Inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate [ins(1,4,5)P3] and ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor concentrations in heart tissues

1. The isolation and culture of neonatal cardiomyocytes causes changes in the metabolism of inositol(1,4,5) trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) from primarily dephosphorylation in the intact tissue to a combination of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in the cultured cells (Woodcock et al. 1992). 2. The content of Ins(1,4,5)P3 was found to be higher in intact heart tissue than in the isolated neonatal cells (10.9 +/- 1.3 and 0.5 +/- 0.1 pmol/mg tissue, mean +/- s.e.m., n = 4, P < 0.002, respectively). 3. Despite this difference, Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors in intact tissue and in isolated cells were not different in terms of affinity (8.0 +/- 1.7 and 10.9 +/- 1.6 nmol/L, n = 3, respectively) or concentration (143.3 +/- 20.5 and 91.2 +/- 16.0 fmol/mg protein, n = 3, respectively). 4. Thus, while there appears to be a relationship between the tissue content of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and its metabolism, no relationship to the properties of Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors could be demonstrated.