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The mechanisms of calcium cycling and action potential dynamics in cardiac alternans.

ABSTRACT: Alternans is a risk factor for cardiac arrhythmia, including atrial fibrillation. At the cellular level alternans manifests as beat-to-beat alternations in contraction, action potential duration (APD), and magnitude of the Ca(2+) transient (CaT). Electromechanical and CaT alternans are highly correlated, however, it has remained controversial whether the primary cause of alternans is a disturbance of cellular Ca(2+) signaling or electrical membrane properties.To determine whether a primary failure of intracellular Ca(2+) regulation or disturbances in membrane potential and AP regulation are responsible for the occurrence of alternans in atrial myocytes.Pacing-induced APD and CaT alternans were studied in single rabbit atrial and ventricular myocytes using combined [Ca(2+)]i and electrophysiological measurements. In current-clamp experiments, APD and CaT alternans strongly correlated in time and magnitude. CaT alternans was observed without alternation in L-type Ca(2+) current, however, elimination of intracellular Ca(2+) release abolished APD alternans, indicating that [Ca(2+)]i dynamics have a profound effect on the occurrence of CaT alternans. Trains of 2 distinctive voltage commands in form of APs recorded during large and small alternans CaTs were applied to voltage-clamped cells. CaT alternans was observed with and without alternation in the voltage command shape. During alternans AP-clamp large CaTs coincided with both long and short AP waveforms, indicating that CaT alternans develop irrespective of AP dynamics.The primary mechanism underlying alternans in atrial cells, similarly to ventricular cells, resides in a disturbance of Ca(2+) signaling, whereas APD alternans are a secondary consequence, mediated by Ca(2+)-dependent AP modulation.

SUBMITTER: Kanaporis G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4344847 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The mechanisms of calcium cycling and action potential dynamics in cardiac alternans.

Kanaporis Giedrius G Blatter Lothar A LA

Circulation research 20141222 5

<h4>Rationale</h4>Alternans is a risk factor for cardiac arrhythmia, including atrial fibrillation. At the cellular level alternans manifests as beat-to-beat alternations in contraction, action potential duration (APD), and magnitude of the Ca(2+) transient (CaT). Electromechanical and CaT alternans are highly correlated, however, it has remained controversial whether the primary cause of alternans is a disturbance of cellular Ca(2+) signaling or electrical membrane properties.<h4>Objective</h4> ...[more]

PMID: 25532796

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Project description:This study investigated the mechanisms underlying the propagation of cytoplasmic calcium waves and the genesis of systolic Ca(2+) alternans in cardiac myocytes lacking transverse tubules (t-tubules). These correspond to atrial cells of either small mammals or large mammals that have lost their t-tubules due to disease-induced structural remodeling (e.g., atrial fibrillation). A mathematical model was developed for a cluster of ryanodine receptors distributed on the cross section of a cell that was divided into 13 elements with a spatial resolution of 2 ?m. Due to the absence of t-tubules, L-type Ca(2+) channels were only located in the peripheral elements close to the cell-membrane surface and produced Ca(2+) signals that propagated toward central elements by triggering successive Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release (CICR) via Ca(2+) diffusion between adjacent elements. Under control conditions, the Ca(2+) signals did not fully propagate to the central region of the cell. However, with modulation of several factors responsible for Ca(2+) handling, such as the L-type Ca(2+) channels (Ca(2+) influx), SERCA pumps (sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) uptake), and ryanodine receptors (SR Ca(2+) release), Ca(2+) wave propagation to the center of the cell could occur. These simulation results are consistent with previous experimental data from atrial cells of small mammals. The model further reveals that spatially functional heterogeneity in Ca(2+) diffusion within the cell produced a steep relationship between the SR Ca(2+) content and the cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration. This played an important role in the genesis of Ca(2+) alternans that were more obvious in central than in peripheral elements. Possible association between the occurrence of Ca(2+) alternans and the model parameters of Ca(2+) handling was comprehensively explored in a wide range of one- and two-parameter spaces. In addition, the model revealed a spontaneous second Ca(2+) release in response to a single voltage stimulus pulse with SR Ca(2+) overloading and augmented Ca(2+) influx. This study provides what to our knowledge are new insights into the genesis of Ca(2+) alternans and spontaneous second Ca(2+) release in cardiac myocytes that lack t-tubules.

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The mechanisms of calcium cycling and action potential dynamics in cardiac alternans.

Publications

The mechanisms of calcium cycling and action potential dynamics in cardiac alternans.

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