The tension-depolarization relationship of frog atrial trabeculae as determined by potassium contractures

Privileged coupling between Ca(2+) entry through plasma membrane store-operated Ca(2+) channels and the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pump

The sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) is the third element of capacitative calcium entry. It colocalizes with STIM1 and Orai1 at puncta, where couples plasma membrane store-operated Ca(2+) channels (SOC) to Ca(2+) pumping into the ER. The efficiency of this calcium entry-calcium refilling (CECR) coupling is comparable to the classic excitation-response transduction mechanisms. This allows efficient filling of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) with the Ca(2+) entering through SOC channels with little progression of the Ca(2+) wave towards the cell core. CECR coupling is very sensitive to changes in stoichiometry among STIM, Orai and SERCA, with excess Orai antagonizing ER refilling. ER takes up most of the calcium load that enters through SOC, whereas mitochondria take up a very small fraction. This difference is due to the spatial positioning with regard to SOC, the amplitude of the high Ca(2+) microdomains, and the differences in the Ca(2+) affinity of the uptake mechanisms.

Calcium entry-calcium refilling (CECR) coupling between store-operated Ca(2+) entry and sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase

Cross-talk between subcellular organelles is essential for cellular Ca(2+) homeostasis. We have studied the effects of knocking down STIM1, the Ca(2+) sensor of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), on several homeostatic Ca(2+)-handling mechanisms, including plasma membrane Ca(2+) entry and transport by ER, mitochondria and nucleus. We have used targeted aequorins to selectively measure calcium fluxes in different organelles. Actions of STIM1 were extremely selective, restricted to store operated Ca(2+) channels (SOC) and Ca(2+) uptake by the ER. No interactions with uptake or release of Ca(2+) by mitochondria or nucleus were detected. Ca(2+) exit from the ER, including passive leak, release via inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and ryanodine receptors, was unaffected. STIM1 knock-down inhibited ER Ca(2+) uptake in intact but not in permeabilized cells, suggesting a privileged calcium entry-calcium refilling (CECR) coupling between plasma membrane SOC and ER calcium pump in the intact cell. As a result a large part of the entering Ca(2+) is taken up into the ER without reaching the bulk cytosol. The tightness of CECR, as measured by the slope of the stimulus-signal strength function, was comparable to classic excitation-response coupling mechanisms, such as excitation-contraction, excitation-secretion or excitation-transcription coupling.

Excitation-transcription coupling in sympathetic neurons and the molecular mechanism of its initiation

In excitable cells, membrane depolarization and activation of voltage-gated Ca²+ (Ca(V)) channels trigger numerous cellular responses, including muscle contraction, secretion, and gene expression. Yet, while the mechanisms underlying excitation-contraction and excitation-secretion coupling have been extensively characterized, how neuronal activity is coupled to gene expression has remained more elusive. In this article, we will discuss recent progress toward understanding the relationship between patterns of channel activity driven by membrane depolarization and activation of the nuclear transcription factor CREB. We show that signaling strength is steeply dependent on membrane depolarization and is more sensitive to the open probability of Ca(V) channels than the Ca²+ entry itself. Furthermore, our data indicate that by decoding Ca(V) channel activity, CaMKII (a Ca²+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase) links membrane excitation to activation of CREB in the nucleus. Together, these results revealed some interesting and unexpected similarities between excitation-transcription coupling and other forms of excitation-response coupling.

CaMKII locally encodes L-type channel activity to signal to nuclear CREB in excitation-transcription coupling

Communication between cell surface proteins and the nucleus is integral to many cellular adaptations. In the case of ion channels in excitable cells, the dynamics of signaling to the nucleus are particularly important because the natural stimulus, surface membrane depolarization, is rapidly pulsatile. To better understand excitation-transcription coupling we characterized the dependence of cAMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation, a critical step in neuronal plasticity, on the level and duration of membrane depolarization. We find that signaling strength is steeply dependent on depolarization, with sensitivity far greater than hitherto recognized. In contrast, graded blockade of the Ca(2+) channel pore has a remarkably mild effect, although some Ca(2+) entry is absolutely required. Our data indicate that Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent protein kinase II acting near the channel couples local Ca(2+) rises to signal transduction, encoding the frequency of Ca(2+) channel openings rather than integrated Ca(2+) flux-a form of digital logic.

The role of sarcolemmal Ca2+-ATPase in the regulation of resting calcium concentration in rat ventricular myocytes

1. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of sarcolemmal Ca2+-ATPase in rat ventricular myocytes. We have measured intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) using indo-1. The actions of the ATPase inhibitor carboxyeosin were studied. 2. Carboxyeosin increased resting [Ca2+]i and the magnitude of the systolic Ca2+ transient and slowed the rate of its relaxation by 5 %. 3. Carboxyeosin increased the magnitude of the caffeine-evoked increase in [Ca2+]i and slowed its relaxation by 20 %. Removal of extracellular Na+ slowed the rate constant by 80 %. When Na+ was removed in a carboxyeosin-treated cell, the caffeine-evoked increase in [Ca2+]i did not decay. 4. Carboxyeosin increased the integral of the Na+-Ca2+ exchange current activated by caffeine. This is, in part, due to an increase in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content. 5. When extracellular Na+ was removed, there was a transient increase in [Ca2+]i which then decayed. The rate of this decay was slowed by carboxyeosin by a factor of about four. The residual decay could be abolished with caffeine. 6. In the absence of extracellular Na+, increasing extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) elevated [Ca2+]i. In carboxyeosin-treated cells, [Ca2+]i was much more sensitive to [Ca2+]o. 7. These results demonstrate the role of a carboxyeosin-sensitive Ca2+-ATPase in the control of resting [Ca2+]i and the reduction in [Ca2+]i following an increase in [Ca2+]i.

The control of Ca release from the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum: regulation versus autoregulation

This review discusses the mechanism and regulation of Ca release from the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. Ca is released through the Ca release channel or ryanodine receptor (RyR) by the process of calcium-induced Ca release (CICR). The trigger for this release is the L-type Ca current with a small contribution from Ca entry on the Na-Ca exchange. Recent work has shown that CICR is controlled at the level of small, local domains consisting of one or a small number of L-type Ca channels and associated RyRs. Ca efflux from the s.r. in one such unit is seen as a 'spark' and the properties of these sparks produce controlled Ca release from the s.r. A major factor controlling the amount of Ca released from the s.r. and therefore the magnitude of the systolic Ca transient is its Ca content. The Ca content depends on both the properties of the s.r. and the cytoplasmic Ca concentration. Changes of s.r. Ca content and the Ca released affect the sarcolemmal Ca and Na-Ca exchange currents and this acts to control cell Ca loading and the s.r. Ca content. The opening probability of the RyR can be regulated by various physiological mediators as well as pharmacological compounds. However, it is shown that, due to compensatory changes of s.r. Ca, modifiers of the RyR only produce transient effects on systolic Ca. We conclude that, although the RyR can be regulated, of much greater importance to the control of Ca efflux from the s.r. are effects due to changes of s.r. Ca content.

The control of the contraction of myocytes from guinea-pig heart by the resting membrane potential

1. The influence of different holding potentials (-120 to -70 mV) on the contraction of enzymatically dispersed myocytes from guinea-pig hearts was evaluated. Contractions were elicited by repetitive depolarizations to 0 mV at 0.5 Hz. 2. While ineffective at 140 and 5 mmol l-1 [Na+]o and pipette Na+, respectively, depolarization of the resting membrane with the holding potential increased myocyte shortening at reduced Na+ gradients ([Na+]o 70 or [Na+]i 10-15 mmol l-1). Elevated intracellular Na+ after Na(+)-pump inhibition with ouabain 1-10 mumol l-1 was similarly effective with regard to the inotropic response to different holding potentials. 3. At -70 mV holding potential, reduction of [Na+]o from 140 to 70 mmol l-1 increased myocyte shortening and induced an inwardly directed component of the holding current which peaked at -44 +/- 10 pA and declined thereafter in parallel with the inotropic effect. The relation of this inward current to [Ca2+]i was confirmed by experiments at high Ca2+ buffer capacity where [Na+]o reduction induced a Ni(2+)-insensitive, outwardly directed component (36 +/- 15 pA) of the holding current. The observed inward current is suggested to reflect the extrusion of [Ca2+]i in exchange for [Na+]o as a counter-regulatory mechanism which limits the increase of [Ca2+]i. 4. The interventions which increased the strength of the contraction also enhanced the transient tail current after repolarization, suggesting its close relation to [Ca2+]i. This finding confirmed the pattern found with cell shortening. 5. It is concluded that under certain conditions, voltage-dependent and Na(+)-dependent Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange during the interval between the contractions is relevant to the diastolic concentration of [Ca2+]i which in turn determines the accumulation of Ca2+ in the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the magnitude of the subsequent contraction.

Force production following transient potential changes in voltage-clamped myocardium

Inter-relationships between force, membrane voltage and currents were studied in ferret and guinea-pig papillary muscles using the single sucrose gap technique (37 degrees C). The preparations were held at -90 or -40 mV and depolarized (excited) to 0 mV for 180 ms at 1.0 Hz. At regular intervals the shape of a single clamp pulse (called '1') was varied and its effects were investigated during the same test cycle and in two subsequent test cycles ('2' and '3'). Peak force of contraction 1 (F1) increased with the duration of the test clamp up to 90 ms and was constant thereafter. F1 increased with clamp amplitude (V1) between -30 and 10 mV and decreased at greater amplitudes. This relation was similar to the relation between peak second inward current (I1) and V1. The peak force of contractions 2 and 3 rose with the clamp duration and clamp amplitudes of cycle 1. The relation between F3 and F2 was linear (slope 0.40), except at the lowest and highest F2 values where there was a small deviation. There was an inverse relation between I2 and F2. The results support the idea that increased duration or amplitude of the voltage clamp pulse leads to a greater calcium entry which is manifested in the following potentiated contraction. The relation between F3 and F2 implies that about 40% of calcium recirculates between the contractions. The inverse relationship between F2 and I2 indicates that the second inward current is regulated by release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum via negative feedback.

Tension activation and relaxation in frog atrial fibres. Evidence for direct effects of divalent cations (Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+) on contractile proteins and Na-Ca exchange

The effect of alkali-earth cations (Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+) on the excitation-contraction coupling events of the frog atrial fibres were studied using a double mannitol gap voltage clamp technique coupled with a mechano-electric transducer. Photoremoval of the suppressive effect of nifedipine on the calcium channels allowed to obtain rapid transient Ca2+, Sr2+ or Ba2+ ions current jumps. The effect on the amplitude of the associated contraction was proportional to the current jumps. These results together with the correlation established between the estimated increase in the internal concentration of divalent cations and the amplitude of the phasic tension suggest that the essential source of divalent cations for activation of contraction is the extracellular space. Also Ba2+ ions reduced the tonic tension and strongly slowed the relaxation of the phasic component whereas Sr2+ exhibited smaller effects. Sr2+ ions could be more efficient than Ba2+ ions in substituting for Ca2+ ions in the Na+-Ca2+ exchange mechanism known to regulate these two mechanical events. The conclusions are that the order of effectiveness of these ions (Ca2+ greater than Sr2+ greater than Ba2+) is the same with regard to transarcolemmal exchange for Na+ ions, presumed uptake by a "second relaxing system", activation of contraction, and inactivation of the slow inward current.

Effects of changes of intracellular pH on contraction in sheep cardiac Purkinje fibers

Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured with a pH-sensitive microelectrode in voltage-clamped sheep cardiac Purkinje fibers while tension was simultaneously measured. All solutions were nominally CO2/HCO3 free and were buffered with Tris. The addition of NH4Cl (5-20 mM) produced an initial intracellular alkalosis that was associated with an increase of twitch tension. At the same time, a component of voltage-dependent tonic tension developed. Prolonged exposure (greater than 5 min) to NH4Cl resulted in a slow recovery of pHi accompanied by a decrease of tension. Removal of NH4Cl produced a transient acidosis that was accompanied by a fall of force. In some experiments, there was then a transient recovery of force. If extracellular pH (pHo) was decreased, then pHi decreased slowly. Tension also fell slowly. An increase of pHo produced a corresponding increase of both force and pHi. The application of strophanthidin (10 microM) increased force and produced an intracellular acidosis. The addition of NH4Cl, to remove this acidosis partially, produced a significant increase of force. The above results show that contraction is sensitive to changes of intracellular but not extracellular pH. This pH dependence will therefore modify the contractile response to inotropic maneuvers that also affect pHi.

Effects of membrane potential on intracellular calcium concentration in sheep Purkinje fibres in sodium-free solutions

1. The intracellular Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) was measured in voltage-clamped sheep cardiac Purkinje fibers while recording tension simultaneously. 2. When [Na+]i was elevated (by Na+-K+ pump inhibition) depolarization produced an increase of tonic tension. 3. Replacement of external Na+ by Li+ or choline produced a contracture which then relaxed spontaneously. Following this relaxation, depolarization either had no effect on tonic tension or produced a small decrease. 4. When external Na+ was replaced by Ca2+, depolarization (over the range -120 to -20 mV) produced a decrease of tonic tension and [Ca2+]i. Hyperpolarization increased tonic tension and [Ca2+]i. 5. An after-contraction and accompanying increase of [Ca2+]i were produced by repolarization in both Na+-free and Na+-containing solution. This eliminates the possibility that the stimulus for the after-contraction is the increase of [Ca2+]i during the depolarization and suggests that the stimulus may be the change of membrane potential. 6. The increase of [Ca2+]i on hyperpolarization seen in Na+-free solutions persisted in the presence of ryanodine. 7. These results show, in contrast to previous work, that in Na+-free solutions tonic tension is still sensitive to membrane potential. The results support the hypothesis that, in Na+-containing solutions, the increase of tonic tension on depolarization results from a voltage-dependent Na+-Ca2+ exchange. The reduction of tonic tension on depolarization in Na+-free solutions may be due to the decrease of the electrochemical gradient for Ca2+ to enter the cell.

Effects of procaine on calcium accumulation by the sarcoplasmic reticulum of mechanically disrupted rat cardiac muscle

The ability of the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skinned cardiac muscle of the rat to accumulate and release Ca2+ was studied in the presence and absence of procaine. Ca2+ accumulation was estimated from the magnitude of the caffeine- (30 mM) induced force transient in a weakly Ca2+ buffered solution. The relative area under the caffeine-induced force transient was up to 4-fold greater when 5 mM-procaine had been present during the preceding period of Ca2+ loading, than that after an equivalent period of Ca2+ loading in the absence of procaine. Procaine antagonized the caffeine-induced release of Ca2+ when present in the Ca2+ releasing solution, however, the ability of procaine to attenuate the caffeine-induced Ca2+ release diminished as the extent to which the sarcoplasmic reticulum was loaded with Ca2+ increased. In the presence of 1 mM-Mg2+ procaine also markedly attenuated the small spontaneous force oscillations (5-10% P0) associated with the cyclic release and reuptake of Ca2+ by the sarcoplasmic reticulum. When the Mg2+ concentration was reduced to 0.1 mM, procaine initially suppressed the small spontaneous oscillations in force, however, large force oscillations (40-80% P0) of lower frequency were invariably initiated after 20-60 s exposure to 5 mM-procaine. Procaine (5 mM) produced a slight shift (approximately 0.04 pCa unit) of the force-pCa relation toward lower Ca2+ concentrations. This effect is too small to influence in any substantial way the apparent effects of procaine on the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The results indicate that whilst procaine is indeed able to suppress Ca2+ release under certain circumstances, in its presence the net accumulation of Ca2+ by the sarcoplasmic reticulum can be markedly enhanced.

Na+-Ca2+ exchange contributes to increase of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration during depolarization in heart muscle

The possible role of Na+-Ca2+ exchange in contributing to depolarization-induced increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) of isolated rat ventricular myocytes was investigated. Measured with the Ca2+-sensitive indicator quin 2, [Ca2+]i increased from 177 +/- 12 (mean +/- SE, n = 11) to 468 +/- 41 nM when cells were depolarized with solutions containing 50 mM KCl [high extracellular K+ concentration ([K+]o)]. Approximately 73% of this high-[K+]o-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was abolished by the Ca2+ channel blocker verapamil (5 microM). For cells pretreated with 10 mM caffeine to deplete the Ca2+ stored in sarcoplasmic reticulum, 50 mM KCl still produced an increase in [Ca2+]i, even in the presence of 5 microM verapamil. However, if extracellular Na+ was replaced by Li+ or tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, this increase was completely abolished. The results suggest that, in addition to voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels, voltage-sensitive Na+-Ca2+ exchange can also contribute to the increase in [Ca2+]i on depolarization. Therefore both Ca2+ transport systems may play important roles in regulating cardiac excitation and contraction.

Na-Ca exchange: stoichiometry and electrogenicity

This review discusses the evidence concerning the stoichiometry of Na-Ca exchange. In particular we consider whether the Na-Ca exchange has been shown to transport more than two Na+ ions per Ca2+ ion and therefore whether it generates an electric current. The first part of this review discusses both direct and indirect evidence concerning the stoichiometry of the exchange and its possible voltage dependence. We find that, although there is some evidence suggesting that more than two Na+ ions may exchange for each Ca2+ ion, most of the available evidence is equivocal and cannot fix the stoichiometry precisely. Furthermore, using a simple and explicit circulating carrier model for the Na-Ca exchange, we show that the effect of membrane potential on the Na-Ca exchange may be considerably more complicated than is generally believed. In particular we find that both electrogenic and electroneutral exchanges will be affected by membrane potential. We therefore conclude that the demonstration of the voltage dependence of the Na-Ca exchange does not necessarily imply that it is electrogenic. Additionally, this analysis shows that, apart from a restricted range near thermodynamic equilibrium, it is impossible to predict either the magnitude or the direction of the effects of membrane potential on the exchange. In the second part of the review we consider whether any known membrane currents may be attributed to Na-Ca exchange. We show, in contrast to previous suggestions, that the Na-Ca exchange can theoretically produce a current that appears to be activated by intracellular Ca and that has a reversal potential. However, the experimental demonstration that a given current is produced by Na-Ca exchange is hampered by the existence of other Ca- and Na-dependent currents. In conclusion, we feel that there is no evidence that allows any particular membrane current to be unambiguously identified with the Na-Ca exchange.

The quantitative relationship between twitch tension and intracellular sodium activity in sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres

Tension was measured in voltage clamped sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres while simultaneously measuring the intracellular Na activity (aiNa) with a recessed-tip, Na-selective micro-electrode. Inhibiting the Na-K pump either by exposing the preparation to a K-free solution or by adding the cardioactive steroid strophanthidin increased both aiNa and twitch tension and resulted in the development of tonic tension, after-contractions and a transient inward current (ITI). The increase of twitch tension was present at lower aiNa than that required to produce the other phenomena. The relationship between the magnitude of the twitch tension and aiNa was always non-linear. Twitch tension increased steeply with aiNa at first but the relationship flattened off at higher aiNa and tension eventually decreased. Over the steep range, the relationship between tension and aiNa could be represented as: twitch tension = b (aiNa)y where y had a mean value of 3.2. Changing membrane potential or [Ca2+]o changed b but had little effect on y. Mn (2 mmol/l) greatly decreased twitch tension but, at least initially, had little effect on tonic tension. The steep relationship between twitch tension and aiNa was seen, irrespective of whether the Na-K pump was inhibited either by exposure to K-free solution or to strophanthidin and whether the relationship was measured either when aiNa was increasing or after it had reached a steady state. The steep dependence of twitch tension on aiNa observed in the present work means that manoeuvres which produce even small changes of aiNa will have significant effects on contraction.

The control of tonic tension by membrane potential and intracellular sodium activity in the sheep cardiac Purkinje fibre

Intracellular Na activity (aiNa) was measured with recessed-tip, Na-selective micro-electrodes in voltage-clamped sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres. Tension was measured simultaneously. aiNa was increased reversibly either by exposing the preparation to K-free, Rb-free solution of by adding the cardioactive steroid strophanthidin. An increase of aiNa produced an increase of tonic tension which was larger at depolarized membrane potentials. At sufficiently negative membrane potentials, changes of aiNa (over the range 6-30 mM) had no effect on tonic tension. Therefore, both an increase of aiNa and a depolarization are required to increase tonic tension. It is concluded that either a low level of aiNa or a large negative membrane potential is sufficient to maintain a low intracellular Ca concentration. Tonic tension was measured as a function of aiNa. At a given membrane potential the relationship can be described empirically by an equation of the form: tonic tension = b(aiNa)y, where y is a constant and b depends on membrane potential. In five experiments y was found to be 3.7 +/- 0.7 (mean +/- S.E.M.) over a range of potentials from -60 to -10 mV. Tonic tension was measured as a function of membrane potential. At a given aiNa the relationship can be described approximately as: tonic tension = k exp (aV), where a is a constant and k depends on aiNa. In five experiments a was found to be 0.06 +/- 0.01 mV-1 (mean +/- S.E.M.). A depolarization of 10 mV increases tonic tension by the same amount as does an increase of aiNa that is equivalent to a 3.7 mV change of the Na equilibrium potential, ENa. Hence ENa is nearly 3 times more effective than membrane potential in controlling tonic tension. During a prolonged depolarization (several minutes) the initial increase of tonic tension decays gradually. This is associated with a fall of aiNa. The relationship between tonic tension and aiNa is similar to that seen when aiNa is increased by inhibiting the Na pump. It is concluded that the fall of aiNa is responsible for the decay of tonic tension. The changes of tonic tension reported in this paper are consistent with the effects of aiNa and membrane potential on a voltage-dependent Na-Ca exchange. The possibility that a voltage-dependent Ca channel contributes to tonic tension is also discussed.

Effect of potassium depolarization on sodium-dependent calcium efflux from goldfish heart ventricles and guinea-pig atria

1. (45)Ca fluxes were studied in normal and potassium-depolarized goldfish ventricles as a function of the external Na concentration. Some of the experiments were also performed on guinea-pig auricles.2. When the external K concentration was increased from 5.4 to 142 mM, keeping osmolarity constant by adding 137 mM-Li or choline (hyperosmotically) to the low K solution, the (45)Ca efflux was reversibly inhibited, whereas the [(3)H]sucrose efflux was unaffected.3. Goldfish ventricles, which have been depolarized with 142 mM-K for 100 min, repolarized within 20 min, from ca. -15 mV to ca. -70 mV, following the application of 5.4 mM-K. This repolarization was independent of the presence of external Na. During the repolarization the (45)Ca efflux was reactivated. This reactivation, however, depended on the external Na concentration. Comparable results were obtained in guinea-pig atria.4. A similar repolarization and Na-dependent reactivation of (45)Ca efflux was obtained in goldfish ventricles superfused with 10(-6) M-Ca(2+) (4.5 mM-Ca, 5 mM-EGTA, pH 7.1), provided that the (45)Ca washout was started in high K.5. In 10(-6) M-Ca(2+), 137 mM-Na, 5.4 mM-K and 137 mM-choline goldfish ventricles depolarized to about -25 mV within 80 min. If the choline was now replaced by 137 mM-K, the membrane potential moved to ca. -15 mV, and under these conditions the (45)Ca efflux was slightly increased.6. Following Na-free perfusion for 100 min, and at normal external Ca concentrations, the (45)Ca efflux from goldfish ventricles was stimulated by the addition of Na. The curve relating this stimulation to the external Na concentration had a sigmoidal shape and was shifted to the right by K-depolarization. In guinea-pig atria the inhibition of the Na-stimulated Ca efflux by depolarization was of a non-competitive type.7. Following a Na-free incubation of 100 min and a subsequent period of 20 min in 137 mM-Na, the intracellular Na content of goldfish ventricular cells was some 20% lower in K-depolarized cells than in cells at the resting potential.8. (45)Ca influx in goldfish ventricles in the presence of 137 or 68.5 mM-Na was not significantly changed by K-depolarization.9. The results show that the Na-dependent fraction of Ca efflux is inhibited by high external K. The effect is probably due to depolarization, which may be an argument in favour of electrogenic n Na(+)-1 Ca(2+) exchange, with n >/= 3.

The effects of tetracaine on the membrane currents and contraction of frog atrial muscle

1. The effects of tetracaine on the membrane currents and contraction of isolated frog atrial trabeculae under voltage clamp has been investigated. 2. Tetracaine inhibits the slow inward current in a competitive way with a Ki of 0.13 mM, and the phasic component of the contractile response in a non-competitive manner with a Ki of 0.25 mM. 3. The tonic phase of contraction is little affects by tetracaine while the outward current is reduced. 4. The effects of tetracaine on contraction closely resemble those obtained previously with K contractures and further emphasize that two processes, both of which depend on the membrane potential, are involved in the initiation of contraction in amphibian heart. 5. The effect of tetracaine on the phasic tension would seem to be due to an inhibition of both the slow inward current and the release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.