Hydroxyl radical-induced acute diastolic dysfunction is due to calcium overload via reverse-mode Na+-Ca2+ exchange

Hydroxyl radicals (OH) are involved in the development of reperfusion injury and myocardial failure. In the acute phase of the OH-mediated diastolic dysfunction, increased intracellular Ca2+ levels and alterations of myofilaments may play a role, but the relative contribution of these systems to myocardial dysfunction is unknown. Intact contracting cardiac trabeculae from rabbits were exposed to OH, resulting, in an increase in diastolic force (F-dta) by 540%. Shinned fiber experiments revealed that OH-exposed preparations were sensitized for Ca2+ (EC50: 3.27+/-0.24x10(-6) versus 2.69+/-0.15x10(-6) mol/L; P<0.05), whereas maximal force development was unaltered. Western blots showed a proteolytic degradation of troponin T (TnT) with intact troponin I (TnI). Blocking of calpain I by MDL-28.170 inhibited both TnT-proteolysis and Ca2+ sensitization but failed to prevent the acute diastolic dysfunction in the intact preparation. The OH-induced diastolic dysfunction was similar in preparations with intact (540+/-93%) and pharmacologically blocked sarcoplasmic reticulum (539+/-77%), and was also similar in presence of the L-ype Ca2+-channel antagonist verapamil. In sharp contrast, inhibition of the reverse-mode sodium-calcium exchange by KB-R7943 preserved diastolic function completely. Additional experiments were performed in rat myocardium the rise in diastolic force was comparable to rabbit myocardium, but Ca2+ sensitivity was unchanged and maximal force development was reduced. This was associated with a degradation of TnI, but not TnT. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that OH did not cause irreversible membrane damage. We conclude that OH-induced acute diastolic dysfunction is caused by Ca2+ influx via reverse mode of the sodium-calcium exchanger. Degradation of troponins appears to be species-dependent but does not contribute to the acute diastolic dysfunction.