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Sodium/calcium exchange in ventricular muscle.

J A McGuigan¹, L A Blatter

¹Institute of Physiology, Bern, Switzerland.

Experientia

|December 1, 1987

Summary

Ventricular cells buffer large calcium loads using mitochondria and an unidentified site. The Na/Ca exchange system is crucial for calcium extrusion during cellular stress.

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Area of Science:

Cardiology
Cell Physiology
Biochemistry

Background:

Ventricular cells utilize Na/Ca exchange and Ca pumps for calcium extrusion.
Extracellular Na removal reverses Na/Ca exchange, leading to cellular calcium uptake.
Observed marginal intracellular calcium increase suggests significant buffering capacity.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate calcium buffering mechanisms in ventricular cells.
Determine the contribution of mitochondria and other sites to calcium load.
Analyze Na/Ca exchange stoichiometry and its interaction with the Ca pump.

Main Methods:

Experimental manipulation of extracellular sodium levels.
Measurement of intracellular calcium ([Ca]i) and sodium ([Na]i).
Assessment of mitochondrial calcium uptake.
Analysis of Na/Ca stoichiometry using sarcolemmal vesicles and ventricular tissue.

Main Results:

Cells accumulate millimolar calcium quantities upon Na/Ca exchanger reversal.
Mitochondria buffer a significant portion of calcium, but an additional buffering site is implicated.
Na/Ca stoichiometry varies, with values around 2.5-3 observed in ventricular cells.
Potential interaction between sarcolemmal Ca pump and exchanger via intracellular sodium.

Conclusions:

Ventricular cells possess sophisticated calcium buffering systems beyond mitochondrial capacity.
Na/Ca exchange plays a dominant role in calcium handling during significant cellular perturbations.
Further research is needed to identify the additional calcium buffering mechanisms.

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