Ion transport by heart and skeletal muscle mitochondria

Molecular Control of Cardiac Sodium Homeostasis in Health and Disease

INTRODUCTION

Cardiac myocytes utilize three high-capacity Na transport processes whose precise function can determine myocyte fate and the triggering of arrhythmias in pathological settings. We present recent results on the regulation of all three transporters that may be important for an understanding of cardiac function during ischemia/reperfusion episodes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Refined ion selective electrode (ISE) techniques and giant patch methods were used to analyze the function of cardiac Na/K pumps, Na/Ca exchange (NCX1), and Na/H exchange (NHE1) in excised cardiac patches and intact myocytes. To consider results cohesively, simulations were developed that account for electroneutrality of the cytoplasm, ion homeostasis, water homeostasis (i.e., cell volume), and cytoplasmic pH. The Na/K pump determines the average life-time of Na ions (3-10 minutes) as well as K ions (>30 minutes) in the cytoplasm. The long time course of K homeostasis can determine the time course of myocyte volume changes after ion homeostasis is perturbed. In excised patches, cardiac Na/K pumps turn on slowly (-30 seconds) with millimolar ATP dependence, when activated for the first time. In steady state, however, pumps are fully active with <0.2 mM ATP and are nearly unaffected by high ADP (2 mM) and Pi (10 mM) concentrations as may occur in ischemia. NCX1s appear to operate with slippage that contributes to background Na influx and inward current in heart. Thus, myocyte Na levels may be regulated by the inactivation reactions of the exchanger which are both Na- and proton-dependent. NHE1 also undergo strong Na-dependent inactivation, whereby a brief rise of cytoplasmic Na can cause inactivation that persists for many minutes after cytoplasmic Na is removed. This mechanism is blocked by pertussis toxin, suggesting involvement of a Na-dependent G-protein. Given that maximal NCX1- and NHE1-mediated ion fluxes are much greater than maximal Na/K pump-mediated Na extrusion in myocytes, the Na-dependent inactivation mechanisms of NCX1 and NHE1 may be important determinants of cardiac Na homeostasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Na/K pumps appear to be optimized to continue operation when energy reserves are compromised. Both NCX1 and NHE1 activities are regulated by accumulation of cytoplasmic Na. These principles may importantly control cardiac cytoplasmic Na and promote myocyte survival during ischemia/reperfusion episodes by preventing Ca overload.

Autoradiographic demonstration of inhomogeneous distribution of sodium in single oocytes of Bufo bufo

1. Autoradiography of frozen cells labelled with (22)Na has been used to locate a sequestered fraction of internal Na in the oocyte which exchanges very slowly or not at all with external Li.2. Relative grain density in nucleus and cytoplasm, measured photometrically, was used as an indication of (22)Na distribution within the oocyte. In test experiments grain density fell to 50% within 19 mum of the edge of the section. Owing to the large diameter of the oocyte (> 600 mum) and its nucleus (> 200 mum), this resolution was adequate to determine cytoplasmic/nuclear (C/N) ratios of grain density.3. In oocytes fully loaded with (22)Na, the mean C/N ratio was 0.92 +/- 0.03 (n = 11). After 5 hr exchange in Li-substituted Na-free Ringer solution, the mean C/N ratio was 2.18 +/- 0.04 (n = 11). After 5 hr exchange in Ringer solution as a control, the mean C/N ratio was 1.39 +/- 0.18 (n = 7). The cytoplasm thus contained a fraction of (22)Na inexchangeable with Li, and more slowly exchangeable with Na than that in the nucleus.4. The non-Li-exchangeable fraction of internal Na thus revealed appeared to be quantitatively similar to that already demonstrated by studies of (22)Na fluxes and of internal Na activity by means of Na-sensitive micro-electrodes.

PIGEON MUSCLE MITOCHONDRIA: ION CONCENTRATIONS, OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION, SWELLING, AND EXTRAPARTICULATE SPACE

Metabolically active mitochondria were isolated from pigeon breast muscle in cold 0.45 M sucrose with ATP, EDTA, and tris buffer at pH 7.4. Fresh mitochondria were analyzed for sodium, potassium, nitrogen, iron, and water. They were morphologically intact and showed respiratory control, respiration being limited by the phosphate acceptor and stimulated by dinitrophenol. The respiratory rate was the same in the Warburg respirometer as that in the polarograph chamber; no effect of agitation was observed. The rates of oxygen consumption over short periods of time were 30–40 μ atoms per hour per mg N for α-keto-glutarate and glutamate, 16 for malate, and 1.3 for β-OH butyrate; except in the last case, satisfactory P/O ratios were obtained. A soluble, heat-stable muscle factor, not precipitated at 100,000 × G, stimulated respiration with each substrate but did not affect phosphorylation. From optical density measurements of muscle mitochondria they appeared to behave as moderately good osmometers; only slight swelling occurred during oxidative phosphorylation, but this increased somewhat when respiration ceased. The osmotic dead space was estimated at 60% of the mitochondrial volume. With polyvinylpyrrolidone the extraparticulate space was found to be 27.8 ± 1.8%.

PIGEON MUSCLE MITOCHONDRIA: ION CONCENTRATIONS, OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION, SWELLING, AND EXTRAPARTICULATE SPACE

Metabolically active mitochondria were isolated from pigeon breast muscle in cold 0.45 M sucrose with ATP, EDTA, and tris buffer at pH 7.4. Fresh mitochondria were analyzed for sodium, potassium, nitrogen, iron, and water. They were morphologically intact and showed respiratory control, respiration being limited by the phosphate acceptor and stimulated by dinitrophenol. The respiratory rate was the same in the Warburg respirometer as that in the polarograph chamber; no effect of agitation was observed. The rates of oxygen consumption over short periods of time were 30–40 μ atoms per hour per mg N for α-keto-glutarate and glutamate, 16 for malate, and 1.3 for β-OH butyrate; except in the last case, satisfactory P/O ratios were obtained. A soluble, heat-stable muscle factor, not precipitated at 100,000 × G, stimulated respiration with each substrate but did not affect phosphorylation. From optical density measurements of muscle mitochondria they appeared to behave as moderately good osmometers; only slight swelling occurred during oxidative phosphorylation, but this increased somewhat when respiration ceased. The osmotic dead space was estimated at 60% of the mitochondrial volume. With polyvinylpyrrolidone the extraparticulate space was found to be 27.8 ± 1.8%.