Dependence of nickel-induced coronary vasoconstriction on the activity of the electrogenic Na+, K+-pump

The possible interactions between the vasoactive trace metal nickel ion (Ni2+) and membrane Na-K-ATPase in the isolated perfused rat heart and in the isolated canine coronary artery have been studied. The characteristic features of 1 microM Ni2+-induced contractile response in the canine coronary artery strip were similar to those evoked by the inhibition of Na-K-ATPase. Inhibition of the pump activity by ouabain (10(-4)M) or by K+-deficient Krebs solution prevented Ni2+-action both in the canine coronary artery strip and in the perfused rat heart, indicating that when Ni2+ causes coronary vasoconstriction the Na, K-exchange is influenced. Further studies are needed to clarify whether Ni2+ acts directly on the enzyme, or the vascular action of this trace metal depends on the ionic gradients maintained by the electrogenic Na-K-pump.