High hydrostatic pressure induces slow contraction in mouse cardiomyocytes

Cardiomyocytes are contractile cells that regulate heart contraction. Ca2+ flux via Ca2+ channels activates acto-myosin interactions, leading to cardiomyocyte contraction, which is modulated by physical factors (e.g., stretch, shear stress, and hydrostatic pressure). We evaluated the mechanism triggering slow contractions using a high-pressure microscope to char-acterize changes in cell morphology and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in mouse cardiomyocytes exposed to high hydrostatic pressures. We found that cardiomyocytes contracted slowly without an acute transient increase in [Ca2+]i, while a myosin ATPase inhibitor interrupted pressure-induced slow contractions. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy showed that, although the sarcomere length was shortened upon the application of 20 MPa, this pressure did not collapse cellular structures such as the sarcolemma and sarcomeres. Our results suggest that pressure-induced slow contractions in car-diomyocytes are driven by the activation of actomyosin interactions without an acute transient increase in [Ca2+]i.

Automated summary

This study used a high-pressure microscope to investigate the mechanism behind slow contractions in cardiomyocytes caused by pressure stimulation. The results suggest that these contractions are driven by the activation of actomyosin interactions without an acute transient increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration.