Increase In Beating Rate Research Articles

Design of a simple coronary impedance simulator for the in vitro study of the complex coronary hemodynamics

Several novel approaches were recently developed to treat aortic root pathologies. The alteration induced by some of these approaches to the biomechanics of the aortic root could possibly affect the coronary perfusion, compromising the procedural outcome. In this scenario, the need to replicate in vitro the coronary flow pattern in physiological and pathological conditions is becoming crucial for the functional assessment of novel devices and techniques.This article describes the design of an easy-to-use, left-and-right coronary impedance simulator, coupled with native aortic roots for in vitro pulsatile tests. Experiments were performed in order to assess the performances of the coronary impedance simulator when coupled with healthy aortic valves (cardiac output: 3.8 ± 0.26 l min−1; mean systemic pressure: 95 ± 1.3 mmHg; mean coronary flow rate: 272 ± 13.4 ml min−1) or with regurgitant valves (cardiac output: 1.9 ± 0.24 l min−1; mean systemic pressure of 45 ± 3.3 mmHg; mean coronary flow rate:149 ± 21.9 ml min−1). The acute systemic response to valve regurgitation was also replicated, with increased beat rate and afterload, aimed at restoring the systemic pressure (cardiac output: 2.5 ± 0.23 l min−1; mean systemic pressure of 109 ± 6.1 mmHg; mean coronary flow rate: 262 ± 35.5 ml min−1). In the test conditions, the system was able to replicate in vitro the main determinants of the coronary circulation with physiological left/right coronary flow rate repartition, and a realistic interaction between coronary and systemic hemodynamics. The coronary simulator appears to be a suitable platform to study and optimize the interactions between novel approaches to aortic valve pathology and the coronary perfusion.

Interaction between amiodarone and hepatitis-C virus nucleotide inhibitors in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and HEK-293 Cav1.2 over-expressing cells

Several clinical cases of severe bradyarrhythmias have been reported upon co-administration of the Hepatitis-C NS5B Nucleotide Polymerase Inhibitor (HCV-NI) direct-acting antiviral agent, sofosbuvir (SOF), and the Class-III anti-arrhythmic amiodarone (AMIO). We model the cardiac drug-drug interaction (DDI) between AMIO and SOF, and between AMIO and a closely-related SOF analog, MNI-1 (Merck Nucleotide Inhibitor #1), in functional assays of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), to provide mechanistic insights into recently reported clinical cases. AMIO co-applied with SOF or MNI-1 increased beating rate or field potential (FP) rate and decreased impedance (IMP) and Ca2+ transient amplitudes in hiPSC-CM syncytia. This action resembled that of Ca2+ channel blockers (CCBs) in the model, but CCBs did not substitute for AMIO in the DDI. AMIO analog dronedarone (DRON) did not substitute for, but competed with AMIO in the DDI. Ryanodine and thapsigargin, decreasing intracellular Ca2+ stores, and SEA-0400, a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger-1 (NCX1) inhibitor, partially antagonized or suppressed DDI effects. Other agents affecting FP rate only exerted additive or subtractive effects, commensurate with their individual effects. We also describe an interaction between AMIO and MNI-1 on Cav1.2 ion channels in an over-expressing HEK-293 cell line. MNI-1 enhanced Cav1.2 channel inhibition by AMIO, but did not affect inhibition of Cav1.2 by DRON, verapamil, nifedipine, or diltiazem. Our data in hiPSC-CMs indicate that HCV-NI agents such as SOF and MNI-1 interact with key intracellular Ca2+-handling mechanisms. Additional study in a Cav1.2 HEK-293 cell-line suggests that HCV-NIs potentiate the inhibitory action of AMIO on L-type Ca2+ channels.

Abstract 234: Physiological Toxicity Assessment of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors with Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Cardiomyocytes

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have improved targeted therapeutics for cancer management despite possible cardiac side effects, including decreased contractility. A combination microelectrode and impedance platform was used to assess field potential (FP) electrical activity and contractility, respectively, after acute and chronic exposure of six TKIs on human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). Four non-TKI drugs were tested to confirm assay sensitivity. hERG current inhibitors dofetilide and pentamidine increased beat rate (BR) corrected FP duration (FPDc). Dofetilide (6μM) induced transient early afterdepolarizations (EADs), characterized as ectopic beats/notching in the FP signal, and decreased impedance amplitude (BAmp) at 48hrs. Multi-channel blocker amiodarone (2μM) acutely decreased FPDc, with quiescence up to 1hr, and increased BAmp after 24hrs. Doxorubicin decreased BAmp, inducing quiescence starting at 48hrs (5μM and 10μM). Nilotinib, sorafenib and sunitinib, which have varying documented risks of clinical QT prolongation and/or cardiotoxicity, increased FPDc. With highest tested doses, nilotinib (6μM) generated persistent EADs and increased BR, sunitinib (2.5μM) produced tachyarrhythmias with minimal impedance-evident contractions that recovered by 24hrs, and sorafenib (10μM) induced quiescence that recovered by 3hrs. Imatinib, erlotinib and lapatinib, which have fewer clinical cardtiotoxic effects, did not cause rhythm disturbances. Erlotinib and lapatinib had no significant effect on FPDc, lapatinib (2.5μM and 5μM) decreased BR, while imatinib (15μM) acutely increased FPDc and increased BR after 48hrs. Tandem electrical and impedance screening in hiPSC-CMs for drug cardiotoxicity was consistent with the clinical experience for TKIs, suggesting its potential utility for preclinical cardiotoxicity assessment for proarrhythmia and decreased contractility.

Safety pharmacology studies using EFP and impedance

IntroductionWhile extracellular field potential (EFP) recordings using multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) are a well-established technique for monitoring changes in cardiac and neuronal function, impedance is a relatively unexploited technology. The combination of EFP, impedance and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) has important implications for safety pharmacology as functional information about contraction and field potentials can be gleaned from human cardiomyocytes in a beating monolayer. The main objectives of this study were to demonstrate, using a range of different compounds, that drug effects on contraction and electrophysiology can be detected using a beating monolayer of hiPSC-CMs on the CardioExcyte 96. MethodshiPSC-CMs were grown as a monolayer on NSP-96 plates for the CardioExcyte 96 (Nanion Technologies) and recordings were made in combined EFP and impedance mode at physiological temperature. The effect of the hERG blockers, E4031 and dofetilide, hERG trafficking inhibitor, pentamidine, β-adrenergic receptor agonist, isoproterenol, and calcium channel blocker, nifedipine, was tested on the EFP and impedance signals. ResultsCombined impedance and EFP measurements were made from hiPSC-CMs using the CardioExcyte 96 (Nanion Technologies). E4031 and dofetilide, known to cause arrhythmia and Torsades de Pointes (TdP) in humans, decreased beat rate in impedance and EFP modes. Early afterdepolarization (EAD)-like events, an in vitro marker of TdP, could also be detected using this system. Isoproterenol and nifedipine caused an increase in beat rate. A long-term study (over 30h) of pentamidine, a hERG trafficking inhibitor, showed a concentration and time-dependent effect of pentamidine. DiscussionIn the light of the new Comprehensive in Vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA) initiative to improve guidelines and standardize assays and protocols, the use of EFP and impedance measurements from hiPSCs may become critical in determining the proarrhythmic risk of potential drug candidates. The combination of EFP offering information about cardiac electrophysiology, and impedance, providing information about contractility from the same area of a synchronously beating monolayer of human cardiomyocytes in a 96-well plate format has important implications for future cardiac safety testing.

Ten years outcomes of HCV positive renal allograft recipients is not inferior than that of HCV negative patients

Several clinical cases of severe bradyarrhythmias have been reported upon co-administration of the Hepatitis-C NS5B Nucleotide Polymerase Inhibitor (HCV-NI) direct-acting antiviral agent, sofosbuvir (SOF), and the Class-III anti-arrhythmic amiodarone (AMIO). We model the cardiac drug-drug interaction (DDI) between AMIO and SOF, and between AMIO and a closely-related SOF analog, MNI-1 (Merck Nucleotide Inhibitor #1), in functional assays of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), to provide mechanistic insights into recently reported clinical cases. AMIO co-applied with SOF or MNI-1 increased beating rate or field potential (FP) rate and decreased impedance (IMP) and Ca2 + transient amplitudes in hiPSC-CM syncytia. This action resembled that of Ca2 + channel blockers (CCBs) in the model, but CCBs did not substitute for AMIO in the DDI. AMIO analog dronedarone (DRON) did not substitute for, but competed with AMIO in the DDI. Ryanodine and thapsigargin, decreasing intracellular Ca2 + stores, and SEA-0400, a Na+/Ca2 + exchanger-1 (NCX1) inhibitor, partially antagonized or suppressed DDI effects. Other agents affecting FP rate only exerted additive or subtractive effects, commensurate with their individual effects. We also describe an interaction between AMIO and MNI-1 on Cav1.2 ion channels in an over-expressing HEK-293 cell line. MNI-1 enhanced Cav1.2 channel inhibition by AMIO, but did not affect inhibition of Cav1.2 by DRON, verapamil, nifedipine, or diltiazem. Our data in hiPSC-CMs indicate that HCV-NI agents such as SOF and MNI-1 interact with key intracellular Ca2 +-handling mechanisms. Additional study in a Cav1.2 HEK-293 cell-line suggests that HCV-NIs potentiate the inhibitory action of AMIO on L-type Ca2 + channels.

P343Effect of T3 on human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte maturation

Purpose: Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) hold great potential for regenerative medicine and in vitro screening. However, the phenotype is immature and more closely resembles foetal/neonatal cardiomyocytes. The aim of this study is to drive hiPSC-CM to a more mature state using thyroid hormone, triiodothyronine (T3), which has a role in cardiomyocyte maturation during development. Methods: hiPSC-CM (Cellular Dynamics) were treated with 30nM T3 for up to 4 weeks. Expression of β1 adrenergic receptor (β1AR) was assessed by qPCR (Taqman). Beating rates were determined using a Nikon Eclipse TE2000E microscope with Digital sight camera and NIS Elements3.2 software video tracking. Ca2+ dynamics were studied using Fluo-4AM loaded cells imaged with a Nikon Eclipse T6200 and Redshirt NeuroCMOS camera at 0.5KHz with 1Hz, 15V, 5ms field stimulation. Comparative proteomic analysis (4 week T3) was performed by mass spectrometry using isobaric tags. Data expressed as mean ±SEM; statistical significance determined by student's t-test (n=3). Results: 4 week T3 treatment resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in basal beating rate. T3 increased β1AR gene expression and remained stable for up to 2 weeks (p<0.05). CGP 20712A (10μM), a β1AR inverse agonist, decreased the beating rate of T3-treated cells (39.3±9.7bpm) to basal levels in untreated cells (25.7±9bpm). Ca2+ transient analysis revealed alterations in Ca2+ handling. 4 week T3 treatment resulted in decreased time to transient peak from 244±4.0 ms to 90.7±15 (p<0.0006). Time to 50% decay also decreased from 309.2±6.6ms to 287.3±2.3ms (p<0.05) and transient duration (start to 75% decay) decreased from 695.4±6.4ms to 537.9±21.3ms (p<0.002). Proteomic analysis revealed increases in proteins involved in regulating sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function including; phospholamban (17.2%), SERCA (27.6%) and calsequestrin2 (303.8%). In addition increases in mitochondrial enzymes, including ATP5B (32.7%), and α/βMHC ratio were detected along with decreases in slow skeletal troponin I (-43.7%) and C (-36.2%) isoforms. Conclusions: T3 treatment induced alterations in expression of proteins involved in SR function, mitochondrial metabolism and cytoskeletal composition. In addition, T3 treatment improved Ca2+ handling and increased β1AR function, with increases in beating rate possibly driven by constitutive β1AR activity. Collectively these data provide evidence for a shift towards a more mature phenotype and indicate that this may be an effective strategy to drive maturation of hiPSC-CM.

Optogenetic activation of Gq signalling modulates pacemaker activity of cardiomyocytes

Investigation of Gq signalling with pharmacological agonists of Gq-coupled receptors lacks spatio-temporal precision. The aim of this study was to establish melanopsin, a light-sensitive Gq-coupled receptor, as a new tool for the investigation of spatial and temporal effects of Gq stimulation on pacemaking in cardiomyocytes at an early developmental stage. A vector for ubiquitous expression of melanopsin was tested in HEK293FT cells, which showed light-induced production of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate and elevation of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. Mouse embryonic stem cells were stably transfected with this plasmid and differentiated into spontaneously beating embryoid bodies (EBs). Cardiomyocytes within EBs showed melanopsin expression and illumination (60 s, 308.5 nW/mm(2), 470 nm) of EBs increased beating rate within 10.2 ± 1.7 s to 317.1 ± 16.3% of baseline frequency. Illumination as short as 5 s was sufficient for generating the maximal frequency response. After termination of illumination, baseline frequency was reached with a decay constant of 27.1 ± 2.5 s. The light-induced acceleration of beating frequency showed a sigmoid dependence on light intensity with a half maximal effective light intensity of 41.7 nW/mm(2). Interestingly, EBs showed a high rate of irregular contractions after termination of high-intensity illumination. Local Gq activation by illumination of a small region in a functional syncytium of cardiomyocytes led to pacemaker activity within the illuminated area. Light-induced Gq activation in melanopsin-expressing cardiomyocytes increases beating rate and generates local pacemaker activity. We propose that melanopsin is a powerful optogenetic tool for the investigation of spatial and temporal aspects of Gq signalling in cardiovascular research.

Enabling Microscale and Nanoscale Approaches for Bioengineered Cardiac Tissue

In this issue of ACS Nano, Shin et al. present their finding that the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) results in improved functionality of bioengineered cardiac tissue. These CNT-GelMA hybrid materials demonstrate cardiac tissue with enhanced electrophysiological performance; improved mechanical integrity; better cell adhesion, viability, uniformity, and organization; increased beating rate and lowered excitation threshold; and protective effects against cardio-inhibitory and cardio-toxic drugs. In this Perspective, we outline recent progress in cardiac tissue engineering and prospects for future development. Bioengineered cardiac tissues can be used to build "heart-on-a-chip" devices for drug safety and efficacy testing, fabricate bioactuators for biointegrated robotics and reverse-engineered life forms, treat abnormal cardiac rhythms, and perhaps one day cure heart disease with tissue and organ transplants.

Abstract 19538: Integrin-Linked Kinase Regulates Cardiomyocyte Calcium Signaling through Protein-Protein Interaction with Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase

The transduction of mechanical load into dynamic changes in cardiac contractility is an incompletely understood process. ILK is a Ser/Thr kinase sarcomeric Z-disk protein with known mechanoreceptor function and cardioprotective properties. We hypothesized that ILK modulates calcium signaling in the cardiomyocyte to orchestrate both mechanoreceptor function and cytoprotection. ILK immunoprecipitates (IP) from transgenic mice with cardiac overexpression of ILK showed dose-dependent co-IP of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) confirmed by mass spectroscopy. Transduction of wild type ILK upregulated SERCA2a expression, and increased the phosphorylation (Thr17) of phospholamban, in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). ILK knockdown by siRNA decreased SERCA2a expression. The upregulation of SERCA2a was not prevented by the ILK kinase small molecule inhibitor QLT0267 suggesting a scaffolding rather than catalytic effect of ILK. The beat rate response to the SERCA2a inhibitor thapsigargin (TG) in iPSC-CMs was determined by long-term measurements of electrical impedance using the xCELLigence RTCA Cardio System (Roche). ILK transduction resulted in a faster baseline beat rate compared to untreated and vector control cells (p &lt; 0.01). TG significantly decreased beat rate with incomplete recovery after 30 hours (p &lt; 0.01). TG also reduced beat rate in ILK-transduced cells; however, the recovery to pre-TG baseline was accelerated by the ILK transfection (time to recover 10 hr; p=0.017), consistent with increased ILK-mediated SERCA2a activity. Cardiomyocyte calcium transients were measured in human iPSC-CMs using confocal microscopy and analyzed using Origin 8.6. ILK-transduced iPSC-CMs showed a significantly reduced time constant Tau (p&lt;0.01) and increased beat rate (p=0.01) compared to GFP-reporter control, consistent with SERCA2a-dependent increased rate of SR-mediated calcium uptake. We conclude that ILK regulates the expression and activity of SERCA2a in the cardiomyocyte. The demonstrated ILK-SERCA2a interaction provides an elegant mechanism for transduction of mechano- and stress- reception into dynamic, calcium-mediated changes in cardiomyocyte contractility.

Contractile Properties of Early Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes: Beta-Adrenergic Stimulation Induces Positive Chronotropy and Lusitropy but Not Inotropy

Human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) provide the unique opportunity to study the very early development of the human heart. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of calcium and beta-adrenergic stimulation on the contractile properties of early hESC-CMs. Beating clusters containing hESC-CMs were co-cultured in vitro with noncontractile slices of neonatal murine ventricles. After 5-7 days, when beating clusters had integrated morphologically into the damaged tissue, isometric force measurements were performed during spontaneous beating as well as during electrical field stimulation. Spontaneous beating stopped when extracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺](ec)) was removed or after administration of the Ca²⁺ channel blocker nifedipine. During field stimulation at a constant rate, the developed force increased with incremental concentrations of [Ca²⁺](ec). During spontaneous beating, rising [Ca²⁺](ec) increased beating rate and developed force up to a [Ca²⁺](ec) of 2.5 mM. When [Ca²⁺](ec) was increased further, spontaneous beating rate decreased, whereas the developed force continued to increase. The beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol induced a dose-dependent increase of the frequency of spontaneous beating; however, it did not significantly change the developed force during spontaneous contractions or during electrical stimulation at a constant rate. Force developed by early hESC-CMs depends on [Ca²⁺](ec) and on the L-type Ca²⁺ channel. The lack of an inotropic reaction despite a pronounced chronotropic response after beta-adrenergic stimulation most likely indicates immaturity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. For cell-replacement strategies, further maturation of cardiac cells has to be achieved either in vitro before or in vivo after transplantation.

Endothelin-1 and angiotensin II modulate rate and contraction amplitude in a subpopulation of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte-containing bodies

Embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (ESC-CMs) have applications in understanding cardiac disease pathophysiology, pharmacology, and toxicology. Comprehensive characterization of their basic physiological and pharmacological properties is critical in determining the suitability of ESC-CMs as models of cardiac activity. In this study we use video microscopy and quantitative PCR to investigate the responses of mouse ESC-CMs to adrenoceptor, muscarinic, angiotensin II (Ang II), and endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptor activation. Isoprenaline (10 nM–10 μM) increased beating rate and contraction amplitude in all beating bodies (BBs), whereas carbachol (up to 1 μM) and the I f channel blocker ZD-7288 (10 μM) decreased contraction frequency. ET-1 (0.01–100 nM) reduced contraction amplitude in all BBs and increased contraction frequency in 50% of BBs; these effects were blocked by the ET A receptor antagonist BQ123 (250 nM). Ang II (0.01 nM–1 μM) increased both contraction amplitude (all BBs) and frequency (in 50% of BBs), effects blocked, respectively, by losartan (100 nM) and PD123,319 (200 nM). These results indicate the presence of functional ET A and both AT 1 and AT 2 receptors in murine ESC-CMs, but their expression and or activity appears to be evident only in a limited set of BBs.

Bioelectrical activity in the heart of the lugworm Arenicola marina

Standard microelectrode technique was used to study electrical activity of the isolated heart of the polychaete annelid, Arenicola marina. Typical pacemaker activity with slow diastolic depolarization was observed in all recordings. The average maximum diastolic potential (-58.4 +/- 3.2 mV), the average amplitude of the action potential (28.7 +/- 4.7 mV) and the average total duration of the action potential (2,434 +/- 430 ms) were determined. There has been no gradient of automaticity observed in our studies, which suggests that all regions of the Arenicola heart could possess pacemaker functions. Acetylcholine (ACh) produced a concentration dependent (5 x 10(-8)-5 x 10(-5) M) increase of the beating rate via increase in the rate of the diastolic depolarization. ACh (5 x 10(-5) M) increased beating rate by 2.5-fold compared to the control rate. A stronger action of ACh resulted in depolarization, block of action potential generation and contracture of the heart. The non-hydrolysable ACh analog carbacholine (10(-8)-10(-6) M) produced similar effects. All effects of ACh and carbacholine were abolished by 5 x 10(-6) M atropine. D-Tubocurarine (5 x 10(-5) M) did not significantly alter effects of ACh or carbacholine. Epinephrine (10(-8)-10(-6) M) caused the slowing of pacemaker activity and marked decrease of action potential duration. 10(-6) M epinephrine produced complete cardiac arrest. The effects of epinephrine were not significantly altered by the beta-blocker propranolol (5 x 10(-6) M). The beta-agonist isoproterenol (10(-7)-10(-5) M) and the alpha-agonist xylometazoline (10(-6)-10(-5) M) did not produce significant effects. Thus, cholinergic effects in the Arenicola heart are likely to be mediated via muscarinic receptors, while the nature of adrenergic effects needs further investigation.

A Comparison of the Effects of Commercially Available Hawthorn Preparations on Calcium Transients of Isolated Cardiomyocytes

We studied the potential cardiac effects of two alcohol extracts of commercially available hawthorn using rat cardiomyocytes and measuring calcium transients by real-time fluorescence spectrophotometry. One preparation was a blend of hawthorn flowers, leaves, and berries (extract #1), and the other (extract #2) was from a "berries-only" preparation. Fluorescent images and calcium transients were acquired concurrently. Addition of extract #1 resulted in the initiation of robust calcium transients and eventual calcium overload, while addition of extract #2 caused increased calcium sparking, initiation of calcium transients, and an increased beating rate but no calcium overload. To identify the mechanisms of increased calcium influx, adult rat cardiomyocytes were challenged with 10 microM ouabain, a Na(+),K(+)-ATPase inhibitor, and the calcium channel blocker nifedipine. The findings revealed that equal volumes of the two readily available hawthorn preparations demonstrated markedly different effects on isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes, suggesting important implications for patients who are using these preparations to supplement or even replace their prescribed cardiac medications as to which preparation(s) to use, and potential dire consequences, particularly in cardiac patients. Our study indicates that the mechanism of cardiac activity of hawthorn is via the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase and intracellular calcium concentrations are influenced.

Contribution of pacemaker channels to autonomous electrical activity of differentiated embryonic stem cells

Contribution of pacemaker channels to autonomous electrical activity of differentiated embryonic stem cells

Engineering physiologically controlled pacemaker cells with lentiviral HCN4 gene transfer

Research on biological pacemakers for the heart has so far mainly focused on short-term gene and cell therapies. To develop a clinically relevant biological pacemaker, long-term function and incorporation of autonomic modulation are crucial. Lentiviral vectors can mediate long-term gene expression, while isoform 4 of the Hyperpolarization-activated Cyclic Nucleotide-gated channel (encoded by HCN4) contributes to pacemaker function and responds maximally to cAMP, the second messenger in autonomic modulation. Action potential (AP) properties and pacemaker current (I(f)) were studied in single neonatal rat ventricular myocytes that overexpressed HCN4 after lentiviral gene transduction. Autonomic responsiveness and cycle length stability were studied using extracellular electrograms of confluent cultured monolayers. Perforated patch-clamp experiments demonstrated that HCN4-transduced single cardiac myocytes exhibited a 10-fold higher I(f) than non-transduced single myocytes, along with slow diastolic depolarization, comparable to pacemaker cells of the sinoatrial node, the dominant native pacemaker. HCN4-transduced monolayers exhibited a 47% increase in beating rate, compared to controls. Upon addition of DBcAMP, HCN4-transduced monolayers had beating rates which were 54% faster than baseline and significantly more regular than controls. Lentiviral vectors efficiently transduce cardiac myocytes and mediate functional gene expression. Because HCN4-transduced myocytes demonstrate an increase in spontaneous beating rate and responsiveness to autonomic modulation, this approach may be useful to create a biological pacemaker.

Beta-adrenoceptor subtype dependence of chronotropy in mouse embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

Cardiomyocytes derived from embryonic stem cells (ESCM) have potential both as an experimental model for investigating cardiac physiology and as a source for tissue repair. For both reasons it is important to characterise the responses of these cells, and one of the key modulators of contraction is the beta-adrenergic system. We therefore undertook a detailed study of the response of the spontaneous beating rate of ESCM to beta-adrenoceptor (betaAR) stimulation. Embryoid bodies (EBs) were generated from murine ES line E14Tg2a by the hanging drop method, followed by plating. Spontaneously beating areas were seen starting from 9-14 days after differentiation: the experiments described here were performed on EBs between developmental day 19 and 48. Beating cell layers were seeded with charcoal to allow tracking of movement by a video-edge detection system. Experiments were performed in physiological medium containing 1 mM Ca2+ at 37 degrees C. Isoprenaline (Iso) increased beating rate with an EC50 value of 52 nM. Iso (0.3 microM) increased basal rate from 67 +/- 7 beats per minute (bpm) to 138 +/- 18 bpm, P < 0.001, n = 22. At earlier developmental time points the response to Iso was not maintained through 5 min exposure; this spontaneous desensitisation only being observed before day 36. A repeat application of Iso after a wash period of 20 min produced reproducible effects on beating rate. Subtype dependence of the betaAR response was determined by comparing an initial response with a second in the presence of selective beta1- or beta2AR antagonists. In the presence of the specific beta1AR-blocker CGP 20712A (300 nM) the increase in rate with Iso was reduced from 207 +/- 42% of basal to 128 +/- 13%, P < 0.01. With the beta2AR-blocker ICI 118,551 (50 nM) there was no significant change in Iso response. Exposure to the muscarinic agonist, carbachol (10 microM), inhibited the increase in frequency mediated by isoprenaline, but had mixed stimulatory and inhibitory effects on basal rate. This study extends the characterisation of ESCM as a preparation for studying receptor pharmacology, and indicates that the beta1AR is the predominant subtype mediating increases in contraction rate in murine ESCM.

Beyond Bowditch: the convergence of cardiac chronotropy and inotropy

The ability of the heart to acutely beat faster and stronger is central to the vertebrate survival instinct. Released neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and epinephrine, bind to β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) on pacemaker cells comprising the sinoatrial node, and to β-AR on ventricular myocytes to modulate cellular mechanisms that govern the frequency and amplitude, respectively, of the duty cycles of these cells. While a role for sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ cycling via SERCA2 and ryanodine receptors (RyR) has long been appreciated with respect to cardiac inotropy, recent evidence also implicates Ca 2+ cycling with respect to chronotropy. In spontaneously beating primary sinoatrial nodal pacemaker cells, RyR Ca 2+ releases occurring during diastolic depolarization activate the Na +–Ca 2+ exchanger (NCX) to produce an inward current that enhances their diastolic depolarization rate, and thus increases their beating rate. β-AR stimulation synchronizes RyR activation and Ca 2+ release to effect an increased beating rate in pacemaker cells and contraction amplitude in myocytes: in pacemaker cells, the β-AR stimulation synchronization of RyR activation occurs during the diastolic depolarization, and augments the NCX inward current; in ventricular myocytes, β-AR stimulation synchronizes the openings of unitary L-type Ca 2+ channel activation following the action potential, and also synchronizes RyR Ca 2+ releases following depolarization, and in the absence of depolarization, both leading to the generation of a global cytosolic Ca i transient of increased amplitude and accelerated kinetics. Thus, β-AR stimulation induced synchronization of RyR activation (recruitment of additional RyRs to fire) and of the ensuing Ca 2+ release cause the heart to beat both stronger and faster, and is thus, a common mechanism that links both the maximum achievable cardiac inotropy and chronotropy.

Differential Effects of Various Eicosanoids on the Production or Prevention of Arrhythmias in Cultured Neonatal Rat Cardiac Myocytes

To identify the arrhythmogenic and the antiarrhythmic eicosanoids, cultured, spontaneously beating, neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were used to examine the effects of various eicosanoids added to the medium superfusing the cells at different concentrations on the contraction of the myocytes. Superfusion of the myocytes with the prostaglandins (PGD 2, PGE 2, PGF 2α) or the thromboxane (TXA 2)-mimetic, U 46619, induced reversible tacharrhythmias characterized by an increased beating rate, chaotic activity and contractures. These effects are concentration-dependent. PGF 2α and U 46619 were much more potent than PGD 2 or PGE 2 in the production of tachyarrhythmias. Prostacyclin (PGI 2) induced a marked reduction in the contraction rate of the cells with a slight increase in the amplitude of the contractions and showed a protective effect against the arrhythmias induced by PGF 2α and TXA 2 (U 46619). PGE 1 exerted a dose-dependent dual effect on the contraction of the myocytes. At low concentrations (<2 μM), PGE 1 reduced the contraction rate of the cells with an increase in the amplitude of the contractions and effectively terminated the tachyarrhythmias induced by arrhythmogenic agents, such as isoproterenol, ouabain and U 46619. At higher concentrations (>5 μM), PGE 1 caused cell contractures and chaotic activity. In contrast, the lipoxygenase products [leukotriene (LT) B 4, LTC 4, LTD 4 LTE 4] of arachidonic acid (AA) had no significant effect on the myocyte contractions. The eicosanoids derived from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), including both the cyclooxygenase products (PGD 3, PGE 3, PGF 3α, TXB 3) showed lesser effects on the contraction of the myocytes. The lipoxygenase products (LTB 5, LTC 5, LTD 5 & LTE 5), as with the AA metabolites showed little effect on the contraction of cardiac myocytes. The arrhythmias induced by the arrhythmogenic prostaglandins and thromboxane A 2 could be suppressed by the nonmetabolizable AA analog eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) or free AA and EPA, indicating a distinction in the effect on cardiac arrhythmia between the precursor fatty acids (AA & EPA) themselves and their metabolites. In conclusion, the major arrhythmogenic eicosanoids are the cycloxygenase products of AA, whereas those products of EPA are much less or not effective; PGE 1, PGI 2, ETYA and EPA have antiarrhythmic effects.

Chronotropic effects of optical isomers of ephedrine and methylephedrine in the isolated rat right atria and in vitro assessment of direct and indirect actions on beta 1-adrenoceptors.

Effects of optical isomers of ephedrine (EPH) and methylephedrine (MEP) on the spontaneous beating rate of isolated right atrium of normal and reserpinized rat were investigated to assess direct and indirect actions on beta 1-adrenoceptors. l-EPH (3 x 10(-7) - 3 x 10(-5) M) and d-EPH (10(-6) - 10(-4) M) markedly increased beating rate of rat right atrium. l-MEP (10(-5) - 3 x 10(-4) M) showed slight increase in heart rate. The potency of positive chronotropic effect is l-EPH > d-EPH "l-MEP. l-EPH was about 3 times as potent as d-EPH. In addition, d-MEP (3 x 10(-5) - 3 x 10(-4) M) caused a decrease in heart rate. Positive chronotropic effects of EPH isomers and l-MEP were attenuated by pretreatment with atenolol ( a selective beta 1-adrenoceptor antagonist) or reserpine treatment (8 mg/kg, s.c.). In reserpinized atria, the maximal increase by d-EPH was quite small, and l-MEP decreased heart rate. On the other hand, d-MEP, at 3 x 10(-4) M, did not show antagonist activity against the positive chronotropic effect of isoprenaline (10(-10) - 10(-5) M). These results suggest that l-EPH, d-EPH and l-MEP have beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist activity, while d-MEP is suggested to have only low or no affinity for beta 1-adrenoceptors. The relatively weak activity of l-MEP is believed to be mainly mediated by released noradrenaline. It is also suggested that d-EPH has very potent noradrenaline-releasing activity.

Effects of thyroid hormones on cardiac development in oculo.

Embryonic rat myocardium was grafted into the anterior eye chamber (in oculo) of adult host rats in a series of two experiments that studied the effects of thyroid hormones [triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)] on heart tissue developing without hemodynamic load. In each experiment, surgical sympathectomy of one eye chamber was used to define possible interactions between thyroid hormones and sympathetic innervation to the graft. In the first experiment, propylthiouracil (PTU, 20 mg/kg sc) greatly suppressed growth and beating rate of whole heart grafts, while excess T4 (0.1 mg/kg sc) transiently increased beating rate but not growth. In the second experiment, T3 (5 mg/21 days, slow-release pellet) failed to promote growth in ventricular grafts. However, the size of atrial grafts in surgically sympathectomized eye chambers was larger in T3-treated compared with control rats. T3 administration increased beating rate in ventricular grafts. In both experiments, thyroid hormone treatments were effective in increasing heart weight-to-body weight ratios in the host rats. The data suggest that exposure to normal levels of thyroid hormones may be necessary for optimal cardiac growth. The data also support the hypothesis that a hemodynamic load is required for thyroid hormone-induced cardiac growth.