Oxidant stress inhibits Na-Ca-exchange current in cardiac myocytes: mediation by sulfhydryl groups?

The effects of oxidant stress (xanthine oxidase plus hypoxanthine or photoactivation of rose bengal) on the Na(+)-Ca(2+)-exchange current were studied in guinea pig ventricular myocytes with the use of voltage-clamp techniques. Oxidant stress depressed both the Ni(2+)-sensitive and extracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]o)-activated current in a time-dependent manner (e.g., xanthine oxidase plus hypoxanthine inhibited the Ni(2+)-sensitive current at +60 mV from 6.81 +/- 3.24 to 5.54 +/- 0.48 pA/pF; n = 6; P < 0.05). This effect was independent of the [Ca2+] of the pipette solution. Diamide, an alkylating agent that modifies protein sulfhydryl groups, also decreased the Ni(2+)-sensitive current (at + 60 mV: from 5.76 +/- 1.55 to 3.43 +/- 0.99 pA/pF; n = 6; P < 0.05). The stoichiometry (n) and partition coefficient (gamma) of the electrogenic Na(+)-Ca(2+)-exchange current seemed unchanged. Our results suggest that oxidant stress causes a direct or indirect sulfhydryl group-mediated decrease of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger.