Mitochondrial calcium transporting pathways during hypoxia and reoxygenation in single rat cardiomyocytes.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Mitochondrial [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]m) rises in parallel with cytosolic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]c) following ATP-depletion rigor contracture induced by hypoxia in isolated cardiomyocytes. We investigated the pathways involved in the hypoxia induced changes in [Ca2+]m by using known inhibitors of mitochondrial Ca2+ transport, namely ruthenium red, an inhibitor of the Ca2+ uniporter (the normal influx route) and clonazepam, an inhibitor of Na+/Ca2+ exchange, (the normal efflux route).

METHODS:

[Ca2+]m was determined from indo-1/am loaded rat myocytes where the cytosolic fluorescence signal had been quenched by superfusion with Mn2+. [Ca2+]c was measured by loading myocytes with indo-1 pentapotassium salt during the isolation procedure. Cells were placed in a specially developed chamber for induction of hypoxia and reoxygenated 40 min after rigor development.

RESULTS:

50% of control cells hypercontracted upon reoxygenation; this correlated with a [Ca2+]m or [Ca2+]c higher than approximately 350 nM at the end of rigor. Clonazepam completely abolished the rigor-induced rise in [Ca2+]m but not [Ca2+]c. On reoxygenation [Ca2+]m increased over the first 5 min and remained elevated whereas [Ca2+]c fell. In the presence of ruthenium red a dramatic increase in [Ca2+]m occurred 5-10 min after rigor development (the indo-1 fluorescence signal was saturated); [Ca2+]c also increased but to a lesser extent. On reoxygenation, [Ca2+]m fell rapidly even though cells hypercontracted and [Ca2+]c remained elevated.

CONCLUSIONS:

During hypoxia following rigor development Ca2+ uptake into mitochondria occurs largely via the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger rather than the Ca2+ uniporter whereas on reoxygenation the transporters resume their normal directionality.

• Authors: E J Griffiths, C J Ocampo, J S Savage, G A Rutter, R G Hansford, M D Stern, H S Silverman
• Journal: Cardiovascular research (Cardiovasc Res) Vol. 39 Issue 2 Pg. 423-33 (Aug 1998) ISSN: 0008-6363 [Print] England
• PMID: 9798527 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Fluorescent Dyes
• Indoles
• Sodium-Calcium Exchanger
• Ruthenium Red
• Clonazepam
• indo-1
• Oxygen
• Calcium

Topics

• Animals
• Calcium (metabolism)
• Calcium Channel Blockers (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Cell Size (drug effects)
• Cells, Cultured
• Clonazepam (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Cytosol (metabolism)
• Fluorescent Dyes
• Hypoxia (metabolism)
• Indoles
• Microscopy, Fluorescence
• Mitochondria, Heart (drug effects, metabolism)
• Myocardium (cytology, metabolism)
• Oxygen (metabolism)
• Rats
• Ruthenium Red (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Sodium-Calcium Exchanger (antagonists & inhibitors)