Calcium flux in turtle ventricular myocytes

Calcium flux in turtle ventricular myocytes. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 291: R1781-R1789, 2006. First published August 3, 2006; doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00421.2006.- The relative contribution of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), the L-type Ca2+ channel and the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) were assessed in turtle ventricular myocytes using epifluorescent microscopy and electrophysiology. Confocal microscopy images of turtle myocytes revealed spindle-shaped cells, which lacked T-tubules and had a large surface area-to-volume ratio. Myocytes loaded with the fluorescent Ca2+-sensitive dye Fura-2 elicited Ca2+ transients, which were insensitive to ryanodine and thapsigargin, indicating the SR plays a small role in the regulation of contraction and relaxation in the turtle ventricle. Sarcolemmal Ca2(+) currents were measured using the perforated-patch voltage-clamp technique. Depolarizing voltage steps to 0 mV elicited an inward current that could be blocked by nifedipine, indicating the presence of Ca2+ currents originating from L-type Ca2+ channels (ICa). The density of ICa was 3.2 +/- 0.5 pA/pF, which led to an overall total Ca2+ influx of 64.1 +/- 9.3 mu M/l. NCX activity was measured as the Ni+-sensitive current at two concentrations of intracellular Na+ (7 and 14 mM). Total Ca2+ influx through the NCX during depolarizing voltage steps to 0 mV was 58.5 +/- 7.7 mu mol/l and 26.7 +/- 3.2 mu mol/l at 14 and 7 mM intracellular Na+, respectively. In the absence of the SR and L-type Ca2+ channels, the NCX is able to support myocyte contraction independently. Our results indicate turtle ventricular myocytes are primed for sarcolemmal Ca2+ transport, and most of the Ca2+ used for contraction originates from the L-type Ca2+ channel.