Cat Heart Research Articles

Effects of extracellular Mg2+ on T- and L-type Ca2+ currents in single atrial myocytes

Whole cell voltage-clamp techniques were used to study the effects of extracellular Mg2+ on T- and L-type Ca2+ currents recorded from single atrial myocytes from cat heart. T and L currents were distinguished primarily by their voltage dependence. With 5.4 mM Ca2+ as charge carrier, maximal T- and L-current densities were 1.0 +/- 0.06 and 9.7 +/- 0.4 pA/pF, respectively. Nickel (Ni2+, 50 microM) inhibited maximal T current (-65.6 +/- 5.9%) more than L current (-15.7 +/- 2.4%), and 10 microM cadmium (Cd2+) inhibited L current (-65.5 +/- 5.9%) without significant effect on T current (-8.7 +/- 8.1%). Mg2+ elicited a dose-dependent inhibition of both T and L currents. Mg2+ less than 8.4 mM inhibited T current more than L current. At Mg2+ greater than or equal to 8.4 mM, T-current inhibition reach a plateau at approximately 52%, whereas L current was further inhibited (-65%) at 16.8 mM Mg2+. Mg2+ elicited a dose-dependent positive shift in half-maximal voltages of activation and inactivation for both T and L currents. Mg2(+)-induced inhibition of both T and L currents was greater in lower (2.7 mM) external Ca2+. Finally, 4.2 mM Mg2+ and 50 microM Ni2+ elicited a similar decrease in the late diastolic slope of subsidiary pacemaker action potentials, whereas 10 microM Cd2+ markedly inhibited action potential amplitude.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Endomyocardial biopsy in cats

SUMMARY A technique for transvenous endomyocardial biopsy of the right ventricle was developed and evaluated for safety and efficacy in anesthetized healthy cats positioned in left lateral recumbency. At least 6 endomyocardial biopsy specimens were obtained from the right ventricle or interventricular septum of 11 cats. In 4 cats, the right jugular vein was torn during attempts to pass the introducing catheter into the right ventricle; however, in only 1 cat did this preclude catheter passage. This cat's heart was biopsied via the left jugular vein. Except for damage to the jugular vein, complications were infrequent, and the biopsy procedure was well tolerated by all cats.

1,4-Bis(3-oxo-2,3-dihydropyridazin-6-yl)benzene analogs: potent phosphodiesterase inhibitors and inodilators

1,4-Bis(3-oxo-2,3-dihydropyridazin-6-yl)benzene and a series of related bis(azinone) compounds were synthesized. These novel compounds were evaluated for inhibition of the low Km, cAMP-selective, cGMP-inhibited phosphodiesterase (PDE III) derived from cat heart and hemodynamic activity in the ganglion- and beta-blocked anesthetized cat. The most potent PDE III inhibitor of the series was 6-[4-(5-methyl-3-oxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridazin-6-yl)-phenyl]p yridazin- 3(2H)-one (IC50 = 0.07 microM), which also retained the greatest inotrope and vasodilator (inodilator) potency (ED50 for first derivative of left ventricular pressure (dLVP/dt(max)) = 0.02 mumol/kg, ED15 for 15% fall in perfusion pressure = 0.01 mumol/kg). The structure-activity relationships observed within the bis(azinone) series were consistent with those reported for formally analogous 6-(4-substituted-phenyl)pyridazin-3(2H)-one-based PDE III-inhibiting inodilators with less-extended phenyl substituents (see e.g. Sircar et al. J. Med. Chem. 1987, 30, 1955, Moos et al. J. Med. Chem. 1987, 30, 1963). PDE III inhibitory potency is associated with overall planar topology of the phenylpyridazinone moiety and the presence of two critically separated electronegative centers. A methyl group at the 5-position of a dihydropyridazinone ring leads to enhanced potency. However, the generally higher levels of PDE III inhibitory potency shown by compounds in the bis(azinone) series relative to earlier 6-(4-substituted-phenyl)pyridazin-3(2H)-one derivatives appears to derive from a closer to optimal separation of two interacting points in the inhibitor molecule achieved through the more extended bis(azinone) structure. Correlation between the pharmacological and PDE III inhibitory activities of compounds in the bis(azinone) series provides additional evidence for PDE III being an important mediator of inodilator action.

Coronary oscillatory flow amplitude is more affected by perfusion pressure than ventricular pressure

In this study on the isolated, maximally vasodilated, blood-perfused cat heart we investigated the relation between left ventricular developed pressure (delta Piv) and coronary oscillatory flow amplitude (diastolic minus systolic flow, delta F) at different levels of constant perfusion pressure (Pp). We hypothesized that the effect of cardiac contraction on the phasic flow results from the changing elastic properties of cardiac muscle. The coronary vessel compartment can, as can the left ventricular lumen compartment, be described by a time-varying elastance. This concept predicts that the effect of left ventricular pressure on delta F is small, whereas the effect of Pp is considerable. Both the waterfall model and the intramyocardial pump model predict the inverse. The relation between delta Piv and delta F at a Pp of 10 kPa is delta F = (4.71 +/- 3.08).delta Piv + 337 +/- 75 (slope in ml.min-1.100 g-1.kPa-1 and intercept in ml.min-1.100 g-1; n = 7); the relation between (constant levels of) Pp and delta F at a constant delta Piv of 10 kPa is delta F = 51.Pp + 211 (slope in ml.min-1.100 g-1.kPa-1 and intercept in ml.min-1.100 g-1; n = 6). The differences in slope are best predicted by the time-varying elastance concept.

Contractility is the main determinant of coronary systolic flow impediment.

We measured the relation between coronary flow amplitude (delta F = Fd-Fs; where d is diastolic and s is systolic) and developed left ventricular pressure (delta PLV = Ps-Pd) at a constant perfusion pressure of 75 mmHg (10 kPa) in the maximally vasodilated blood-perfused isolated cat heart for different steady-state levels of contractility (protocol A) and during transients in contractility (protocol B). Contractility was defined as the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relation (Emax). From protocol A it appeared that the coronary flow amplitude was only weakly related to left ventricular pressure at each steady-state level of contractility studied. However, the coronary flow amplitude was strongly related to the different levels of contractility. In protocol B, contractility was changed over a wide range of values (0-100%) but developed pressure and contractility changed simultaneously. Using multiple linear regression analysis, we found that contractility has approximately 10 times (range: 2.8-57.3) stronger effect than left ventricular pressure on coronary flow amplitude (n = 10 experiments). These data and our earlier observations suggest that it is the difference in stiffness of cardiac muscle between systole and diastole that determines coronary flow amplitude.

Varying elastance concept may explain coronary systolic flow impediment.

We measured phasic arterial coronary inflow in the blood-perfused isolated cat heart (n = 5) with a balloon in the left ventricle under well-defined conditions, i.e., constant perfusion pressure, constant vasomotor tone (maximal vasodilation), and heart rate. The normalized amplitude (A) between systolic flow (Fs) and diastolic flow (Fd) [A = (Fd - Fs)/Fd] was related to systolic left ventricular pressure (Ps, range 1.6-17 kPa, 1 kPa = 7.5 mmHg) for different isovolumic beats obtained by changes in balloon volume and for low load isobarically ejecting beats (pressure 0.2 kPa). The data were fitted to A = a + bPs with a = 0.70 +/- 0.15 (SD) and b = 0.005 +/- 0.005 kPa-1. This relation indicates a very weak effect of left ventricular systolic pressure on normalized flow amplitude. Thus the hypothesis that left ventricular pressure is the sole determinant impeding coronary flow could not be confirmed. However, our data could be explained on basis of the time-varying elastance concept (H. Suga, K. Sagawa, and A. A. Shoukas. Circ. Res. 32: 314-322, 1973). The intravascular and luminal (cavity) compartments both are assumed to be subject to a time-varying elastance. The time-varying luminal elastance is similar for isovolumic and isobaric beats. We assume that the elastance of the vascular compartment also behaves the same for these beats, and therefore coronary flow is affected similarly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Relationship between peripheral cholinolytic action of certain CNS stimulators on the cat heart and their structure

Relationship between peripheral cholinolytic action of certain CNS stimulators on the cat heart and their structure

Pronounced cholinergic but only moderate purinergic effects in isolated atrial and ventricular heart muscle from cats

1. The effects of cholinergic and purinergic stimulation on action potential, force of contraction and 86Rb efflux were investigated in cat atrial and/or ventricular heart muscle. 2. Acetylcholine and carbachol exerted a concentration-dependent negative inotropic effect in cat atrial heart muscle. Carbachol 10 mumol l-1 completely abolished the force of contraction and increased the rate constant of 86Rb efflux 2-3 fold, whereas the action potential duration was shortened to about 1/10 of its length under control conditions. 3. The effects of acetylcholine and carbachol in cat atrial heart muscle were mimicked, qualitatively, by adenosine and its analogues 5'-(N-ethyl)-carboxamido-adenosine (NECA) and (-)-N6-(R-phenyl-isopropyl)-adenosine (R-PIA). Maximal purinergic effects, however, amounted to about 15-50% in comparison to those of cholinergic stimulation. 4. In cat ventricular heart muscle, cholinergic or purinergic stimulation had no significant effects on the force of contraction in the absence of a cyclic AMP-dependent positive inotropic effect. Carbachol antagonized the positive inotropic effect elicited by either 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, isoprenaline or cyclic 8-(4-chlorphenylthio)adenosine-3':5'-monophosphate; NECA and R-PIA were less effective. The inhibition by carbachol of the effects of isoprenaline was not related to a change in the rate constant of 86Rb efflux. 5. It is concluded that the effects of cholinoceptor and purinoceptor agonists in the cat heart involve a change in the potassium conductance in the atrium, whereas the effects in the ventricle may be related to changes of intracellular cyclic AMP levels. It seems reasonable to assume that, in comparison to cholinergic stimulation, a low density of purinoceptors in the cat heart is responsible for the relatively weak effects of adenosine agonists in this species.

Biochemical and functional effects of nucleoside transport inhibition in the isolated cat heart

With increasing periods of normothermic ischemia, increasing amounts of mainly inosine and hypoxanthine are released in reperfusates of isolated working cat hearts. Nucleoside transport inhibition (soluflazine; 1 × 10 −7 m) markedly reduces the total release, but increases the release of adenosine. Tissue levels of adenine nucleotides are reduced by 50% after 32 min of ischemia with an almost equivalent, parallel, rise in inosine and hypoxanthine. Subsequent reperfusion leads to a complete removal of the catabolites and a restoration of the energy charge, but not to any recovery of the sum of nucleotides. Nucleoside transport inhibition has no effect on the changes in the nucleotides, but induces a marked accumulation of adenosine during ischemia and prevents the rapid escape of the nucleosides—not of hypoxanthine—upon reperfusion. Cardiac function markedly deteriorates after 20 and 32 min of ischemia. Transport inhibition completely prevents the decrease in cardiac output and pressurerate product without any effect on normoxic performance. It is suggested that the prolonged presence of adenosine and of inosine may exert a protective effect.

Dual action (stimulation, inhibition) of D600 on contractility and calcium channels in guinea‐pig and cat heart cells.

1. We examined the effects of D600 (0.2-40 microM, generally 2 microM) on the following (i) developed tension in guinea-pig papillary muscles, (ii) calcium current (Ica) and tension in cat ventricular muscle strands, (iii) Ica in guinea-pig and cat ventricular myocytes, (iv) single Ca2+ channel currents carried by Ba2+ in cell-attached membrane patches of guinea-pig ventricular myocytes, and (v) Ba2+ currents through dihydropyridine (DHP)-binding sites (skeletal muscle) reconstituted into single functional Ca2+ channels in lipid bilayers. 2. In 27 of 140 preparations studied, D600 elicited a transient stimulation that preceded marked inhibition. The stimulation was normally of short duration (less than 5 min) and moderate strength (less than 50% increase). 3. D600 had no effect on the unit conductance of single cardiac Ca2+ channels. Stimulation was characterized by a decrease in the number of records with no openings (blanks) and an increase in the open-state probability of non-blanks (longer open times, shorter closed times). Inhibition began with an increase in the number of blanks and later included a curtailment of open times and a prolongation of closed times. The net effect after 9 min D600 was a 75% reduction in average current amplitude. 4. A similar pattern of changes in channel open and closed times produced enhancement and then depression of time-averaged open-state probability in single reconstituted channels. 5. Single Ca2+ channel current that was stimulated by adrenaline was only slightly depressed after 2 microM-D600 for 30 min. It may be that channel phosphorylation or Gs-protein activation following beta-receptor stimulation reduces channel affinity for D600. 6. Short-lived binding of D600 to a single inhibitory site may enhance association/activation of Gs-protein and thereby cause transient up-regulation prior to increased drug occupancy and inhibition. Alternatively, there may be separate stimulatory and inhibitory sites. One aspect of inhibition, the increased frequency of blanks, is attributed to a stabilization of the inactivated state; the other aspect, changes in fast kinetics, seems to require a different explanation.

Effects of verapamil on intracellular lipid accumulation in cat hearts with 3 h of regional-ischaemia.

In the regionally ischaemic heart lipid droplet accumulation is found in the ischaemic area and is most pronounced in the periphery. The purpose of the present study is to explore the potential effects of the calcium-channel-blocker verapamil on this accumulation. The drug is known to reduce the intensity of myocardial ischaemic injury. The myocardial ultrastructure was studied in anaesthetized open chest cats with 3 h of coronary artery occlusion. Biopsies were taken from the ischaemic, border and normally perfused myocardium defined in vivo injections of fluorescein and verified by blood flow measurements using radiolabelled microspheres. Arterial concentration of non esterified fatty acids (NEFA) was measured during the ischaemic period. A higher accumulation of lipid droplets was found in the central ischaemic myocardium of verapamil-treated cats than in control animals (p less than 0.05). The normally perfused and borderline areas were unaffected by verapamil as far as lipid accumulation was concerned and showed the same pattern as in the untreated group. The increased accumulation of lipid droplets in the ischaemic myocardium, after treatment with verapamil, may reflect a preserved metabolic activity in the ischaemic tissue or result from a higher supply of fatty acids due to increased perfusion of the central ischaemic tissue.

Hypoxia in saline-perfused heart may be due to mismatch of regional metabolism and perfusion.

A number of observations reported in the literature indicate that the average myocardial tissue oxygen tension is substantially lower than the mean coronary venous oxygen tension. Measurements with small oxygen electrodes done by Schubert et al. (1978) in the saline-perfused cat heart show that large regions have oxygen tensions far below the average venous oxygen tension. Gayeski et al. (1988) found that the saturation of myoglobin with O2 in heart and skeletal muscle indicated a PQ2 of the order of 5 mmHg. Rose et al. (1988) state that there are “two and only two explanations for these anomalies”: diffusional shunting of O2 and a high diffusional resistance for O2 between blood vessel lumen and tissue.

Cardiac sympathetic nerve activity and catecholamine kinetics in cat heart : Toshihiro Honda and Ishio Ninomiya

Cardiac sympathetic nerve activity and catecholamine kinetics in cat heart : Toshihiro Honda and Ishio Ninomiya

Quick Pique

Cat Harrassment Caterwaul My beleaguered cat wonders why he's embraced so much of late, fondled so ferverently, squeezed so tightmuch more richness than his poor old Tom Cat heart can stand. He slinks away, puzzled at the fierceness of spirit here. If you should knock on the door, he could melt on the rug in the sunlight by the windowsleep in peace. -Dorothy Moseley Sutton His Purrfectship has called another sit-in A press of night-cats gathers on my walk. It's a raucous caucus -Phyllis J. Moore Quick Pique When people have the nerve to ask, "What color is your cat?" I quickly say, "It all depends What part are you looking at?" -Phyllis J. Moore 69 ...

Feline left ventricular oxygen consumption is not affected by volume expansion, ejection or redevelopment of pressure during relaxation.

We studied the dependency of myocardial oxygen consumption on the mechanical events during left ventricular relaxation in isolated supported cat hearts. The volume of the left ventricle was controlled by means of a balloon connected to a membrane pump. Oxygen consumption (MVO2 in cm3.min-1.100 g-1) for three protocols (PROT) performed at peak isovolumic pressure, was studied: (1) rapid ejection to zero pressure, (2) partial rapid ejection followed by redevelopment of pressure, (3) volume expansion during relaxation, and compared with oxygen consumption of isovolumic (ISOV) beats. We found (mean +/- SD): (table; see text) In the protocols 1 and 3 the differences were not significant (paired Student's t-test, p greater than 0.05). In protocols 1 and 2 left ventricular volume was decreased up to 2.15 cm3 (i.e. stroke volume, SV) during the pressure release. We studied the specific effect of ejection (i.e., wall muscle shortening) in a fourth protocol in which the ventricle ejected up to 2.7 cm3 under nearly zero pressure load (isobaric contraction). There was a small amount of oxygen consumption associable with this unloaded ejection i.e. MVO2 = 3.38 (+/- 0.47) + 0.30 (+/- 0.16) SV, but it was too small to compensate for a decrease in MVO2 expected from the pressure release according to the tension time index. These findings suggest that oxygen consumption does not depend on the mechanical events during ventricular relaxation.

Changes in coronary pressure-flow relation after transition from blood to Tyrode perfusion

In six isolated, diastolic-arrested, maximally vasodilated cat hearts, we studied changes in coronary pressure-flow relations (zero-flow pressure intercept, resistance) during the first 25 min, after a change of perfusate, from blood to Tyrode. The apparent intercept (zero-flow) pressure changed from 2.0 +/- 0.94 (+/- SD) kPa during blood perfusion to 2.5 +/- 0.55, 2.6 +/- 0.68, 2.5 +/- 0.94, and 2.7 +/- 1.34 kPa during Tyrode perfusion for 2:15, 5:30, 10:30, and 25:00 min, respectively. Intercept pressures during Tyrode perfusion were significantly different from the intercept pressure during blood perfusion, except for the one measured after 25 min of Tyrode perfusion (P less than 0.05). Resistance (defined as the ratio of perfusion pressure and flow at 10 kPa perfusion pressure) steadily rose to approximately 170% of the value during blood perfusion. The observation that the apparent intercept pressure is maintained, when a particle-free (Newtonian) isotonic perfusate is used, may indicate that this intercept is not a result of blood rheology alone. The increase rather than decrease in resistance suggests an effect of edema, which increases interstitial volume at the expense of intravascular volume.

Alpha 1 adrenoceptors in the ischaemic and reperfused myocardium

The [3H]-prazosin binding activity of membranes isolated from aerobically perfused, ischaemic and reperfused cat and rat hearts was investigated. Alpha 1 adrenoceptors in membranes from aerobically perfused cat hearts had a KD of 0.363 +/- 0.067 nM and a Bmax of 68.8 +/- 7.0 fmol/mg protein; 30 min normothermic global ischaemia caused an increase (P less than 0.01) in density (Bmax, 111.4 +/- 9.3 fmol/mg protein), without any change in affinity (KD 0.430 +/- 0.069 nM). Post-ischaemic reperfusion (15 min) caused the Bmax to return to control values, with no change in KD. Membranes isolated from aerobically perfused rat hearts contained a single population of high affinity alpha 1 adrenoceptor binding sites, with a KD of 0.092 +/- 0.02 nM and a Bmax of 43.02 +/- 2.49 fmol/mg protein. Neither global nor low-flow (0.1 ml/min) ischaemia for either 30 or 60 min, nor post-ischaemic reperfusion, caused any change in either the affinity or density of these binding sites. In both species, and under all the above experimental conditions, the selectivity of the alpha 1 adrenoceptor binding sites was maintained, with phentolamine much greater than rauwolscine in displacing bound [3H]-prazosin. These results show that the ability of ischaemia to increase alpha 1 adrenoceptor density in cardiac membranes is species specific, and that it can occur as a direct (as opposed to a reflex) response to ischaemia.

Effect of cordanum and propranolol on coronary resistance

The effects of cordanum and propranolol on the coronary resistance were studied in isolated cat hearts. The infusion of cordanum and propranolol may be followed by both reduction or enlargement of the coronary resistance. The alterations of the coronary resistance are in most cases parallel with the weakening of the isolated heart function. In some cases cordanum infusion is followed by a short-term reduction in the coronary resistance, which precedes the alteration of the heart function and thus may be due to direct cordanum effect on the coronary vessels.

Matching between feline left ventricle and arterial load: optimal external power or efficiency.

We tested the hypothesis that the feline left ventricle normally works at optimal external power as opposed to optimal efficiency by (re)analyzing data from five isolated, blood-perfused cat hearts and 39 open-thorax cats. In the isolated hearts, we measured pump function, external steady power, myocardial oxygen consumption, and efficiency. Optimal external power and optimal efficiency were found at different left ventricular outputs (6.94 +/- 0.33 and 8.35 +/- 0.37 ml/s, respectively; P less than 0.001). In the in situ cat hearts the working point was found at an output of 4.72 +/- 0.32 ml/s, whereas optimal external power was found at 4.84 +/- 0.26 ml/s. These values were not significantly different. Assuming that the point of optimal efficiency was located at the same fraction of the maximal unloaded left ventricular output (Fmax) as in the isolated hearts, i.e., 0.7, we found the point of optimal efficiency for the in situ heart at a flow of 5.83 +/- 0.32 ml/s, which was significantly different (P less than 0.001) from the flow in the working point. Our data therefore indicate that the left ventricle in the open-thorax cat is matched to the arterial load such that its external power output rather than efficiency is optimized.

Effects of verapamil and timolol on cellular morphometric changes in cat hearts with regional ischaemia.

In twenty-one anaesthetized open chest cats the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was occluded for three hours. Seven cats were pretreated with a bolus injection of Verapamil, followed by a continuous infusion of Verapamil during the ischaemic period. Seven cats were pretreated with a bolus injection of Timolol to a heart rate reduction of 20 beats/min or more and seven cats were given saline. In the latter two groups the cats received a continuous infusion of saline during the period of coronary occlusion. Biopsies were taken from the mid-myocardium of the normal, border and ischaemic zones, as defined by fluorescein staining, and verified by blood flow measurements with radiolabelled microspheres. Standard point counting techniques were used for calculations of fractional volumes of mitochondria, cytoplasm and myofibrils as well as of mitochondrial surface density and surface to volume ratio. We observed a cytoplasmic oedema in the border and ischaemic zones, that was not altered by medical treatment. In the border zone of the control cats there is greater mitochondrial swelling than in the ischaemic zone. This particular swelling is not seen in the treatment groups. However, in the normal and border zones of the verapamil group the mitochondria are smaller when compared with the respective zones in the two other groups, but increases relatively more in size in the border and ischaemic zones. Furthermore, we measured the water content, sarcomere length and per cent heavily damaged cells. These variables were not altered by Verapamil or Timolol in any zone when compared with the respective zones in the control group.