Sequence of alterations in subcellular organelles during the development of heart dysfunction in diabetes

Although changes in different subcellular organelles such as myofibrils, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), mitochondria and sarcolemma (SL), as well as in heart function have been reported to occur in chronic diabetes, their inter-relationships and functional significance are poorly understood. In order to gain information on this aspect, diabetes in rats was induced by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin and animals were assessed hemodynamically at 15-27 days. Ventricular tissue from several diabetic animals was pooled, subcellular organelles were isolated and their biochemical activities determined. Significant depressions in cardiac contractile and relaxation were observed to be associated with decreases in myofibrillar Ca(2+)-stimulated ATPase and SR Ca(2+)-pump activities at 21 days from the induction of diabetes. Likewise, the SL Na+-Ca2+ exchange and Ca(2+)-channel density were decreased at 21 days but the affinity of SL Ca(2+)-channels was increased in the diabetic heart. The SL Ca(2+)-pump and Na+-K+ ATPase activities were depressed at 18 and 24 days, respectively. Both alpha- and beta- adrenoceptor densities in SL were decreased at 27 days whereas no changes in mitochondrial function were observed at these early stages of diabetes. The SL low affinity Ca(2+)-binding was decreased while the low affinity Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was increased at 18 days following the induction of diabetes. These results indicate that SL defects precede those in SR, myofibrils or mitochondria and suggest that abnormalities in Ca(2+)-handling as well as interaction of Ca2+ with myofilaments in cardiomyocytes may lead to the development of heart dysfunction in chronic diabetes.