Regulation of contraction and relaxation by membrane potential in cardiac ventricular myocytes

Control of contraction and relaxation by membrane potential was investigated in voltage-clamped guinea pig ventricular myocytes at 37 degrees C. Depolarization initiated phasic contractions, followed by sustained contractions that relaxed with repolarization. Corresponding Ca(2+) transients were observed with fura 2. Sustained responses were ryanodine sensitive and exhibited sigmoidal activation and deactivation relations, with half-maximal voltages near -46 mV, which is characteristic of the voltage-sensitive release mechanism (VSRM) for sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+). Inactivation was not detected. Sustained responses were insensitive to inactivation or block of L-type Ca(2+) current (I(Ca-L)). The voltage dependence of sustained responses was not affected by changes in intracellular or extracellular Na(+) concentration. Furthermore, sustained responses were not inhibited by 2 mM Ni(2+). Thus it is improbable that I(Ca-L) or Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange generated these sustained responses. However, rapid application of 200 microM tetracaine, which blocks the VSRM, strongly inhibited sustained contractions. Our study indicates that the VSRM includes both a phasic inactivating and a sustained noninactivating component. The sustained component contributes both to initiation and relaxation of contraction.