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H Kammermeier

Publications and source records attributed to H Kammermeier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of high glucose on the hypoxic isolated guinea pig heart: interactions with ATP-dependent K+ channels?

The effect of perfusion with elevated glucose concentrations on hypoxic myocardium was investigated in isolated Langendorff guinea pig hearts. For that purpose, mechanical (heart rate, systolic peak pressure and coronary flow) and electrophysiological (monophasic action potential duration=MAP, ectopic beats) data were evaluated. At the end of the experiments the hearts were examined histologically after trypan blue vital staining for quantification of irreversible myocardial damage. In the absence of insulin moderate glucose elevation (from 5 to 15 mM) exerted beneficial effects on hypoxic hearts: the depressed contraction was improved, the action potential shortening partly reversed and the percentage of irreversibly damaged myocytes diminished. Glucose did not have any effect on heart rate and arrhythmias under hypoxia or reperfusion. A contribution of cardiac ATP-dependent K+ channels to the effects of glucose could be excluded by further experiments. Thus, blocking these channels with high glibenclamide concentrations did not affect the action of glucose on MAP and contraction. To some degree the glucose effect on MAP, but not on systolic pressure, was also observable under normoxic conditions.

Action Potentials

Halothane, but not isoflurane, impairs the beta-adrenergic responsiveness in rat myocardium.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify the mechanisms by which halothane and isoflurane change the myocardial beta-adrenergic signal transduction pathway. METHODS: The authors investigated the influence of volatile anesthetics on the isometric force of contraction of rat papillary muscles. Concentration-response curves for isoproterenol and epinephrine were studied under control conditions and in the presence of halothane or isoflurane. In radioligand receptor-binding studies, the beta-adrenoceptor affinities for isoproterenol and epinephrine were investigated with and without guanosine triphosphate. In addition, the isoproterenol-induced cyclic adenosine monophosphate accumulations in viable cardiomyocytes in the absence and in the presence of halothane were determined by radioimmunoassays. RESULTS: The half-maximal positive inotropic effect of isoproterenol was reached at a half-maximal effective concentration (EC50 value) of 68 nM (33-141 nM; n = 10). A minimum alveolar concentration of 1.3 halothane reduced the positive inotropic potency of isoproterenol (EC50 = 158 nM [118-214 nM; n = 10; P < 0.01 vs. control]), whereas isoflurane did not changed it. This observation held true when the force of contraction was stimulated with epinephrine. Halothane (1.3 minimum alveolar concentration) depressed beta-adrenoceptor high-affinity binding and beta-adrenoceptor agonist affinity in radioligand binding assays, an effect not seen with isoflurane. Halothane shifted the intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate response curve of isoproterenol to the right. CONCLUSION: Halothane, but not isoflurane, impairs the beta-adrenergic responsiveness in rat myocardium by reducing the agonist affinity of the beta-adrenoceptors.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists

Relation between enzyme release and irreversible cell injury of the heart under the influence of cytoskeleton modulating agents.

The effects of agents modulating the cytoskeleton, taxol (microtubuli stabilizing), vinblastine (microtubuli destabilizing) and cytochalasin D (actin destabilizing) (10(-6) M each) on enzyme and ATP release as well as on irreversible cell injury were investigated in isolated perfused hypoxic and reoxygenated rat hearts. Enzyme (creatine kinase (CK)) and ATP concentration were assayed in the interstitial transudate and venous effluent. Irreversible cell injury was determined from trypan blue uptake and nuclear staining (NS) of cardiomyocytes in histologic sections. ATP release from nonneuronal cells was only detectable in the interstitial transudate and was not significantly altered by the agents. In controls total CK release (about 4% of total CK) exceeded the percentage of irreversibly injured cells by a factor of 8. Taxol and cytochalasin D abolished the hypoxia/reoxygenation induced interstitial CK release and reduced total CK release to a highly significant extent. The percentage of irreversible injured cells was even more diminished by these agents resulting in a ratio of CK/NS of 40. The effect of cytochalasin D apparently is the consequence of decreased contractile performance as shown by analogous depression by butonedione monoxine (BDM), whereas contractile activity was not altered by taxol. Vinblastine had no influence on CK release but increased the number of irreversibly injured cells significantly. In conclusion, cytoskeletal elements apparently participate in the hypoxia/reoxygenation induced process of release of cytosolic enzymes (CK) and irreversible injury in a different way and extent. Taxol exhibits a cytoprotective effect in isolated perfused rat hearts as evaluated by the extent of enzyme release and irreversible cell injury.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Regulation of glucose transport, and glucose transporters expression and trafficking in the heart: studies in cardiac myocytes.

Cardiac muscle is characterized by a high rate of glucose consumption. In the absence of insulin, glucose transport into cardiomyocytes limits the rate of glucose utilization and therefore it is important to understand the regulation of glucose transporters. Cardiac muscle cells express 2 distinct glucose transporters, GLUT4 and GLUT1; although GLUT4 is quantitatively the more important glucose transporter expressed in heart, GLUT1 is also expressed at a substantial level. In isolated rat cardiomyocytes, insulin acutely stimulates glucose transport and translocates both GLUT4 and GLUT1 from an intracellular site to the cell surface. Recent evidence indicates the existence of at least 2 distinct intracellular membrane populations enriched in GLUT4 with a different protein composition. Elucidation of the intracellular location of these 2 GLUT4 vesicle pools in cardiac myocytes, their role in GLUT4 trafficking, and their relation to insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation needs to be addressed.

Animals

Insulin-induced recruitment of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and GLUT1 in isolated rat cardiac myocytes. Evidence of the existence of different intracellular GLUT4 vesicle populations.

UNLABELLED: Using isolated rat cardiomyocytes we have examined: 1) the effect of insulin on the cellular distribution of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and GLUT1, 2) the total amount of these transporters, and 3) the co-localization of GLUT4, GLUT1, and secretory carrier membrane proteins (SCAMPs) in intracellular membranes. Insulin induced 5.7- and 2.7-fold increases in GLUT4 and GLUT1 at the cell surface, respectively, as determined by the nonpermeant photoaffinity label [3H]2-N-[4(1-azi-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)benzoyl]-1, 3-bis-(D-mannos-4-yloxy)propyl-2-amine. The total amount of GLUT1, as determined by quantitative Western blot analysis of cell homogenates, was found to represent a substantial fraction ( approximately 30%) of the total glucose transporter content. Intracellular GLUT4-containing vesicles were immunoisolated from low density microsomes by using monoclonal anti-GLUT4 (1F8) or anti-SCAMP antibodies (3F8) coupled to either agarose or acrylamide. With these different immunoisolation conditions two GLUT4 membrane pools were found in nonstimulated cells: one pool with a high proportion of GLUT4 and a low content in GLUT1 and SCAMP 39 (pool 1) and a second GLUT4 pool with a high content of GLUT1 and SCAMP 39 (pool 2). The existence of pool 1 was confirmed by immunotitration of intracellular GLUT4 membranes with 1F8-acrylamide. Acute insulin treatment caused the depletion of GLUT4 in both pools and of GLUT1 and SCAMP 39 in pool 2. IN CONCLUSION: 1) GLUT4 is the major glucose transporter to be recruited to the surface of cardiomyocytes in response to insulin; 2) these cells express a high level of GLUT1; and 3) intracellular GLUT4-containing vesicles consist of at least two populations, which is compatible with recently proposed models of GLUT4 trafficking in adipocytes.

Animals

Glucose transport and glucose transporter GLUT4 are regulated by product(s) of intermediary metabolism in cardiomyocytes.

Alternative substrates of energy metabolism are thought to contribute to the impairment of heart and muscle glucose utilization in insulin-resistant states. We have investigated the acute effects of substrates in isolated rat cardiomyocytes. Exposure to lactate, pyruvate, propionate, acetate, palmitate, beta-hydroxybutyrate or alpha-oxoglutarate led to the depression of glucose transport by up to 50%, with lactate, pyruvate and propionate being the most potent agents. The percentage inhibition was greater in cardiomyocytes in which glucose transport was stimulated with the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine or with a submaximal insulin concentration than in basal or fully insulin-stimulated cells. Cardiomyocytes from fasted or diabetic rats displayed a similar sensitivity to substrates as did cells from control animals. On the other hand, the amination product of pyruvate (alanine), as well as valine and the aminotransferase inhibitors cycloserine and amino-oxyacetate, stimulated glucose transport about 2-fold. In addition, the effect of pyruvate was counteracted by cycloserine. Since reversible transamination reactions are known to affect the pool size of the citrate cycle, the influence of substrates, amino acids and aminotransferase inhibitors on citrate, malate and glutamate content was examined. A significant negative correlation was found between alterations in glucose transport and the levels of citrate (P < 0.01) or malate (P < 0.01), and there was a positive correlation between glucose transport and glutamate levels (P < 0.05). In contrast, there was no correlation with changes in [1-(14)C]pyruvate oxidation or in glucose-6-phosphate levels. Finally, pyruvate decreased the abundance of GLUT4 glucose transporters at the surface of phenylephrine- or insulin-stimulated cells by 34% and 27 % respectively, as determined by using the selective photoaffinity label [3H]ATB-BMPA [[3H]2-N-[4-(1-azi-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)benzoyl]-1,3-bis-(D-man nos-4-yloxy)propyl-2-amine]. In conclusion, cardiomyocyte glucose transport is subject to counter-regulation by alternative substrates. The glucose transport system appears to be controlled by (a) compound(s) of intermediary metabolism (other than glucose 6-phosphate), but in a different way than pyruvate dehydrogenase. Transport inhibition eventually occurs via a decrease in the amount of glucose transporters in the plasma membrane.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid

Myocardial cell energetics.

Energy transformation at the main energy consuming processes of the myocardium takes place with high efficiency, i.e., with relatively small differences between the free energy level provided and the free energy level required for the two coupled processes. Thus, the free energy of ATP is only moderately higher than that of various ATP dependent processes. Under energy deficiency caused by hypoxia, free energy of ATP can drop to a level that critically affects subsequent steps. Detailed evaluation of cell energetics was carried out with the following approach: Cell shortening, oxygen consumption and intracellular calcium transients of isolated rat cardiomyocytes which were investigated under the influence of inotropic interventions. Increased extracellular Ca2+ and isoproterenol reduced the economy of contraction (contraction amplitude/VO2), whereas Ca-sensitizing agent EMD 57033 did not. This seems to be a consequence of the increased costs of ion cycling under the effect of Ca2+ and isoproterenol. Our current investigation suggests that alterations of ion transport processes and crossbridge kinetics have substantial impact on myocardial energetics.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Luminometric measurement of subnanomole amounts of key metabolites in extracts from isolated heart muscle cells.

In principle, luminometry allows very sensitive metabolite measurements as shown with standards in aqueous solutions (e.g., buffers). However, components of complex biological samples may largely interfere with luminometric reactions. We now describe a procedure by which subnanomole amounts of intermediary metabolites (malate, glucose 6-phosphate) can be measured by luminometry in extracts from isolated mammalian cells, namely rat heart muscle cells. Basically, measurements occur in two steps: (i) Enzymatically catalyzed reactions involving the metabolite to be measured lead to the stoichiometric production of NAD(P)H; (ii) the oxidation of this NAD(P)H in a luciferase/reductase system results in light production which is proportional to the original concentration of the metabolite. The reaction scheme is thus as follows: (1) Metabolite (malate, glucose 6-phosphate) + NAD(P)+ --> X + NAD(P)H + H+; (2) NAD(P)H + O2 + RCOH --> NAD(P)+ + RCOOH + H2O + hnu. The cardiomyocytes used are previously subjected to an ethanolic extraction in which the cellular NAD(P)H is destroyed by acidification. Subsequent evaporation of the extracts allows to neutralize and to concentrate the samples. This contributes, along with other experimental maneuvers, to increasing the sensitivity of the method. With this procedure, we were able to detect amounts of approximately 70 pmol of malate and approximately 90 pmol of glucose 6-phosphate in cardiomyocyte samples. In addition, the calculated cellular concentrations of malate and glucose 6-phosphate (101.1 +/- 4.5, and 202.8 +/- 26.1 microM, respectively, in the absence of exogenous substrate) correspond to values previously reported for heart tissue. In principle, the procedure described could be applied to the measurement of any ethanol-extractable metabolite that can be converted in reactions involving NAD(P)+.

Animals

Is enzyme release a sign of irreversible injury of cardiomyocytes?

The amount of creatine kinase (CK) release (percent of releasable CK) and the amount of irreversibly injured cardiomyocytes evaluated by counting trypan blue stained nuclei (percent of total) was investigated in isolated perfused rat hearts under various conditions: Intermittent contractive depression by low calcium (0.5 mM) and by administration of BDM (10 mM) as well as by anoxia/reoxygenation. For comparison severe injury induced by calcium paradox was also studied. CK release amounted to 0.5% to 3% (controls 15 to 105 min) and to 3 to 5% for the interventions and about 40% for calcium paradox. Irreversibly injured myocytes amounted to 0.1 to 0.3% and 0.3 to 0.5% respectively and to about 40% in calcium paradox. Thus, the percentage of enzyme release exceeded the percentage of irreversibly injured cells by more than one order of magnitude under all experimental conditions, including controls, except for calcium paradox where the percentages were the same. We conclude that cytosolic enzymes can be released to substantial amounts without irreversible injury of cardiomyocytes under various conditions, and only with severe membrane lesions (Ca paradox) enzyme release reflects irreversibly injury.

Animals

The effect of anoxia on cardiomyocyte glucose transport does not involve an adenosine release or a change in energy state.

The action of anoxia on glucose transport was investigated in isolated resting rat cardiomyocytes. Incubation of these cells in the absence of oxygen for 30 min resulted in a 4- to 5-fold increase in glucose transport (with a lag period of 5-10 min). Up to 40 min of anoxia failed to alter the cellular concentrations of ATP, phosphocreatine, and creatine. Adenosine deaminase (1.5 U/ml), the A1-adenosine receptor antagonist 1,3-diethyl-8-phenylxanthine (1 microM), or the A2-selective antagonist 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (20 microM) had no effect on anoxia-dependent glucose transport. Moreover, adenosine (10-300 microM, added under normoxia) did not stimulate glucose transport. Wortmannin (1 microM) did not influence the effect of anoxia, but completely suppressed that of insulin. On the other hand, the effects of anoxia and insulin were not additive. These results indicate (i) that the effect of anoxia on cardiomyocyte glucose transport is not mediated by a change in energy metabolism, nor by an adenosine release; (ii) that it probably does not involve a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, in contrast to the effect of insulin, and (iii) that the signal chains triggered by anoxia or insulin may converge downstream of this enzyme, or, alternatively, that anoxic conditions may impair the action of the hormone.

Adenosine

Contraction-independent effects of catecholamines on glucose transport in isolated rat cardiomyocytes.

The effects of catecholamines on glucose transport were studied in noncontracting isolated rat cardiomyocytes. alpha-Adrenergic treatment (phenylephrine, or norepinephrine + propranolol) led to an approximately fourfold stimulation of glucose transport in basal cells (no insulin). The effect of phenylephrine was suppressed by the alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine or the beta-antagonist propranolol. The beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol partially counteracted the action of phenylephrine (but not that of insulin). Phenylephrine increased glucose transport in two phases with apparent half times of 3.2 and 13.0 min, respectively. Correspondingly, different EC50 values were found after 10 and 45 min on phenylephrine addition (5.0 +/- 1.9 vs. 31.6 +/- 9.6 microM, respectively). Maximal stimulation by phenylephrine was at least partially additive to that of insulin and of other stimulators of glucose transport (e.g., H2O2, vanadate, lithium). Phenylephrine significantly increased the level of cell surface glucose carriers GLUT-1 (1.54-fold) and GLUT-4 (1.78-fold), as assessed by using the specific photolabel 2-N-[4-(1-azi-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)benzoyl]- 1,3-bis(D-mannos-4-yloxy)propyl-2-amine. In conclusion, catecholamines stimulate cardiomyocyte glucose transport through alpha 1-adrenergic receptors independently or downstream of a contraction-evoked stimulus. This effect is at least partially explained by a recruitment of glucose transporters to the cell surface. The mechanism(s) and/or signals involved differ from those triggered by insulin and insulinomimetic agents.

Adrenergic Agents

Signals mediating stimulation of cardiomyocyte glucose transport by the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine.

Phenylephrine, a potent stimulator of cardiomyocyte glucose transport (GT), caused a rapid rise in cytosolic Ca2+ by 30%. Agents inducing a similar Ca2+ response did not stimulate (angiotension II, vasopressin) or inhibited GT by 20% (elevated extracellular Ca2+). Stimulation of GT by phorbol myristate acetate was additive to both phases of phenylephrine's effect (4 min, 60 min). Phenylephrine had no influence on the adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) levels. Agents raising cAMP (isoproterenol) or cGMP (e.g., nitroprusside) did not stimulate GT. Wortmannin (inhibitor of 1-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) suppressed the action of insulin on GT but not that of phenylephrine. In contrast, the Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor amiloride (which blocks phenylephrine-induced cytosolic alkalinization or even lowers cellular pH) depressed the effect of phenylephrine by 50%, whereas insulin-stimulated GT was little affected. However, raising extracellular pH up to 8.4 failed to increase GT. Lowering pH to 6.8 decreased phenylephrine's effect by 40% whereas insulin-dependent GT was not significantly altered. Clorgyline, tranylcypromine (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), and added catalase suppressed the slow phase of phenylephrine's action, whereas amiloride also affected the fast phase. We conclude that 1) stimulation of cardiomyocyte GT by phenylephrine does not involve cAMP, cGMP, or 1-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; 2) protein kinase C activation cannot explain the full extent of stimulation; 3) Ca2+ release or cytosolic alkalinization may be required but is not sufficient to trigger phenylephrine's action, and 4) the slow phase of stimulation is mediated by the monoamine oxidase-dependent degradation of phenylephrine and by the resulting H2O2 formation.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists

Economy of contraction of cardiomyocytes as influenced by different positive inotropic interventions.

In the present study the effects of the novel cardiotonic agent EMD-57033 on contraction and energetic demand of isolated, electrically stimulated cardiomyocytes were investigated and compared with the effects of enhancement of extracellular calcium and of the beta-mimetic isoproterenol. In a specially designed setup [H. Rose, K.H. Strotmann, S. Pöpping, Y. Fischer, D. Kulsch, and H. Kammermeier. Am. J. Physiol. 261 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 30): H1329-H1334, 1991] parameters of contractile behavior and metabolic demand (O2 consumption) of isolated cardiac myocytes were measured. For a given enhancement of contractile performance (cell shortening) the increase in energetic demand (VO2) after application of EMD-57033 were markedly lower than on treatment with elevated extracellular Ca2+ concentration or with isoproterenol. This economization of positive inotropic effects was proposed to be due to two factors. First, stimulation-related ion cycling was only slightly enhanced with marked increase in contraction amplitude after application of EMD-57033. Second, calcium sensitization reflected in a leftward shift of the calcium concentration needed for half-maximum force development could be interpreted to be mediated by modulation of the cross-bridge dynamics of the myofilaments, where reduction of the switch-off rate of the cross bridges and prolongation of their force-generating states were presumed to be involved. Lowered pH (7.0) decreased economy of contraction. EMD-57033 restored contraction amplitude and economy of contraction at lowered pH.

Animals

5-hydroxytryptamine stimulates glucose transport in cardiomyocytes via a monoamine oxidase-dependent reaction.

This study deals with the effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin) on glucose transport in isolated rat cardiac myocytes. In these cells, 5-HT (10-300 microns), as well as tryptamine, 5-methoxytryptamine and dopamine, elicited a 3-5 fold increase in glucose transport, as compared with control. This effect was maximal after 90 min, and was concomitant with a 1.8- and 1.5-fold increase in the amounts of glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT4 at the cell surface of the cardiomyocytes, as determined by using the photoaffinity label 3H-2-N-[4-(1-azi-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)benzoyl]-1,3-bis-(D-manno s-4-yl) propyl-2-amine (3H-ATB-BMPA). In contrast, 3-3000 microM of the selective 5-HT receptor agonists 5-carboxyamido-tryptamine, alpha-methyl-serotonin, 2-methyl-serotonin or renzapride failed to stimulate glucose transport. The effect of 5-HT was not affected by (i) the 5-HT receptor antagonists methysergide (1 microM), ketanserin (1 microM), cyproheptadine (1 microM), MDL 72222 (1 microM) or ICS 205-930 (3 microM), nor by (ii) the adrenergic receptor antagonists prazosin (1 microM), yohimbine (1 microM) or propranolol (5 microM), nor by (iii) the dopaminergic antagonists SCH 23390 (1 microM) or haloperidol (1 microM). The monoamine oxidase inhibitors clorgyline (1 microM) and tranylcypromine (1 microM) completely suppressed the effect of 5-HT, whereas the control and insulin-stimulated rates of glucose transport were unaffected. Addition of catalase or glutathione diminished the 5-HT-dependent stimulation of glucose transport by 50%; these two factors are known to favour the degradation of H2O2 (which can be formed during the deamination of amines by monoamine oxidases). Glutathione also depressed the stimulatory action of exogenously added H2O2 (20 microM) by 30%. Furthermore, in cells treated with 5_HT, a time-dependent accumulation of 5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-ylacetic acid (a product of 5-HT metabolism via monoamine oxidases) was observed, which paralleled the changes in glucose transport. In conclusion, the stimulation of glucose transport by 5-HT in cardiomyocytes is not mediated by a 5-HT1, 5-HT2, 5-HT3 or 5-HT4 receptor, nor by an adrenergic or dopaminergic receptor, but is likely to occur through the degradation of by a monoamine oxidase and concomitant formation of H2O2.

Adrenergic Antagonists

Acute stimulation of glucose transport by histamine in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells.

The purpose of the present work was to study the acute regulation of glucose uptake in cultured cardiac endothelial cells (CEC). Two types of potential stimuli were considered: (1) agents that are known to acutely stimulate glucose transport (i.e., within minutes) in fat and muscle tissues and (2) agents that influence endothelial cell function. Among the former agents, neither insulin, nor catecholamines (adrenaline, dopamine, phenylephrine), nor serotonin affected the rate of glucose transport in CEC, while SH-group reagents (phenylarsine oxide, diamide or menadione) were inhibitory. Among the factors of the second group that were tested (heparin, ADP, histamine, bradykinin), histamine was found to stimulate glucose transport in CEC by 10-50%. This effect was concentration-dependent (with an EC50 value approximately equal to 12 microM) and reached a maximum within 5 min upon histamine addition. This stimulation of glucose transport was suppressed by pyrilamine (100 nM), a specific H1-receptor antagonist, but not by cimetidine (100 microM), a H2-selective antagonist. Northern blot and Western blot analysis of CEC extracts revealed the presence of the ubiquitous glucose transporter isoform GLUT1 mRNA and protein, but not of the 'insulin-regulatable' isoform GLUT4. In conclusion, this is the first report on an acute stimulation of glucose transport in cardiac endothelial cells, in particular, and in an insulin-unresponsive cell type, in general. The effect of histamine is most likely mediated by H1-receptors and cannot be accounted for by a recruitment of GLUT4.

Adenosine Diphosphate

The immediate environment of cardiomyocytes: substantial concentration differences between the interstitial fluid and plasma water for substrates and transmitters.

Substantial transcapillary concentration differences can be inferred from published data on capillary permeability, and from tissue uptake applying Fick's Law for membrane transfer. Concentration differences caused by the diffusive resistance of the capillary wall will be enhanced additionally, if the permeating substrates are metabolized by the endothelial cells. These concentration differences can be verified by sampling and analysing interstitial fluid/transudate from colloid free perfused hearts. With colloid free perfusion, concentration differences can be even underestimated, since the lack of plasma proteins will increase capillary permeability. The observed concentration differences expressed as percentage of interstitial to vascular values amount--for glucose down to 50% for lactate up to 700%, for glutathion, uric acid, adenosine, and catecholamines up to 200-600% when these substances are released from the myocardium, and down to 10-20%, when e.g. adenosine or catecholamines are taken up. The magnitude of these gradients has to be taken into consideration in many respects. In particular, interstitial accumulation of metabolites and mediators (lactate, adenosine, uric acid, catecholamines) are obviously of physiological and pathophysiological importance.

Animals

Hypoxia-induced activation of KATP channels limits energy depletion in the guinea pig heart.

The functional role of ATP-dependent potassium (KATP) in hypoxic cardiac failure was investigated in isolated guinea pig hearts with glibenclamide and rimalkalim as inhibitor and activator, respectively. Monophasic action potential duration at 90% of repolarization (MAP50), left ventricular function, and cardiac energy status (31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) were measured during normotoxic (95% O2) and hypoxic (20% O2) perfusion. In normoxic hearts, 1 microM glibenclamide did not affect MAP50, left ventricular function, and coronary flow (n = 4). In contrast, rimalkalim rapidly shortened MAP50 and left ventricular pressure (LVP) in a dose-dependent fashion (e.g., by 60.2 +/- 3.5 and 80.8 +/- 8.2%, respectively, with 0.6 microM rimalkalim). This latter effect was reversed by 1 microM (glibenclamide (n = 4). With hypoxic perfusion, a reduction in LVP was observed, along with a shortening of the action potential (MAP90; 202 +/- 13 vs. 164 +/- 9 ms) and an increase in coronary flow. Glibenclamide (1 microM) reversed the MAP90 shortening and the increase in coronary flow. In addition, glibenclamide increased LVP transiently (n = 4). When coronary flow of hypoxic hearts was kept constant, however, glibenclamide elicited a sustained positive inotropic effect (n = 7). After glibenclamide, an increase in LVP from 54 +/- 4 to 64 +/- 3 mmHg was observed, along with a reduction in the free energy change of ATP hydrolysis from -54.5 +/- 1.9 to -52.9 +/- 0.2 nJ/mol and a further increase in the coronary venous adenosine from 269 +/- 48 to 1,680 +/- 670 nmol/l.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate