The role of anion channels in osmotically activated taurine release from embryonic skate (Raja eglanteria) heart

Molecular distribution of volume-regulated chloride channels (ClC-2 and ClC-3) in cardiac tissues

The molecular identification of cardiac chloride channels has provided probes to investigate their distribution and abundance in heart. In this study, the molecular expression and distribution of volume-regulated chloride channels ClC-2 and ClC-3 in cardiac tissues were analyzed and quantified. Total RNA was isolated from atria and ventricles of several species (dog, guinea pig, and rat) and subjected to a quantitative RT-PCR strategy. ClC-2 and ClC-3 mRNA expression were calculated relative to beta-actin expression within these same tissues. The transcriptional levels of ClC-3 mRNA were between 1.8 and 10.2% of beta-actin expression in atria and between 3.4 and 8.6% of beta-actin in ventricles (n = 3 for each tissue). The levels of ClC-2 in both atria and ventricles were significantly less than those measured for ClC-3 (n = 3; P < 0.05). ClC-2 mRNA levels were between 0.04-0.08% and 0.03-0.18% of beta-actin expression in atria and ventricles, respectively (n = 3 for each tissue). Immunoblots of atrial and ventricular wall protein extracts demonstrated ClC-2- and ClC-3-specific immunoreactivity at 97 and 85 kDa, respectively. Immunohistochemical localization in guinea pig cardiac muscle demonstrates a ubiquitous distribution of ClC-2 and ClC-3 channels in the atrial and ventricular wall. Confocal analysis detected colocalization of ClC-2 and ClC-3 in sarcolemmal membranes and distinct ClC-3 immunoreactivity in cytoplasmic regions. The molecular expression of ClC-2 and ClC-3 in cardiac tissue is consistent with the proposed role of these chloride channels in the regulation of cardiac cell volume and the modulation of cardiac electrical activity.

Volume changes in cardiac ventricles from Aplysia brasiliana upon exposure to hyposmotic shock

We investigated the possible role of ion channels and transporters in cell volume control using Aplysia brasiliana ventricular tissues exposed to a 26% hyposmotic shock, by assessing changes in wet weight, intracellular water and ionic contents. Thirty minutes after the shock, the wet weight of isolated ventricles increase about 20% above control levels and then attain near original weight within 60 min after the shock. At the time when the wet weight returned to control values, intracellular water and KCl contents are decreased by 22 and 20%, respectively. The K(+) channel blockers, 4-AP and TEA, but not the cotransport blockers, hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide, greatly affect the magnitude of wet weight gain and the time course of weight recovery, indicating that KCl loss occur through conductive pathways. Intracellular recordings performed on ventricular myocytes during exposure to the osmotic shock showed an immediate membrane hyperpolarization and blockade of spontaneous electrical activity; diastolic membrane potential recover over time and spontaneous action potentials are completely restored 60 min after the hyposmotic shock. Because significant weight loss is observed during the exposure of ventricular tissues to 26% hypo-ionic, but isosmotic saline, it is suggested that ventricular volume restoration is accomplished by two distinct but simultaneously occurring processes: a volume-dependent and a volume-independent mechanism. Because wet weight restoration is completely prevented by exposing ventricular tissue to a Ca(2+)-free hyposmotic solution, we postulate that both processes involved in A. brasiliana ventricular weight restoration are Ca(2+)-dependent mechanisms.