Abnormal Ca2+ release from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum in tachycardia-induced heart failure

In heart failure, little information is available as to the Ca2+ release function of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), which plays a major role in cardiac contractile function. Here, we assessed the rapid kinetics of drug-induced Ca2+ release from cardiac SR in combination with a measurement of ryanodine binding in heart failure.

The SR vesicles were isolated from dog left ventricular (LV) muscles (normal (N), n = 10; pacing induced heart failure (HF), n = 10). The time course of SR Ca2+ release was continuously monitored by a stopped-flow apparatus using arsenazoIII as a Ca2+ indicator, and Ca2+ uptake and [3H]ryanodine binding assays were done using a filtration method.

The amount of Ca2+ uptake was reduced in HF to 55% of N (P < 0.05). Even the more marked and earlier appeared decrease was seen in the rate constant and the initial rate of polylysine (PL; a specific release trigger)-induced Ca2+ release (P < 0.05). However, the PL concentration dependency of the initial rate shifted towards lower concentrations of PL in HF than in N ([PL] at half maximum stimulation = 0.13 vs. 0.35 microM). The [3H]ryanodine binding assay revealed a lower Bmax (pmol/mg) in HF than in N (0.91 +/- 0.19 vs. 2.64 +/- 0.59, P < 0.05), but no difference in Kd (nM) (0.95 +/- 0.29 vs. 0.90 +/- 0.11, P = n.s.). The [PL] dependency on the enhancement of [3H]ryanodine binding again showed a shift towards lower [PL] in HF than in N.

In pacing-induced heart failure, the Ca2+ releasing function of SR is disturbed, which may result in an intra-cellular Ca2+ transient that was slowed down.