HCO3(-)-dependent alkalinizing transporter in adult rat ventricular myocytes: characterization and modulation

The present work was designed to identify the HCO3(-)-dependent alkalinizing carrier in ventricular myocytes of normal and diabetic adult rats and to determine to what extent this system contributes to acid-equivalent extrusion after an intracellular acidification. We also examined the possible influence of intracellular Ca2+ (Cai2-) and glycolytic inhibition on the carrier activation. Intracellular pH (pHi) was recorded using seminaphthorhodafluor-1. The NH4+ method was used to induce an intracellular acid load. Evidence is provided for the existence of a Cl(-)-independent Na(+)-HCO3- cotransport contributing to pHi recovery from an intracellular acid load in ventricular cells of adult rats. Na(+)-HCO3- cotransport accounts for 33% of the total acid-equivalent efflux (JHe) from normal adult myocytes after intracellular acidification at pHi 6.75 in CO2/HCO3(-)-buffered solution. In addition, the activity of this carrier, which is not affected either by decreasing Cai2+ or by inhibiting Ca2+/calmodulin protein kinase II, is down-regulated by inhibition of glycolysis. Under pathophysiological conditions such as diabetes, although total JHe was significantly decreased compared with normal myocytes, JHe carried by Na(+)-HCO3- cotransport remained unchanged. However, because of a decrease in Na+/H+ exchange, the contribution of this carrier to total JHe increased with decreasing pHi (i.e., under conditions that may be associated with an ischemic episode), reaching approximately 58% of total JHe at pHi 6.75 (vs. approximately 33% in normal myocytes.