Effect of perfusate [Ca2+] on cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release channel in isolated rat hearts

The effect of perfusate [Ca2+] on the function of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (CSR) was assessed by the oxalate-supported Ca2+ uptake rate of ventricular homogenates of isolated rat hearts maintained in a modified Langendorff preparation. The total Ca2+ pumping activity of the CSR was determined by using 20 microM ruthenium red or 625 microM ryanodine to close the CSR Ca2+ release channel. The homogenate Ca2+ uptake rate in the absence of ruthenium red or ryanodine decreased progressively with increasing perfusate [Ca2+] (25.7 +/- 1.2, 21.4 +/- 1.5, 17.2 +/- 1.1, and 16.3 +/- 1.2 [mean +/- SEM] nmol Ca2+.min-1.mg-1 for hearts perfused for 5 minutes with 0.2, 1.4, 2.8, and 5.6 mM Ca2+, respectively; p = 0.0001; n = 8). This depression was not observed when Ca2+ uptake was assayed in the presence of ryanodine or ruthenium red. Since the Ca2+ uptake in the presence of ryanodine or ruthenium red is determined by the Ca(2+)-ATPase, this result suggests that perfusion with varying [Ca2+] did not affect the Ca(2+)-ATPase. The observed decrease in Ca2+ uptake in the absence of ryanodine or ruthenium red is caused by an increased efflux through the ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ release channel. When hearts perfused for 5 minutes with 0.2 or 5.6 mM Ca2+ were reperfused for 10 minutes with 1.4 mM Ca2+, homogenate Ca2+ uptake rates were restored to near control levels. These effects of perfusate Ca2+ were not direct effects, because changes in the [Ca2+] of the homogenization medium did not alter the homogenate Ca2+ uptake activity in either the presence or absence of ryanodine. The homogenate Ca2+ uptake rates were unaffected by prior active loading of the CSR with Ca2+. These results suggest a regulatory role of perfusate Ca2+ in increasing the open state of the ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ release channel that is distinct from the beat-to-beat regulation of Ca2+ release from the CSR by Ca2+ (Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release).