Streptomycin reverses a large stretch induced increases in [Ca2+]i in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes

The aim was to test the hypothesis that in single guinea pig ventricular myocytes a large stretch induced increase in resting calcium was sensitive to the mechanosensitive channel blocker streptomycin.

Carbon fibres were used to stretch cells loaded with the fluorescent calcium indicator indo-1. Force, sarcomere length, and internal calcium activity ([Ca2+]i) were measured.

In approximately 60% of the cells studied, a stretch which increased sarcomere length by approximately 6% caused a large increase in [Ca2+]i (up to 60% of the size of a [Ca2+]i transient at 0.25 Hz). When a mixture of antibiotics (streptomycin-penicillin) was used in solutions to isolate and store cells, this phenomenon was never observed (n = 19 cells). Direct application of physiological saline solution (PSS) could not reverse the increase in [Ca2+]i within 60 s of application (n = 7 cells). Direct application of penicillin [1000 IU per 50 ml (40 microM)] reversed the increase in [Ca2+]i within 60 s of application in only 3/7 cells. In contrast direct application of the aminoglycoside antibiotic streptomycin (40 microM) rapidly reversed the large increase in [Ca2+]i induced by stretch in each of 13 cells [within 18(SD 10) s of application]. Acute application of 40 microM streptomycin did not modify L-type Ca2+ currents measured under whole cell patch clamp conditions. Measurement of the resting tension--sarcomere length curves in cells stored in solution containing streptomycin and penicillin revealed two populations of cells on the basis of their stiffness.

This stretch induced increase in [Ca2+]i may be associated with stretch activated arrhythmias in the heart. The effects of streptomycin are consistent with its reported inhibitory action on stretch activated channels.