively. Immunohistochemical localization in guinea pig cardiac muscle demonstrates a ubiquitous distribution of ClC-2 and ClC-3 channels in the atrial and ventricular wall. Confocal analysis detected colocalization of ClC-2 and ClC-3 in sarcolemmal membranes and distinct ClC-3 immunoreactivity in cytoplasmic regions. The molecular expression of ClC-2 and ClC-3 in cardiac tissue is consistent with the proposed role of these chloride channels in the regulation of cardiac cell volume and the modulation of cardiac electrical activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada 89557-0046, USA.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Britton
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hatton
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Rossow
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hume
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Horowitz
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D000090007:CLC-2 Chloride Channels; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000378:metabolism*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000090007:CLC-2 Chloride Channels; D018118:Chloride Channels; C115376:ClC-3 channel; D012333:RNA, Messenger