title: Calcium spark properties in ventricular myocytes are altered in aged mice.
abstract: This study determined whether whole cell Ca(2+) transients and unitary sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) release events are constant throughout adult life or whether Ca(2+) release is altered in aging ventricular myocytes. Myocytes were isolated from young adult (approximately 5 mo old) and aged (approximately 24 mo old) mice. Spontaneous Ca(2+) sparks and Ca(2+) transients initiated by field stimulation were detected with fluo-4. All experiments were conducted at 37 degrees C. Ca(2+) transient amplitudes were reduced, and Ca(2+) transient rise times were abbreviated in aged cells stimulated at 8 Hz compared with young adult myocytes. Furthermore, the incidence and frequency of spontaneous Ca(2+) sparks were markedly higher in aged myocytes compared with young adult cells. Spark amplitudes and spatial widths were similar in young adult and aged myocytes. However, spark half-rise times and half-decay times were abbreviated in aged cells compared with younger cells. Resting cytosolic Ca(2+) levels and SR Ca(2+) stores were assessed by rapid application of caffeine in fura-2-loaded cells. Neither resting Ca(2+) levels nor SR Ca(2+) content differed between young adult and aged cells. Thus increased spark frequency in aging cells was not attributable to increased SR Ca(2+) stores. Furthermore, the decrease in Ca(2+) transient amplitude was not due to a decrease in SR Ca(2+) load. These results demonstrate that alterations in fundamental SR Ca(2+) release units occur in aging ventricular myocytes and raise the possibility that alterations in Ca(2+) release may reflect age-related changes in fundamental release events rather than changes in SR Ca(2+) stores and diastolic Ca(2+) levels.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 1X5. Susan.Howlett@Dal.ca
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Howlett
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Grandy
authors.forename: Gregory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ferrier
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000502:physiology*; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000502:physiology*; D016276:Ventricular Function
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium