Biomedical subjects

N S Dhalla

Publications and source records attributed to N S Dhalla.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

PubMed1986

Stimulation of Ca2+-pump in rat heart sarcolemma by phosphatidylethanolamine N-methylation.

Incubation of purified cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles (SL) in the presence of S-adenosyl-L-methionine, a methyl donor for the enzymatic N-methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), increased the Ca2+-stimulated ATPase and ATP-dependent Ca2+ accumulation activities. Quantitative analysis of the methylated phospholipids revealed that maximal increase of Ca2+-pump activities was associated with predominant synthesis and intramembranal accumulation of phosphatidyl-N,N-dimethylethanolamine. The stimulation of SL Ca2+-pump activities was prevented by inhibitors of PE N-methylation such as S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine and methyl acetimidate hydrochloride. The results suggest a possible role of PE N-methylation in the regulation of Ca2+-transport across the heart SL membrane.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Subcellular distribution of cardiac 5'-nucleotidase: alteration of microsomal pool in hypertrophied pig heart.

The subcellular distribution of the 5'-nucleotidase activity was investigated in normal and hypertrophied pig hearts; normal rat hearts were used for comparison. The left ventricular hypertrophy was induced in pigs by banding the supravalvular aorta for 4, 8 and 12 weeks. By employing different procedures for the isolation of cardiac membranes, a major catalytic site for 5'-nucleotidase was found to be located at sarcolemma in rat heart and microsomes (sarcoplasmic reticulum) in pig heart. A progressive decrease in the homogenate and microsomal 5'-nucleotidase activity occurred upon the development of myocardial hypertrophy in pigs. This reduction in microsomal 5'-nucleotidase activity was characterized by a depression in both apparent Vmax and Km values. These results indicate that a primary 5'-nucleotidase pool is present in the intracellular compartment of the pig heart and is altered during the development of hypertrophy.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

PubMed1986

Reversibility of ultrastructural, contractile function and Ca2+ transport changes in guinea pig hearts after global ischemia.

To understand the subcellular basis of contractile failure due to ischemia-reperfusion injury, effects of 20, 60, and 90 min of global ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion were examined in isolated guinea pig hearts. Cardiac ultrastructure and function as well as Ca2+ transport abilities of both mitochondrial and microsomal fractions were determined in control, ischemic, and reperfused hearts. Hearts were unable to generate any contractile force after 20 min of ischemia and showed a 75% recovery upon reperfusion. However, there were no significant changes in the subcellular Ca2+ transport in the 20-min ischemic or reperfused hearts. When hearts were made ischemic for 60 and 90 min, the recovery of contractile force on reperfusion was 50 and 7%, respectively. There was a progressive decrease in mitochondrial and microsomal Ca2+ binding and uptake activities after 60 and 90 min of ischemia; these changes were evident at various times of incubation period and at different concentrations of Ca2+. Mitochondrial Ca2+ transport changes were only partially reversible upon reperfusion after 60 and 90 min of ischemia, whereas the microsomal Ca2+ binding, uptake and Ca2+ ATPase activities deteriorated further upon reperfusion of the 90-min ischemic hearts. Ultrastructural changes increased with the duration of the ischemic insult and reperfusion injury was extensive in the 90-min ischemic hearts. These data show that the lack of recovery of contractile function upon reperfusion after a prolonged ischemic insult was accompanied by defects in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transporting properties and structural damage.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Calcium pump activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum in diabetic rat skeletal muscle.

Ca2+ pump activity of skeletal muscle microsomes containing fragments of sarcoplasmic reticulum was examined in rats 8 wk after the induction of chronic diabetes by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg). In comparison with the control values, both ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activities were increased in the microsomal fraction from diabetic rats. These changes were seen as early as 7 days after streptozotocin injection and were apparent at various times of incubation (1-10 min) as well as at different concentrations of free Ca2+ (10(-7)-5 X 10(-5) M Ca2+). Insulin administration to diabetic animals for 2 wk reversed Ca2+ uptake and ATPase activities to control levels. The increase in microsomal ATPase activity of the diabetic preparation due to cAMP-dependent protein kinase or calmodulin was greater than in the control microsomes and the depression by a specific inhibitor of protein kinase, but not of calmodulin, was greater in diabetic muscle. The enhanced Ca2+ pump activity was associated with altered phospholipid composition and protein profile of the diabetic preparations. The rate of Ca2+ release from microsomal vesicles was unaffected by the diabetic condition. Isometric contractile force development as well as positive dF/dt and negative dF/dt of the skeletal muscle from diabetic animals were higher at different pulse strengths (0.5-100 V) and at different Ca2+ concentrations (0.25-2.5 mM). These results suggest that diabetes is associated with enhanced sarcoplasmic reticular Ca2+ pump activity, and this may account for the hyperfunction of skeletal muscle in this disease.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1986

Muscle mechanics and Ca2+ transport in atrophic heart transplants in rat.

Isometric contractile activity and force-frequency relationship were investigated in heterotopically isotransplanted rat hearts that performed minimal external work for 8 wk and underwent atrophy. No changes were found in the isometric contraction phase of the papillary muscles from the transplants when compared with the hearts of recipient animals that carry full hemodynamic load. However, the relaxation phase of the transplants was impaired at higher frequencies (greater than 24 stimuli/min) of stimulation and at higher levels of calcium (greater than 2.0 mM Ca2+) in the medium. When Ca2+-accumulating activities of cardiac microsomes containing fragments of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) were studied, a significant decrease was seen in the transplanted hearts in comparison with the host hearts. This decrease in Ca2+-uptake activity was observed at different times of incubation as well as different concentrations of free Ca2+ (10(-7) to 10(-5) M Ca2+). Although Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity did not change, alterations in the phospholipid contents of the SR vesicles from the transplanted hearts were observed. These results provide some evidence for a depression in the SR Ca2+ uptake in transplanted hearts undergoing atrophy and may explain the underlying alteration in the relaxation phase of these hearts.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Altered norepinephrine turnover and metabolism in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Cardiac norepinephrine turnover and metabolism were examined in rats 8 weeks after the induction of chronic diabetes by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg). Cardiac norepinephrine concentration, norepinephrine turnover, and norepinephrine uptake were markedly increased in chronic diabetes in comparison with control values; these changes were reversible by 28-day insulin therapy. When the animals were exposed to cold for 6 hours, norepinephrine turnover rate constant increased in control and decreased in diabetic animals; cold exposure also increased norepinephrine concentration in diabetic hearts. Both cardiac norepinephrine concentration and turnover rate in diabetic rats were restored toward control values by ganglionic blockade with pentolinium. The conversion of [3H]tyrosine to [3H]catecholamine was enhanced and tyrosine hydroxylase as well as dopa decarboxylase activities were increased in diabetic hearts. The higher concentrations of [3H]normetanephrine and deaminated catechols indicated a faster metabolic rate of norepinephrine metabolism in hearts from diabetic rats; both monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyltransferase activities were also increased. The increased activities of the enzymes for the synthesis and metabolism of norepinephrine were not evident on treating the diabetic animals with insulin. These data not only support the view that chronic diabetes in rats is associated with increased sympathetic activity but also indicate that the cardiac norepinephrine concentration in diabetic rats may be maintained at a higher than normal level by an increased synthesis and uptake of norepinephrine in the adrenergic nerve terminals.

Adrenergic Fibers↗

PubMed1985

Sarcolemmal Na+-Ca2+ exchange during the development of genetically determined cardiomyopathy.

The UM-X7.1 myopathic and control hamsters at 40, 120 and 280 days of age were employed for the examination of heart sarcolemmal Ca2+-transport activities. Na+-dependent Ca2+ uptake activities were significantly depressed in myopathic animals at 120 and 280 days of age in comparison to the control values. No difference in Na+-induced Ca2+ release activities was found between control and experimental sarcolemmal vesicles. ATP-dependent Ca2+ binding and Ca2+-stimulated, Mg2+ ATPase activities were depressed in the experimental animals at 120 and 280 days of age. Similar alterations in the sarcolemmal Na+-dependent Ca2+ exchange and Ca2+-pump activities were seen upon treating the control hamsters with 40 mg/kg isoproterenol for 24 hr. It is suggested that a depression in the sarcolemmal Ca2+ transport activities may contribute to the development of intracellular Ca2+ overload in the genetically determined cardiomyopathy in hamsters and such a defect may be due to excessive amount circulating catecholamines in these animals.

Aging↗

PubMed1985

Activation of Ca2+-stimulated ATPase by phospholipid N-methylation in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Incubation of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in the presence of S-adenosyl-L-methionine, a methyl donor for the enzymatic N-methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine, increased Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity. The increase in Ca2+-ATPase activity was not due to changes in the affinity for Ca2+ and was prevented by methyl acetimidate, an inhibitor of phospholipid N-methylation. The results suggest a possible regulatory role of phospholipid N-methylation in SR Ca2+-pump mechanism.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Subcellular localization of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methylation activity in rat heart.

Synthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) by S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet)-dependent methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) has been recently characterized in rat heart sarcolemma obtained by hypotonic shock-LiBr treatment method. The present study, employing different procedures for the isolation of purified cardiac sarcolemmal membranes in rat, confirms the existence of three catalytic sites which are specifically involved in the sequential methyl transfer reactions from PE to PC. Other subcellular organelles such as sarcoplasmic reticulum (microsomes) and mitochondria showed methyltransferase activity which was absent in myofibrils and in cytosolic fraction. Experiments with several concentrations of AdoMet revealed that the kinetic pattern of methyltransferase activity in both microsomes and mitochondria was comparable to that obtained in sarcolemma. In addition, the characteristics of three catalytic sites as identified by the synthesis of phosphatidyl-N-monomethylethanolamine, phosphatidyl-N,N-dimethylethanolamine and PC in these subcellular organelles were similar to those of sarcolemma. The results are consistent with the view that methyltransferase activity is localized in different membrane systems of the myocardium.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Adaptive changes in subcellular calcium transport during catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy.

Rats were injected intraperitoneally with isoproterenol in dosage of 40 mg/kg body weight and heart microsomal and mitochondrial fractions were isolated 3, 9 and 24 h later. The heart/body weight ratio increased at 9 and 24 h after injection without any changes in the yield of subcellular organelles. Microsomal calcium uptake was significantly elevated at 3 h but returned to normal at 9 h and then became depressed 24 h post-injection. Mitochondrial calcium uptake was significantly increased 9 and 24 h after isoproterenol administration. Kinetic parameters of the calcium transport function indicated that the apparent affinity for Ca2+ remained unchanged, whereas Vmax values were altered in the experimental groups. Although there was no significant change in the phospholipid composition, the total phospholipid contents were increased (at 3, 9 and 24 h for microsomes; 3 and 9 h for mitochondria) in both types of organelles. The protein composition, as determined by gel electrophoresis, was altered in microsomes, but not in mitochondria. These results demonstrate rapid structural and functional changes in subcellular organelles. Such alterations may play an adaptive role in maintaining the intracellular calcium homeostasis during the development of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Mechanisms of the defect in cardiac myofibrillar function during diabetes.

Diabetes was induced in rats by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg body wt), and animals were killed 8 wk later. Some animals were maintained in a diabetic state for 6 wk and then given 2 wk of insulin treatment in vivo. Myofibrils were isolated and ATPase activities measured. Mg2+-ATPase and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activities were depressed in diabetic rat hearts in comparison to control; insulin treatment normalized these activities. The depression in myofibrillar ATPases was of gradual onset as no changes were detected 2 wk after inducing diabetes. Treatment of diabetic animals with thyroid hormone did not restore changes in myofibrillar ATPase activities. Marker enzyme activities did not reveal any detectable contamination by cardiac membranes. Mg2+-ATPase activity of myofibrillar preparations from control and diabetic hearts responded differently to N-ethylmaleimide modification. Furthermore, myofibrillar sulfhydryl reactivity to 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) was significantly depressed in diabetic preparations in comparison to control and insulin-treated diabetic animals. These results suggest that the defect in myofibrillar ATPase activities in chronic diabetes may be due to some modification of sulfhydryl groups.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1985

Modification of the function of cardiac subcellular organelles by insulin.

Although insulin is known to elicit a positive inotropic effect in cardiac-muscle preparations, little is known concerning the mechanism responsible for this action. Because various subcellular organelles such as mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), sarcolemma, and myofibrils are intimately involved in determining the cardiac contractile function, the effects of insulin (0.1-1000 mU/ml) on some selected enzymatic activities associated with these organelles were investigated. Insulin significantly enhanced Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activities of SR preparations obtained by two different methods. Insulin had no effect on mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and ATPase activities or myofibrillar ATPase activities. Sarcolemmal Na+, K+-ATPase activity was stimulated only in the presence of 1 U/ml insulin, whereas sarcolemmal Ca2+ pump activity was increased by all insulin concentrations employed. Sarcolemmal Ca2+-ATPase activity and ATP-independent Ca2+ binding were augmented in the presence of 1 U/ml insulin only. These subcellular effects of insulin, either alone or in concert, may partially explain the positive inotropic action of insulin.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1985

Characterization of a partially purified Na+,K+-ATPase from dog heart.

Ouabain-sensitive Na+,K+-ATPase of isolated membranes represents a biochemical correlate of the "Na+ pump" that is present in intact tissue and is responsible for dissimilar distributions of Na+ and K+ across cellular plasma membranes. The enzyme has been purified from a variety of sources and its properties have been reported. Only a limited number of studies, however, deal with the cardiac Na+,K+-ATPase. We solubilized this enzyme from dog heart with deoxycholate and effected its further purification by NaI treatment. The method yielded an enzyme preparation of high specific activity (140 mumole/mg protein per hr). The following characteristics were noted: (1) pH optima of 7.4 and greater than 9.0 for ouabain-sensitive and -insensitive ATPases; (2) inhibition by Ca2+ and ouabain, the latter effect being allosteric in nature; (3) inhibition by sulfhydryl reagents (N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoate) of the ouabain-sensitive ATPase but not of the -insensitive enzyme activity. All these properties resembled those seen in isolated plasma membranes (sarcolemma), suggesting that the purification procedure did not alter the properties of mono- and divalent interacting sites as well as a digitalis recognition domain of the Na+ pump. These results thus aid in further understanding the regulation of this vectorial pump that is critical in myocardial function.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1985

Heart mitochondrial function in chronic experimental diabetes in rats.

Diabetes was introduced in rats by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg). Animals were sacrificed 8 weeks later and mitochondria were isolated from the ventricular tissue by differential centrifugation. The state 3 respiration, oxidative phosphorylation rate and Mg2+-dependent ATPase activities were depressed in mitochondria from diabetic hearts. These changes were partially reversible upon 2 weeks of insulin and fully reversible after 4 weeks of insulin therapy. Mitochondrial calcium uptake but not calcium binding, was decreased in diabetes and this change was fully reversible by 2 weeks of insulin administration. The observed alterations in mitochondrial function could not be explained on the basis of any changes in mitochondrial lipid and protein composition or subcellular contamination. These results indicate the presence of a generalized depression in mitochondrial function in chronic diabetes and such a defect is suggested to contribute in the development of cardiomyopathy at late stages of diabetes.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Modification of cardiac sarcolemmal Na+-Ca2+ exchange by diltiazem and verapamil.

Cardiac sarcolemmal membranes were isolated from the rat heart and their ability for Na+-Ca2+ exchange in the absence or presence of diltiazem and verapamil was examined. Maximal Ca2+ influx activity of membranes due to Na+-dependent reaction occurred within 3 min and was about 5 nmol Ca2+/mg protein. Diltiazem (0.1 to 10 microM) depressed the Ca2+ influx activity significantly whereas verapamil (0.1 to 10 microM) had no effect at initial stages of the reaction (10 to 20 sec). The inhibitory effect of diltiazem on Ca2+ influx was found to be of an uncompetitive nature. Sodium was found to cause a rapid Ca2+ efflux from the calcium loaded membrane vesicles; about 70% of the Ca2+ efflux activity was increased by 0.1 to 10 microM of verapamil and 10 microM of diltiazem significantly. The stimulatory effect of these agents on Ca2+ efflux was associated with a change in Ka value from 16 to 5 mM Na+. Both diltiazem (0.1-3 microM) and verapamil (0.1-10 microM) did not affect the membrane Na+-K+ ATPase activity, but diltiazem in high concentrations (10-30 microM) had an inhibitory action. Specific calcium channel blocking agents, nitrendipine and nifedipine, depressed sodium-dependent Ca2+-efflux activity. A beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist, propranolol, unlike acebutolol, increased sodium-induced Ca2+-influx at high concentrations (10-100 microM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acebutolol↗

PubMed1985

Behaviour of cardiac microsomal Ca2+ pump under conditions that may simulate pathological situations.

The behaviour of Ca2+ ATPase activity in relation to Ca2+ transport process was studied under different experimental conditions in canine cardiac microsomal fraction predominantly containing sarcoplasmic reticulum. The total Ca2+ concentration required for half maximal activation (Ka) of microsomal Ca2+ ATPase and Ca2+ uptake did not differ significantly, unless 0.1 mmol/l EGTA was present in the incubation media. Pretreatment of cardiac microsomes with membrane disruptive agents like phospholipase A, trypsin as well as deoxycholate strongly increased (2-3 fold) Ca2+ ATPase activity but uptake rate of Ca2+ declined. Only in phospholipase C and beta-glucuronidase pretreatment, a parallel decrease of Ca2+ ATPase and uptake was observed. In presence of excess (free)Ca2+ (greater than 10 mumol/l) both Ca2+ ATPase as well as Ca2+ uptake were inhibited, however, Ca2+ binding process remained unaltered. Likewise, low pH completely altered the relation between Ca2+ binding and ATPase activity; whereas Ca2+ ATPase was inhibited, Ca2+ binding did not change. Our present data provide evidence for some cellular factors that may be involved in producing uncoupling of microsomal Ca2+ ATPase from Ca2+ accumulation process that was previously observed in various pathological situations.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Prostaglandins and heart disease.

The role of prostaglandins (PGs) in cardiac pathophysiology has been reviewed with special emphasis on clinically applied aspects. Several PGs are synthesized and released by the heart and coronary vessels. Their synthesis is altered by various factors such as physical manipulation of tissue, pharmacological treatments and pathological conditions such as myocardial over-reactivity and ischemia. The involvement of PGs in cardiac dysfunction remains controversial, although it has been proposed that various PGs such as PGI2 or PGB2 may play a role in disaggregating platelets, inhibiting thrombus progression and coronary vasodilatation. The balance between thromboxane A2 (TXA2), a proaggregatory agent released from platelets and PGI2 may have a role in the genesis and management of angina and myocardial infarction. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents in these conditions remains controversial; their possible beneficial effects are believed to be due to inhibition of TXA2 synthesis whereas their failure to be effective may be a consequence of concomitant inhibition of PGI2 production. Modulation of endogenous PG synthesis and administration of exogenous PGs or their analogues appear to be two therapeutic approaches in the management of certain cardiac diseases. Accordingly, there is a great need for synthesizing stable and potent PG analogues as well as specific inhibitors of PG synthesis in addition to studying their pharmacology and therapeutics. In this review we have emphasized the involvement of PGs in the pathogenesis of some forms of cardiac disease and have highlighted some therapeutic implications of these substances for the treatment of heart disease.

Angina Pectoris↗

PubMed1985

Adrenochrome uptake and subcellular distribution in the isolated perfused rat heart.

Adrenochrome uptake and its subcellular distribution were examined using isolated perfused rat heart preparation. The heart was perfused for 30 min with a medium containing 1 to 50 mg/l of 14C-adrenochrome and the subcellular fractions were isolated to measure their radioactivities. A decline in contractile force, a rise in resting tension and an increase in adrenochrome uptake by the heart were seen to depend upon the time of perfusion and the concentration of adrenochrome in the medium. The sarcolemmal fraction had the highest uptake of adrenochrome and this was followed by the microsomal fraction; some accumulation of adrenochrome was also observed in the myofibrillar and mitochondrial fractions. Either 10 or 20 min reperfusion of the heart previously exposed to 25 mg/l of adrenochrome, resulted in approximately 50 or 37% of the radioactivity remaining in the heart; this indicates irreversible binding of adrenochrome to the tissue. Reperfusion of the heart showed restoration of the resting tension but the contractile force did not show any recovery. Propranolol and iproniazid, which have been shown to inhibit the adrenochrome induced cardiotoxicity, reduced adrenochrome uptake by the heart, and prevented adrenochrome-induced depression in contractile force and rise in resting tension. These results indicate that adrenochrome is taken up by the heart and induces cardiac disturbances through its action on different subcellular organelles in the myocardium.

Adrenochrome↗