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Haverinen J, Badr A, Vornanen M. Cardiac Toxicity of Cadmium Involves Complex Interactions Among Multiple Ion Currents in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Ventricular Myocytes. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2021; 40:2874-2885. [PMID: 34255886 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd2+ ) is cardiotoxic to fish, but its effect on the electrical excitability of cardiac myocytes is largely unknown. To this end, we used the whole-cell patch-clamp method to investigate the effects of Cd2+ on ventricular action potentials (APs) and major ion currents in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) ventricular myocytes. Trout were acclimated to +4 °C, and APs were measured at the acclimated temperature and elevated temperature (+18 °C). Cd2+ (10, 20, and 100 µM) altered the shape of the ventricular AP in a complex manner. The early plateau fell to less positive membrane voltages, and the total duration of AP prolonged. These effects were obvious at both +4 °C and +18 °C. The depression of the early plateau is due to the strong Cd2+ -induced inhibition of the L-type calcium (Ca2+ ) current (ICaL ), whereas the prolongation of the AP is an indirect consequence of the ICaL inhibition: at low voltages of the early plateau, the delayed rectifier potassium (K+ ) current (IKr ) remains small, delaying repolarization of AP. Cd2+ reduced the density and slowed the kinetics of the Na+ current (INa ) but left the inward rectifier K+ current (IK1 ) intact. These altered cellular and molecular functions can explain several Cd2+ -induced changes in impulse conduction of the fish heart, for example, slowed propagation of the AP in atrial and ventricular myocardia (inhibition of INa ), delayed relaxation of the ventricle (prolongation of ventricular AP duration), bradycardia, and atrioventricular block (inhibition of ICaL ). These findings indicate that the cardiotoxicity of Cd2+ in fish involves multiple ion currents that are directly and indirectly altered by Cd2+ . Through these mechanisms, Cd2+ may trigger cardiac arrhythmias and impair myocardial contraction. Elevated temperature (+18 °C) slightly increases Cd2+ toxicity in trout ventricular myocytes. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2874-2885. © 2021 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaakko Haverinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Ahmed Badr
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
- Zoology Department, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
| | - Matti Vornanen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
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Hassinen M, Dzhumaniiazova I, Abramochkin DV, Vornanen M. Ionic basis of atrioventricular conduction: ion channel expression and sarcolemmal ion currents of the atrioventricular canal of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) heart. J Comp Physiol B 2021; 191:327-346. [PMID: 33575867 PMCID: PMC7895799 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-021-01344-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Atrioventricular (AV) nodal tissue synchronizes activities of atria and ventricles of the vertebrate heart and is also a potential site of cardiac arrhythmia, e.g., under acute heat stress. Since ion channel composition and ion currents of the fish AV canal have not been previously studied, we measured major cation currents and transcript expression of ion channels in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) AV tissue. Both ion current densities and expression of ion channel transcripts indicate that the fish AV canal has a characteristic electrophysiological phenotype that differs from those of sinoatrial tissue, atrium and ventricle. Two types of cardiomyocytes were distinguished electrophysiologically in trout AV nodal tissue: the one (transitional cell) is functionally intermediate between working atrial/ventricular myocytes and the other (AV nodal cell) has a less negative resting membrane potential than atrial and ventricular myocytes and is a more similar to the sinoatrial nodal cells in ion channel composition. The AV nodal cells are characterized by a small or non-existent inward rectifier potassium current (IK1), low density of fast sodium current (INa) and relatively high expression of T-type calcium channels (CACNA3.1). Pacemaker channel (HCN4 and HCN2) transcripts were expressed in the AV nodal tissue but If current was not found in enzymatically isolated nodal myocytes. The electrophysiological properties of the rainbow trout nodal cells are appropriate for a slow rate of action potential conduction (small INa) and a moderate propensity for pacemaking activity (absence of IK1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Hassinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Irina Dzhumaniiazova
- Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye Gory, 1, 12, Moscow, Russia
| | - Denis V Abramochkin
- Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye Gory, 1, 12, Moscow, Russia.,Laboratory of Cardiac Electrophysiology, National Medical Research Center for Cardiology, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Physiology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Matti Vornanen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland.
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Vehniäinen ER, Haverinen J, Vornanen M. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Phenanthrene and Retene Modify the Action Potential via Multiple Ion Currents in Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss Cardiac Myocytes. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2019; 38:2145-2153. [PMID: 31237719 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous contaminants in aqueous environments. They affect cardiovascular development and function in fishes. The 3-ring PAH phenanthrene has recently been shown to impair cardiac excitation-contraction coupling by inhibiting Ca2+ and K+ currents in marine warm-water scombrid fishes. To see if similar events take place in a boreal freshwater fish, we studied whether the PAHs phenanthrene and retene (an alkylated phenanthrene) modify the action potential (AP) via effects on Na+ (INa ), Ca2+ (ICaL ), or K+ (IKr , IK1 ) currents in the ventricular myocytes of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) heart. Electrophysiological characteristics of myocytes were measured using whole-cell patch clamp. Micromolar concentrations of phenanthrene and retene modified the shape of the ventricular AP, and retene profoundly shortened the AP at low micromolar concentrations. Both PAHs increased INa and reduced ICaL and IKr , but retene was more potent. Neither of the PAHs had an effect on IK1 . Our results show that phenanthrene and retene affect cardiac function in rainbow trout by a mechanism that involves multiple cardiac ion channels, and the final outcome of these changes (shortening of AP) is opposite to that observed in scombrid fishes (prolongation of AP). The results also show that retene and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist have an additional mechanism of toxicity besides the previously known AhR-mediated, transcription-dependent one. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2145-2153. © 2019 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eeva-Riikka Vehniäinen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jaakko Haverinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Matti Vornanen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
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Abramochkin DV, Hassinen M, Vornanen M. Transcripts of Kv7.1 and MinK channels and slow delayed rectifier K + current (I Ks) are expressed in zebrafish (Danio rerio) heart. Pflugers Arch 2018; 470:1753-1764. [PMID: 30116893 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-018-2193-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish are increasingly used as a model for human cardiac electrophysiology, arrhythmias, and drug screening. However, K+ ion channels of the zebrafish heart, which determine the rate of repolarization and duration of cardiac action potential (AP) are still incompletely known and characterized. Here, we provide the first evidence for the presence of the slow component of the delayed rectifier K+channels in the zebrafish heart and characterize electrophysiological properties of the slow component of the delayed rectifier K+current, IKs. Zebrafish atrium and ventricle showed strong transcript expression of the kcnq1 gene, which encodes the Kv7.1 α-subunit of the slow delayed rectifier K+ channel. In contrast, the kcne1 gene, encoding the MinK β-subunit of the delayed rectifier, was expressed at 21 and 17 times lower level in ventricle and atrium, respectively, in comparison to the kcnq1. IKs was observed in 62% of ventricular myocytes with mean (± SEM) density of 1.23 ± 0.37 pA/pF at + 30 mV. Activation rate of IKs was 38% faster (τ50 = 1248 ± 215 ms) than kcnq1:kcne1 channels (1725 ± 792 ms) expressed in 3:1 ratio in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Microelectrode experiments demonstrated the functional relevance of IKs in the zebrafish heart, since 100 μM chromanol 293B produced a significant prolongation of AP in zebrafish ventricle. We conclude that AP repolarization in zebrafish ventricle is contributed by IKs, which is mainly generated by homotetrameric Kv7.1 channels not coupled to MinK ancillary β-subunits. This is a clear difference to the human heart, where MinK is an essential component of the slow delayed rectifier K+channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis V Abramochkin
- Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Biological faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye Gory, 1, 12, Moscow, Russia.
- Department of Physiology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia.
- Laboratory of Cardiac Physiology, Institute of Physiology, Komi Science Center, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Syktyvkar, Russia.
| | - Minna Hassinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Matti Vornanen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
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Vornanen M. The temperature dependence of electrical excitability in fish hearts. J Exp Biol 2016; 219:1941-52. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.128439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Environmental temperature has pervasive effects on the rate of life processes in ectothermic animals. Animal performance is affected by temperature, but there are finite thermal limits for vital body functions, including contraction of the heart. This Review discusses the electrical excitation that initiates and controls the rate and rhythm of fish cardiac contraction and is therefore a central factor in the temperature-dependent modulation of fish cardiac function. The control of cardiac electrical excitability should be sensitive enough to respond to temperature changes but simultaneously robust enough to protect against cardiac arrhythmia; therefore, the thermal resilience and plasticity of electrical excitation are physiological qualities that may affect the ability of fishes to adjust to climate change. Acute changes in temperature alter the frequency of the heartbeat and the duration of atrial and ventricular action potentials (APs). Prolonged exposure to new thermal conditions induces compensatory changes in ion channel expression and function, which usually partially alleviate the direct effects of temperature on cardiac APs and heart rate. The most heat-sensitive molecular components contributing to the electrical excitation of the fish heart seem to be Na+ channels, which may set the upper thermal limit for the cardiac excitability by compromising the initiation of the cardiac AP at high temperatures. In cardiac and other excitable cells, the different temperature dependencies of the outward K+ current and inward Na+ current may compromise electrical excitability at temperature extremes, a hypothesis termed the temperature-dependent depression of electrical excitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matti Vornanen
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, PO Box 111, Joensuu 80101, Finland
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Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a popular model for human cardiac diseases and pharmacology including cardiac arrhythmias and its electrophysiological basis. Notably, the phenotype of zebrafish cardiac action potential is similar to the human cardiac action potential in that both have a long plateau phase. Also the major inward and outward current systems are qualitatively similar in zebrafish and human hearts. However, there are also significant differences in ionic current composition between human and zebrafish hearts, and the molecular basis and pharmacological properties of human and zebrafish cardiac ionic currents differ in several ways. Cardiac ionic currents may be produced by non-orthologous genes in zebrafish and humans, and paralogous gene products of some ion channels are expressed in the zebrafish heart. More research on molecular basis of cardiac ion channels, and regulation and drug sensitivity of the cardiac ionic currents are needed to enable rational use of the zebrafish heart as an electrophysiological model for the human heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matti Vornanen
- a Department of Biology , University of Eastern Finland , Joensuu , Finland
| | - Minna Hassinen
- a Department of Biology , University of Eastern Finland , Joensuu , Finland
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Hassinen M, Haverinen J, Hardy ME, Shiels HA, Vornanen M. Inward rectifier potassium current (I K1) and Kir2 composition of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) heart. Pflugers Arch 2015; 467:2437-46. [PMID: 25991088 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-015-1710-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Revised: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Electrophysiological properties and molecular background of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) cardiac inward rectifier current (IK1) were examined. Ventricular myocytes of zebrafish have a robust (-6.7 ± 1.2 pA pF(-1) at -120 mV) strongly rectifying and Ba(2+)-sensitive (IC50 = 3.8 μM) IK1. Transcripts of six Kir2 channels (drKir2.1a, drKir2.1b, drKir2.2a, drKir2.2b, drKir2.3, and drKir2.4) were expressed in the zebrafish heart. drKir2.4 and drKir2.2a were the dominant isoforms in both the ventricle (92.9 ± 1.5 and 6.3 ± 1.5%) and the atrium (28.9 ± 2.9 and 64.7 ± 3.0%). The remaining four channels comprised together less than 1 and 7 % of the total transcripts in ventricle and atrium, respectively. The four main gene products (drKir2.1a, drKir2.2a, drKir2.2b, drKir2.4) were cloned, sequenced, and expressed in HEK cells for electrophysiological characterization. drKir2.1a was the most weakly rectifying (passed more outward current) and drKir2.2b the most strongly rectifying (passed less outward current) channel, whilst drKir2.2a and drKir2.4 were intermediate between the two. In regard to sensitivity to Ba(2+) block, drKir2.4 was the most sensitive (IC50 = 1.8 μM) and drKir2.1a the least sensitive channel (IC50 = 132 μM). These findings indicate that the Kir2 isoform composition of the zebrafish heart markedly differs from that of mammalian hearts. Furthermore orthologous Kir2 channels (Kir2.1 and Kir2.4) of zebrafish and mammals show striking differences in Ba(2+)-sensitivity. Structural and functional differences needs to be taken into account when zebrafish is used as a model for human cardiac electrophysiology, cardiac diseases, and in screening cardioactive substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Hassinen
- Department of Biology, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland.
| | - Jaakko Haverinen
- Department of Biology, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Matt E Hardy
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK
| | - Holly A Shiels
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK
| | - Matti Vornanen
- Department of Biology, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland
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Seasonal acclimatization of the cardiac action potential in the Arctic navaga cod (Eleginus navaga, Gadidae). J Comp Physiol B 2014; 184:319-27. [PMID: 24395518 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-013-0797-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2013] [Revised: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Freshwater fishes of north-temperate latitudes adjust electrical excitability of the heart to seasonal temperature changes by changing expression levels of ion channel isoforms. However, little is known about thermal responses of action potential (AP) in the hearts of marine polar fishes. To this end, we examined cardiac AP in the atrial myocardium of the Arctic navaga cod (Eleginus navaga) from the White Sea (Russia) acclimatized to winter (March) and summer (September) seasons. Acute increases in temperature from 4 to 10 °C were associated with increases in heart rate, maximum velocity of AP upstroke and negative resting membrane potential, while duration of AP was shortened in both winter-acclimatized and summer-acclimatized navaga hearts. In winter, there was a compensatory shortening (41.1%) of atrial AP duration and this was associated with a strong increase in transcript expression of Erg K(+) channels, known to produce the rapid component of the delayed rectifier K(+) current, I(Kr). Smaller increases were found in the expression of Kir2.1 channels that produce the inward rectifier K(+) current, I(K1). These findings indicate that the heart of navaga cod has a good acclimatory capacity in electrical excitation of cardiac myocytes, which enables cardiac function in the cold-eurythermal waters of the subarctic White Sea.
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