The effects of low density lipoprotein on calcium transients in isolated rabbit cardiomyocytes

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of low density lipoprotein (LDL) on Ca2+ transients of isolated rabbit cardiomyocytes. Incubation of cardiomyocytes with > or = 1 mg of LDL cholesterol/ml of perfusion medium induced a slow (> or = 30 min) but significant increase (2-fold) in the cellular Ca2+ transient. The time course for the effect was similar to that observed for the accumulation of cholesterol in the cells. Using Dil- labeled LDL as a fluorescent marker for LDL interaction with the cardiomyocytes, it was concluded that LDL interacted via a receptor-mediated event, but probably this was not the primary mechanism whereby the lipid entered the cell. LDL-treated cells were resistant to the depressant actions for ryanodine, nicardipine, and dichlorobenzamil on the cellular Ca2+ transient. Lowering the extracellular Ca2+ concentration removed the stimulatory effect of LDL on the Ca2+ transient. It is concluded that LDL can induce an increase in the magnitude of the Ca2+ transient in isolated cardiomyocytes. This is a relatively slow process. The mechanism appears to involve a stimulation of a transsarcolemmal Ca2+ transport pathway. These findings have important implications for cardiac contractile function in hypercholesterolemic and drug-treated hypercholesterolemic subjects.