Re-loading of ca2+ depleted sarcoplasmic reticulum during rest in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. Terracciano, Cesare M. N., and Kenneth T. Macleod. Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, Cardiac Medicine, Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6LY, U.K.
APStracts 3:0213H, 1996.
The effects of rest on a Ca2+ depleted sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes were investigated. Cell shortening was measured using a video edge-detection system and cytoplasmic Ca2+ was monitored using the fluorescent indicator indo-1. Rapid cooling and rewarming in the presence of 10 mM caffeine were used to deplete the SR of Ca2+. The resting cell was then superfused for variable time intervals with a normal Tyrode solution containing 2 mM Ca2+. Another rapid cooling in caffeine was performed to assess the SR Ca2+ load at the end of rest. Rapid cooling after 1 minute and 2 minutes rest elicited an increase of indo-1 fluorescence of 51.9 +/- 7.7 % (n = 17) and 72.7 +/- 6.7 % of control (n = 9) respectively. This increase was not detectable when Ca2+ was absent in the superfusing solution. In contrast the increase was larger when external Ca2+ was elevated to 4 mM. 5 mM nickel and 20 [mu]M nifedipine added to the superfusing solution during the rest interval did not alter the increase in indo-1 fluorescence. We conclude that Ca2+ is re -accumulated by a depleted SR during rest. Although this Ca2+ seems to originate from the extracellular space, its route from there to the SR is unclear.

Received 9 February 1996; accepted in final form 7 May 1996.
APS Manuscript Number H127-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 5 June 96