Fura-2 Fluorescence Intensity Research Articles

Prediabetic insulin resistance is not permissive to the development of cardiac resistance to insulin-like growth factor I in ventricular myocytes

Resistance to insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1)-induced cardiac contractile response has been reported in diabetes. To evaluate the role of prediabetic insulin resistance to cardiac IGF-1 resistance, whole body insulin resistance was generated with dietary sucrose and contractile function was evaluated in ventricular myocytes. Mechanical properties were evaluated using an IonOptix™ system and intracellular Ca 2+ transients were measured as changes in fura-2 fluorescence intensity (ΔFFI). After 8 weeks of feeding, sucrose rats displayed euglycemia, hepatomeglay and normal heart size, and glucose intolerance, confirming the presence of insulin resistance. Myocytes from sucrose-fed rats displayed decreased peak shortening (PS), reduced resting FFI, increased intracellular Ca 2+ clearing, associated with normal duration of shortening and relengthening compared to myocytes from starch-fed rats. IGF-1 (10 −10–10 −6 M) caused a similar concentration-dependent decrease in PS in both groups. Only the highest concentration of IGF-1 elicited an inhibition on ΔFFI in sucrose myocytes. In addition, the IGF-1-induced response was abolished by the IGF-1 receptor antagonist H-1356 in both groups, and by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor l-NAME in starch but not sucrose myocytes. These results indicated prediabetic insulin resistance alters cardiac contractile function at the myocytes level, but may not be permissive to cardiac contractile resistance to IGF-1.

Abrogated leptin-induced cardiac contractile response in ventricular myocytes under spontaneous hypertension: role of Jak/STAT pathway.

Leptin regulates cardiovascular function. Leptin levels are elevated in obesity and hypertension and may play a role in cardiovascular dysfunctions in these comorbidities. This study was designed to determine the influence of hypertension on the cardiac contractile response of leptin. Mechanical and intracellular Ca(2+) properties were evaluated using an IonOptix system in ventricular myocytes from spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and age-matched Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. The contractile properties included peak shortening (PS), duration and maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening (TPS/TR(90), +/-dL/dt), and fura-fluorescence intensity change (DeltaFFI). NO and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity were assessed by the Griess and the (3)H-arginine/citrulline conversion assays, respectively. The leptin receptor (Ob-R) and the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway were evaluated by Western blot analysis. SHR animals displayed significantly elevated blood pressure and plasma leptin levels. Leptin elicited a concentration-dependent inhibition of PS and DeltaFFI in WKY, but not in SHR myocytes. Leptin did not affect TPS, TR(90), or +/- dL/dt. The difference in leptin-induced contractile response between the WKY and the SHR groups was abolished by the NOS inhibitor, Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), but not by elevated extracellular Ca(2+). Either the JAK2 inhibitor AG-490 or the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor SB203580 abrogated the leptin-induced response in the WKY myocytes, whereas AG-490 unmasked a negative response in PS in the SHR myocytes. SHR myocytes displayed similar Ob-R protein abundance and basal NO levels, a blunted leptin-induced increase in NOS activity as well as enhanced basal STAT3 levels compared with the WKY group. These data indicate that the leptin-induced cardiac contractile response is abolished by spontaneous hypertension, possibly because of mechanisms involving altered JAK/STAT, MAP kinase signaling, and NO response.

Influence of Ovariectomy on Ventricular Myocyte Contraction in Simulated Diabetes

We studied the effect of ovariectomy (OVX) on cardiac contraction in myocytes maintained under a ‘diabetes-simulated high-glucose’ environment. Female rats were ovariectomized or sham operated (SHAM) and kept for 6 weeks. Isolated myocytes were maintained in a diabetes-simulated high [glucose] medium (HG; 25.5 mM) for 24 h before mechanical properties were measured. Contractile indices analyzed included peak shortening (PS), time to PS (TPS), time to 90% relengthening (TR₉₀), maximal velocity of shortening and relengthening (± dL/dt), intracellular Ca²⁺ fura-2 fluorescence intensity and decay rate (τ). Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was also evaluated. OVX myocytes displayed a longer TR₉₀, slower ± dL/dt, lower fluorescence intensity and higher τ (slower decay rate) when compared to SHAM myocytes. In the SHAM group, HG exerted diabetes-like contractile dysfunctions, including depressed PS, prolonged TR₉₀, reduced fluorescence intensity, higher τ and enhanced NOS activity when compared to myocytes maintained in low [glucose] medium (5.5 mM). Interestingly, the HG- induced mechanical alterations were significantly exaggerated (TPS, TR₉₀ and τ), reversed (PS and NOS) or lost (± dL/dt and fluorescence intensity) in the OVX group. These data suggest that ovarian hormones play a role in the regulation of cardiac contractile function, and may have potentially protective effects against diabetes-associated cardiac dysfunction.

Influence of ovariectomy on ventricular myocyte contraction in simulated diabetes.

We studied the effect of ovariectomy (OVX) on cardiac contraction in myocytes maintained under a 'diabetes-simulated high-glucose' environment. Female rats were ovariectomized or sham operated (SHAM) and kept for 6 weeks. Isolated myocytes were maintained in a diabetes-simulated high [glucose] medium (HG; 25.5 mM) for 24 h before mechanical properties were measured. Contractile indices analyzed included peak shortening (PS), time to PS (TPS), time to 90% relengthening (TR90), maximal velocity of shortening and relengthening (+/- dL/dt), intracellular Ca2+ fura-2 fluorescence intensity and decay rate (tau). Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was also evaluated. OVX myocytes displayed a longer TR(90), slower +/- dL/dt, lower fluorescence intensity and higher tau (slower decay rate) when compared to SHAM myocytes. In the SHAM group, HG exerted diabetes-like contractile dysfunctions, including depressed PS, prolonged TR90, reduced fluorescence intensity, higher tau and enhanced NOS activity when compared to myocytes maintained in low [glucose] medium (5.5 mM). Interestingly, the HG- induced mechanical alterations were significantly exaggerated (TPS, TR90 and tau), reversed (PS and NOS) or lost (+/- dL/dt and fluorescence intensity) in the OVX group. These data suggest that ovarian hormones play a role in the regulation of cardiac contractile function, and may have potentially protective effects against diabetes-associated cardiac dysfunction.

The anti-inflammatory interactions of epinephrine with human neutrophils in vitro are achieved by cyclic AMP-mediated accelerated resequestration of cytosolic calcium

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of epinephrine (0.01–1 μM) on superoxide production by, and release of elastase from human neutrophils activated with the chemotactic tripeptide, N-formyl- l-methionyl- l-leucyl- l-phenylalanine (FMLP) (1 μM) in vitro, and to relate alterations in these responses to changes in adenosine 3,5′ cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and cytosolic free Ca 2+. Cyclic AMP, superoxide production and elastase release were measured by radioimmunoassay, lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence, and a colorimetric procedure respectively. Cytosolic Ca 2+ fluxes were measured by fura-2 spectrofluorimetry in combination with radiometric procedures that enable distinction between net efflux and influx of the cation. Epinephrine treatment of neutrophils resulted in increased cAMP and dose-related inhibition of both superoxide production and elastase release, which was potentiated by the type 4 phosphodiesterase inhibitor, rolipram, and attenuated by propranolol, but not by selective β 1-, α 1- or α 2-adrenoreceptor antagonists. Although epinephrine did not affect the FMLP-activated abruptly-occurring increase in fura-2 fluorescence intensity, indicating no effects on the release of Ca 2+ from neutrophil intracellular stores, this agent accelerated the rate of decline in fluorescence in the setting of decreased efflux and a reduction in store-operated influx of Ca 2+. These effects of epinephrine on the clearance of Ca 2+ from the cytosol of FMLP-activated neutrophils were attenuated by propranolol, and are compatible with enhancement of the activity of the cAMP-dependent Ca 2+ sequestering/resequestering endo-membrane Ca 2+-ATPase. We conclude that epinephrine down-regulates the pro-inflammatory activities of neutrophils by cAMP-mediated enhancement of the clearance of cytosolic Ca 2+.

Prenatal ethanol exposure alters ventricular myocyte contractile function in the offspring of rats: influence of maternal Mg2+ supplementation.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is often associated with cardiac hypertrophy and impaired ventricular function in a manner similar to postnatal chronic alcohol ingestion. Chronic alcoholism has been shown to lead to hypomagnesemia, and dietary Mg2+ supplementation was shown to ameliorate ethanol- induced cardiovascular dysfunction such as hypertension. However, the role of gestational Mg2+ supplementation on FAS-related cardiac dysfunction is unknown. This study was conducted to examine the influence of gestational dietary Mg2+ supplementation on prenatal ethanol exposure-induced cardiac contractile response at the ventricular myocyte level. Timed-pregnancy female rats were fed from gestation day 2 with liquid diets containing 0.13 g/L Mg2+ supplemented with ethanol (36%) or additional Mg2+ (0.52 g/L), or both. The pups were maintained on standard rat chow through adulthood, and ventricular myocytes were isolated and stimulated to contract at 0.5 Hz. Mechanical properties were evaluated using an IonOptix soft-edge system, and intracellular Ca2+ transients were measured as changes in fura-2 fluorescence intensity (Delta FFI). Offspring from all groups displayed similar growth curves. Myocytes from the ethanol group exhibited reduced cell length, enhanced peak shortening (PS), and shortened time to 90% relengthening (TR90) associated with a normal Delta FFI and time to PS (TPS). Mg2+ reverted the prenatal ethanol-induced alteration in PS and maximal velocity of relengthening. However, it shortened TPS and TR90, and altered the Delta FFI, as well as Ca2+ decay rate by itself. Additionally, myocytes from the ethanol group exhibited impaired responsiveness to increased extracellular Ca2+ or stimulating frequency, which were restored by gestational Mg2+ supplementation. These data suggest that although gestational Mg2+ supplementation may be beneficial to certain cardiac contractile dysfunctions in offspring of alcoholic mothers, caution must be taken, as Mg2+ supplementation affects cell mechanics itself.

Capacitative calcium entry is involved in steroidogenesis in bovine adrenocortical fasciculata cells

Capacitative Ca(2+) entry into bovine adrenocortical fasciculata cells was investigated by using the mobilization of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) and Ca(2+)-induced steroidogenesis as the indicators. Bovine adrenocortical fasciculata cells on a glass coverslip were loaded with fura-2. The [Ca(2+)](i) mobilization was detected by a change of fura-2 fluorescence intensity. In the intracellular Ca(2+) store depleted cells, the addition of Ca(2+) to the incubation medium elicited a marked and sustained increase in [Ca(2+)](i). In the intracellular Ca(2+) store non-depleted cells, the addition of thapsigargin, an endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor, in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+), induced a slight and transient increase in [Ca(2+)](i), but an extensive and sustained increase in [Ca(2+)](i) was obtained by adding Ca(2+) to the incubation medium after the thapsigargin treatment. The sustained increase induced by thapsigargin was not inhibited by nifedipine, but was inhibited by Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect of Zn(2+) was more potent than that of Cd(2+). Thapsigargin stimulated steroidogenesis in the presence of extracellular Ca(2+). The steroidogenic effect of thapsigargin was inhibited by Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) but not by nifedipine. These results suggest that there is, in bovine adrenocortical fasciculata cells, a steroidogenesis-linked Ca(2+) entry process other than that involving voltage-operated Ca(2+) channels and that the process might be capacitative Ca(2+) entry.

Influence of chronic alcohol ingestion on acetaldehyde-induced depression of rat cardiac contractile function.

Long-standing ethanol consumption acts as a chronic cardiac stress and often leads to alcoholic cardiomyopathy. We have recently shown that the acute ethanol-induced depression in myocardial contraction was substantiated by chronic ethanol ingestion. Acetaldehyde (ACA), the main ethanol metabolite, has been considered to play a role in ethanol-induced cardiac dysfunction. To evaluate the ACA-induced cardiac contractile response following chronic ethanol ingestion, mechanical properties were examined using left ventricular papillary muscles and myocytes from rats fed with control or ethanol-enriched diet. Muscles and myocytes were electrically stimulated at 0.5 Hz and contractile properties analysed included peak tension development (PTD) and peak shortening (PS). Intracellular Ca(2+) transients were measured as fura-2 fluorescence intensity changes (DeltaFFI). Papillary muscles from ethanol-consuming animals exhibited reduced baseline PTD and attenuated responsiveness to increase of extracellular Ca(2+). Acute ACA (0.3-10 mM) addition elicited a dose-dependent depression of PTD. However, the inhibition magnitude was significantly reduced in ethanol-treated rats. Myocytes from both control and ethanol-treated rats exhibited comparable ACA-induced depression in both PS and DeltaFFI. Collectively, these data suggest that the ACA-induced depression of myocardial contraction is reduced at the multicellular level, but unchanged at the single cell level, following chronic ethanol ingestion.

Basal and Ethanol-Induced Cardiac Contractile Response in Lean and Obese Zucker Rat Hearts

Obesity plays a pivotal role in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Certain types of obesity may be related to alcohol ingestion, which itself leads to impaired cardiac function. This study analyzed basal and ethanol-induced cardiac contractile response using left-ventricular papillary muscles and myocytes from lean and obese Zucker rats. Contractile properties analyzed include: peak tension development (PTD), peak shortening amplitude (PS), time to PTD/PS (TPT/TPS), time to 90% relaxation/relengthening (RT₉₀/TR₉₀) and maximal velocities of contraction/shortening and relaxation/relengthening (±VT and ±dL/dt). Intracellular Ca²⁺ transients were measured as fura-2 fluorescence intensity (ΔFFI) changes and fluorescence decay time (FDT). In papillary muscles from obese rats, the baseline TPT and RT₉₀ were significantly prolonged accompanied with low to normal PTD and ±VT compared to those in lean rats. Muscles from obese hearts also exhibited reduced responsiveness to postrest potentiation, increase in extracellular Ca²⁺ concentration, and norepinephrine. By contrast, in isolated myocytes, obesity reduced PS associated with a significant prolonged TR₉₀, normal TPS and ±dL/dt. Intracellular Ca²⁺ recording revealed decreased resting Ca²⁺ levels and prolonged FDT. Acute ethanol exposure (80–640 mg/dl) caused comparable concentration-dependent inhibitions of PTD/PS and ΔFFI, associated with reduced ±VT in both groups. Collectively, these results suggest altered cardiac contractile function and unchanged ethanol-induced depression in obesity.

Basal and ethanol-induced cardiac contractile response in lean and obese Zucker rat hearts.

Obesity plays a pivotal role in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Certain types of obesity may be related to alcohol ingestion, which itself leads to impaired cardiac function. This study analyzed basal and ethanol-induced cardiac contractile response using left-ventricular papillary muscles and myocytes from lean and obese Zucker rats. Contractile properties analyzed include: peak tension development (PTD), peak shortening amplitude (PS), time to PTD/PS (TPT/TPS), time to 90% relaxation/relengthening (RT(90)/TR(90)) and maximal velocities of contraction/shortening and relaxation/relengthening (+/-VT and +/-dL/dt). Intracellular Ca(2+) transients were measured as fura-2 fluorescence intensity (DeltaFFI) changes and fluorescence decay time (FDT). In papillary muscles from obese rats, the baseline TPT and RT(90) were significantly prolonged accompanied with low to normal PTD and +/-VT compared to those in lean rats. Muscles from obese hearts also exhibited reduced responsiveness to postrest potentiation, increase in extracellular Ca(2+) concentration, and norepinephrine. By contrast, in isolated myocytes, obesity reduced PS associated with a significant prolonged TR(90), normal TPS and +/-dL/dt. Intracellular Ca(2+) recording revealed decreased resting Ca(2+) levels and prolonged FDT. Acute ethanol exposure (80-640 mg/dl) caused comparable concentration-dependent inhibitions of PTD/PS and DeltaFFI, associated with reduced +/-VT in both groups. Collectively, these results suggest altered cardiac contractile function and unchanged ethanol-induced depression in obesity.

Diminished cardiac contractile response to tetrahydropapaveroline in hypertension: role of β-adrenoceptors and intracellular Ca 2+

Tetrahydropapaveroline (THP), a condensation product of ethanol-derived acetaldehyde, potentiates cardiac function through a β-adrenergic mechanism. It is well established that β-adrenergic activity is markedly depressed in hypertension. However, little is known about the myocardial action of THP in hypertension. In this study, the effect of THP was examined using left ventricular papillary muscles and ventricular myocytes from 10-week-old normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats. The mechanical parameters evaluated include: peak tension developed (PTD), peak twitch amplitude (PTA), time-to-PTD/PTA (TPT/TPS), time-to-90% relaxation/relengthening (RT 90/TR 90), and the maximal velocities of contraction/shortening and relaxation/relengthening (±VT/±d L/d t). Intracellular Ca 2+ transients were measured as fura-2 fluorescence intensity changes (ΔFFI). THP (0.01–100 μM) produced a concentration-dependent increase in myocardial contraction on muscles and myocytes from both groups of animals. However, preparations from the SHR group were generally less responsive to THP than their normotensive counterparts. The increase in contractility by THP was associated with increases in ΔFFI and ±VT, and shortening of TPT/TPS and RT 90/TR 90. The role of β-adrenoceptor(s) in the mechanism of action of THP was explored using specific β-receptor subtype antagonists CGP 207.12A (β 1) and ICI 118,551 (β 2). In preparations from both WKY and SHR hearts, the THP-induced increase in cardiac contractility was either attenuated or blocked by CGP 207.12A and ICI 118,551. These results indicate that THP exhibits a positive action on myocardial contraction that is mediated, in part, through both β 1 and β 2 adrenergic receptors. This cardiac inotropic response, however, is markedly diminished in hypertension, which is due possibly to alterations in β-adrenergic signal transduction.

Attenuated cardiac contractile responsiveness to insulin-like growth factor I in ventricular myocytes from biobreeding spontaneous diabetic rats.

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) stimulates cardiac growth and contraction, but resistance to its action has been reported in diabetes. This study was to determine if IGF-1-induced cardiac contractile action is altered in rats genetically predisposed to diabetes. Ventricular myocytes were isolated from spontaneously biobreeding diabetes-prone (BB/DP) rats and their diabetes-resistant littermates (BB/DR). Mechanical properties were evaluated in cardiomyocytes using a video-based edge-detection system. Myocytes were electrically stimulated at 0.5 Hz. Contractile properties analyzed included peak shortening (PS), time-to-PS (TPS) and time-to-90% relengthening (TR(90)). Intracellular Ca(2+) transients were measured as changes in fura-2 fluorescence intensity (DeltaFFI). Myocytes from BB/DP rats displayed increased PS, prolonged TPS and TR(90,) as well as reduced resting FFI compared to the BB/DR group. IGF-1 (10(-10)-10(-6) M) caused a dose-dependent increase in PS in myocytes from BB/DR but not BB/DP rats. The increase of PS was blunted by IGF-1 antagonist H-1356, phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI-3) kinase inhibitor wortmannin, but not tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. None of these agents affected responses to IGF-1 in BB/DP myocytes. Interestingly, IGF-1 elicited a comparable dose-dependent increase in Ca(2+) transients in myocytes from both BB/DR and BB/DP rats. These results suggest that the attenuation of IGF-1-induced cardiac contractile response in chemically-induced diabetes also exists in diabetes of genetic origin, possibly due to mechanisms involving PI-3 kinase and intracellular Ca(2+) sensitivity.

Diabetes Enhances Acetaldehyde-Induced Depression of Cardiac Myocyte Contraction

It is well established that cardiomyopathy is a consistent feature of diabetes and that alcohol consumption increases the risk of cardiovascular disease among diabetic subjects. Acetaldehyde (ACA), the main ethanol metabolite, is considered to play a role in the ethanol-induced cardiac dysfunction. It has been reported recently that the negative inotropic effect of ACA was more potent in the diabetic myocardium. To determine whether the disparate ACA-induced myocardial depression in diabetes is due to intrinsic alterations at the cellular level, mechanical properties in response to ACA were evaluated in ventricular myocytes from both normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat hearts. Myocytes were electrically stimulated to contract at 0.5 Hz and contractile properties analyzed included peak shortening (PS), time-to-PS (TPS), time-to-90% relengthening (TR90) and maximal velocities of shortening and relengthening (±dL/dt). Ca2+ transients were measured as fura-2 fluorescence intensity (ΔFFI) changes. ACA (0.1–30 mM) disproportionately depressed PS in a dose-dependent manner, in myocytes from diabetic hearts compared to normal hearts. Interestingly, the degree of inhibition in ΔFFI was similar in both groups. Neither the duration nor maximal velocities of shortening and relengthening were affected by ACA in either group. These results are the first to suggest that enhanced ACA-induced myocardial depression in diabetes is due to disparate intrinsic actions on individual myocytes. The mechanism underlying the alteration of ACA-induced myocardial depression may be due, in part, to depressed Ca2+ responsiveness in diabetic hearts.

Effects of magnesium and its mechanism on the incidence of reperfusion arrhythmias following severe ischemia in isolated rat hearts.

Magnesium sulfate (Mg) has been widely used for the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias (VF) in patients with coronary artery disease. However, the mechanisms of prevention on the incidence of VF have not been defined. The aim of study was to investigate the role of Mg in the prevention of VF and the mechanism of those effects. Series 1 studied antiarrhythmic effects on VF. Isolated rat hearts were perfused in the working heart mode with Krebs'-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (KHB). Whole heart ischemia was induced by a one-way ball valve with 300 beats/min electrical pacing for 10 minutes followed by 20 minutes of aerobic reperfusion. After control perfusion, Mg was added from 5 minutes before ischemia and was continued to the end of ischemia (1.2 mM for the control group and 2.4, 3.6, 4.8, and 9.6 mM for the study animals) or during reperfusion (3.6 mM). Left ventricular pressure, aortic flow, and ECG were monitored. Series 2 studied the effect of Mg on [Ca2+]i. Hearts were perfused by the Langendorff mode and were loaded with 4 microM of Fura 2/AM as a [Ca2+]i indicator. Ca2+ was monitored using the ratio of Fura-2 fluorescence intensity at excitation wavelengths of 340 and 380 nm. The hearts were subjected to a 20 minutes of low-flow ischemia followed by 20 minutes of aerobic reperfusion. Then 3.6 mM Mg was added to the KHB medium during ischemia. The duration of VF was significantly suppressed in the 2.4, 3.6, and 4.8 mM/L Mg-added groups (472 +/- 173, 779 +/- 159, and 525 +/- 202 second, respectively) when compared with the control group (1200 seconds). Magnesium sulfate suppressed the fluorescence ratio of the diastolic Ca2+ level at the end of 20 minutes of ischemia from 40.5 +/- 3.6% to 9.0 +/- 1.0% (P < 0.05 vs. control hearts). These results suggested that Mg had a beneficial effect on VF and that the optimal Mg concentration was between 2.4 and 4.8 mM. The mechanism of the prevention of VF by Mg could be through the inhibition of [Ca2+]i retention during ischemia.

Hypertension Augments Ethanol-Induced Depression of Cell Shortening and Intracellular Ca2+ Transients in Adult Rat Ventricular Myocytes

Ethanol, a risk factor for myocardial dysfunction, depresses myocardial contraction. This study was to determine whether ethanol-induced myocardial depression is affected by hypertension. Mechanical properties of ventricular myocytes isolated from both normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats were evaluated using a video edge-detection system. Myocytes were electrically stimulated to contract at 0.5 Hz. Contractile properties analyzed include peak twitch amplitude (PTA), time-to-PTA (TPS), time-to-90% relengthening (TR90), and maximal velocities of shortening/relengthening (±dL/dt). Intracellular Ca2+ transients were measured as fura-2 fluorescence intensity (ΔFFI) changes. Acute ethanol exposure (80-640 mg/dl) caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of PTA and ΔFFI in both WKY and SHR myocytes. The extent of maximal inhibition of PTA and FFI was significantly greater in SHRs (53.7 and 38.9%) compared to the WKY group (21.0 and 25.4%). Ethanol did not affect TPS but shortened TR90 and slowed ±dL/dt at high concentration ranges. Interestingly, the augmented ethanol-induced inhibition of cell shortening in hypertension was greatly attenuated by Ca2+ channel opener BayK 8644 (1 μM). These results suggest that ethanol-induced myocardial depression may be augmented in hypertension, possibly due to mechanism(s) involving sarcolemmal Ca2+ channels.

Augmentation of the inotropic response to insulin in diabetic rat hearts

Insulin participates in the modulation of myocardial function, but its inotropic action in diabetes mellitus is not fully clear. In the present study, we examined contractile responses to insulin in left-ventricular papillary muscles and ventricular myocytes isolated from hearts of normal or short-term (5–7 days) streptozotocin-induced (65 mg kg ) diabetic rats. Mechanical properties of papillary muscles and ventricular myocytes were evaluated using a force transducer and an edge-detector, respectively. Contractile properties of papillary muscles or cardiac myocytes, electrically stimulated at 0.5 Hz, were analyzed in terms of peak tension development (PTD) or peak twitch amplitude (PTA), time-to-peak contraction (TPT) and time-to-90% relaxation (RT 90). Intracellular Ca 2+ transients were measured as fura-2 fluorescence intensity change (ΔFFI). Insulin (1–500 nM) had no effect on PTD in normal myocardium, whereas it produced a positive inotropic response in preparations from diabetic animals, with a maximal increase of 11%. Insulin did not modify TPT or RT 90 in either group. Further studies revealed that insulin enhanced cell shortening in diabetic but not normal myocytes, with a maximal increase of 21%. Consistent with its action on the mechanical properties of papillary muscles and cardiac myocytes, insulin also induced a dose-dependent increase in the intracellular Ca 2+ transient in diabetic but not normal myocytes. Collectively, these data suggest that the myocardial contractile response to insulin may be altered in diabetes.

Regulation of bradykinin-stimulated cation entry into endothelial cells by tyrosine kinase.

In endothelial cells, bradykinin stimulates the release of intracellular Ca2+, which is followed by the entry of extracellular Ca2+ into the cells. However, the mechanism underlying the Ca2+ entry is not well understood. To investigate the possible implication of tyrosine kinases in bradykinin-mediated Ca2+ signaling in endothelial cells, cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells were loaded with fura-2/AM, and Mn2+ influx into the cells was determined by the quenching of fluorescence intensity of fura-2 at 360 nm excitation. The tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and herbimycin A attenuated not only Ca2+ influx but also Mn2+ influx from the extracellular space without affecting the release of Ca2+ from internal stores in bradykinin-treated cells. In contrast to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor vanadate stimulated Ca2+ influx as well as Mn2+ influx. On the other hand, both an inactive analog of genistein, daidzein, and an inhibitor of diacylglycerol (DAG) kinase, ethylene glycol dioctanoate, were without effect on [Ca2+]i following the stimulation of agonist. These findings suggest that tyrosine kinase is involved in the regulation of cation influx in endothelial cells.

Confocal fluorescence microscopy for studying thapsigargin-induced bivalent-cation entry into B cells.

We studied thapsigargin-induced bivalent-cation entry into antigen-specific B cells (TP67.21) with a confocal fluorescence microscope. Confocal fluorescence images of fluo-3-loaded B cells showed that thapsigargin-stimulated Ca2+ signals were transferred not only to the cytoplasm but also to the nucleus. In the absence of external Ca2+ ions, the free Ca2+ concentrations both in the cytosol and in the nucleus declined to basal levels by 5 min after addition of thapsigargin. However, subsequent addition of Ca2+ in the external medium made the fluo-3 (fura-2) fluorescence intensity rise, reflecting the fact that Ca2+ accumulated again in the nucleus as well as in the cytoplasm. Then, we added Ba2+ and Mn2+ instead of Ca2+, because Ba2+ and Mn2+ are known to enter via Ca2+ channels. The addition of Ba2+ and Mn2+ in the external medium quenched the fluo-3 fluorescence both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm of B cells. This suggested the possibility that the increase in intranuclear Ca2+ after thapsigargin stimulation may come from the cytoplasm, not from the nuclear stores.

Lead alters inositol polyphosphate receptor activities: protection by ATP.

Receptor-mediated phosphoinositide signaling pathway which generates a variety of second messengers is regulated by intracellular free Ca2+ concentrations. Since toxic metal cations like Pb2+ are known to alter Ca(2+)-dependent processes, the present study was initiated to study the effects of Pb2+ on inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) receptor binding and InsP3-mediated Ca(2+)-release. Rat cerebellar membrane and microsomal fractions were incubated with various concentrations of Pb2+ (0.01-100 microM). Pb2+ significantly stimulated [3H]-InsP3 and [3H]-InsP4 receptor binding (EC50 22.7 and 13.5 microM respectively) as a function of metal concentrations. However, InsP3-mediated Ca2+ release, determined by measuring the changes in fluorescence intensity of Fura-2, was significantly inhibited by varying concentrations of Pb2+. Re-uptake of Ca2+ into the microsomes was also inhibited by Pb2+. A significant inhibition of microsomal Ca(2+)-pump by micromolar concentration of Pb2+ was also observed. ATP at 5-1000 microM concentration range inhibited [3H]-InsP3 and [3H]-InsP4 binding to the specific receptors. [3H]-InsP4 receptor binding was more sensitive to ATP inhibition as compared to [3H]-InsP3 receptor binding. Furthermore, varying concentrations of ATP also inhibited Pb(2+)-mediated increase in [3H]-InsP3 and [3H]-InsP4 receptor binding. The kinetic analysis of ATP effect on Pb(2+)-stimulated [3H]-InsP4 receptor binding revealed non-competitive type of interaction. The results of the present study suggest that Pb2+ may be increasing the binding of [3H]-InsP3 and [3H]-InsP4 to the specific receptors by modulating the conformation of the receptor sites. ATP may be playing a protective role in Pb2+ induced alteration of the receptor sites.

Calculation of calcium dynamics from single wavelength fura-2 fluorescence recordings

We describe techniques for measurements of cytosolic calcium dynamics in single current- or voltage-clamped nerve cells. The calculations of calcium dynamics are based on continuous recordings of fura-2 fluorescence intensity at one excitation wavelength after an initial reference measurement at two excitation wavelengths. We show that such single wavelength recordings are not only sufficient for the calculation of Ca2+ concentrations, but also lead to a superior signal-to-noise ratio at a high temporal resolution. Moreover, this strategy diminishes requirements for the experimental setup, such as a device necessary to switch quickly between excitation filters. We have applied this approach on measurements of cytosolic free Ca2+ in single-electrode voltage-clamped CA3 pyramidal cells in hippocampal slice cultures.