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T F McDonald

Publications and source records attributed to T F McDonald.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Protection by hypoxic preconditioning against hypoxia-reoxygenation injury in guinea-pig papillary muscles.

OBJECTIVE: Developed tension in guinea-pig papillary muscles is depressed by prolonged hypoxia; subsequent reoxygenation leads to a partial recovery that stabilizes after an early period of arrhythmia. We have investigated whether hypoxic preconditioning in these muscles (1) improves the recovery of developed tension, (2) protects against arrhythmia, and (3) causes other significant electromechanical changes. METHODS: Papillary muscles stimulated at 1 Hz were superfused with oxygenated Krebs solution for 60 min and either preconditioned (5 min of 3 Hz pacing substrate-free hypoxic conditions, 10 min of normoxic recovery) or equilibrated for an extra 15 min. Muscles were subsequently challenged with substrate-free hypoxia (1 Hz), and reoxygenated (1 Hz) for 60 min. Contractile performance, action potential parameters, and indicators of arrhythmic activity were measured in 10 preconditioned and 10 non-preconditioned muscles. RESULTS: Developed tension in preconditioned muscles declined to the same level (10-15% control) as in non-preconditioned muscles after 60 min hypoxia. A notable difference was that developed tension in the preconditioned muscles failed to rebound during mid-hypoxia, a hallmark feature in non-preconditioned muscles. The action potential duration and overshoot collapsed at a significantly faster rate in hypoxic preconditioned muscles. Action potential recovery during reoxygenation was similar in the two groups of muscles, but recovery of developed tension was significantly stronger in preconditioned (76.7 +/- 5.4%) than in non-preconditioned (42.9 +/- 1.7%) muscles (P < 0.001). Reoxygenation provoked arrhythmic activity in all muscles, but the summed average duration was shorter (5.5 +/- 1.0 vs. 9.4 +/- 1.5 min) (P < 0.05) in the preconditioned muscles. CONCLUSION: Hypoxic preconditioning can significantly enhance post-hypoxia recovery of developed tension, and significantly attenuate arrhythmic activity, in guinea-pig papillary muscles.

Action Potentials↗

Arrhythmia and electrical heterogeneity during prolonged hypoxia in guinea pig papillary muscles.

To investigate the mechanism of late arrhythmias in myocardial ischemia, effects of prolonged substrate-free hypoxia or hypoxia with glycolytic inhibition on action potentials of guinea pig papillary muscles were studied. During substrate-free hypoxia, the action potential duration (APD) shortened until 120-210 min, and there was recovery of the APDs thereafter. Surface mapping after prolonged hypoxia showed various APDs in single muscles. Hypoxia with glycolytic inhibition (20 mM 2-deoxyglucose) caused the recovery of APDs after 90 min. The double-microelectrode method confirmed different APDs and action potential configurations (electrical heterogeneity) in these conditions. There were triggered activities as a result of delayed afterdepolarizations, an indication of Ca2+ overload after prolonged hypoxia. There was also conduction delay between two recording sites. It was shown, for the first time, that triggered activities, recovery of APDs, electrical heterogeneity, and conduction delay appear after prolonged hypoxia. It is suggested that electrical heterogeneity and conduction delay caused by cell-to-cell uncoupling may predispose cardiac tissue to reentrant arrhythmias during ischemia.

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Kinetic evidence distinguishing volume-sensitive chloride current from other types in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes.

1. Kinase-mediated chloride currents (ICl) in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes were activated by application of phorbol ester or forskolin, and compared with currents induced by hyposmotic swelling. Swelling-activated current was identified as ICl from changes in reversal potential, outward rectification and conductance when the Cl-gradient was modified. 2. Kinase-stimulated currents were relatively time and voltage independent, whereas hyposmotic swelling-stimulated (hyposmotic-stimulated) currents inactivated during 100 ms pulses to positive potentials. Forskolin stimulated time-independent ICl in myocytes with current unresponsive to hyposmotic superfusion, and superimposed a similar pedestal on time-dependent ICl in swollen myocytes. 3. Less negative holding potentials depressed hyposmotic-stimulated ICl tested at +80 mV; inhibition was half-maximal at -25 mV. Pulses from -80 to +80 mV inactivated up to 75% of ICl along a multi-exponential time course; repolarization elicited inwardly developing tail currents whose time courses suggest complex gating. 4. Hyperpolarizations, after strongly-inactivating depolarizations, triggered reactivating tail currents whose amplitude and configuration were dependent on voltage and Cl-gradients; tails were large and inwardly developing at potentials negative to the calculated Cl-equilibrium potential (ECl), small and outwardly developing at potentials positive to ECl, and time independent near ECl. 5. These results suggest that the volume-sensitive Cl- channels investigated here are distinct from other Cl- channels in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. However, their voltage-dependent properties strongly resemble those of volume-sensitive Cl- channels in certain epithelial cells.

Animals↗

Force-relaxant actions of dimethyl sulfoxide on guinea-pig and rabbit papillary muscles.

Recent voltage-clamp analysis of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO: 0.1-10% v/v) action on membrane currents in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes (strong inhibition of delayed-rectifier K+ current, inhibition of Na+ pump current, little effect on L-type Ca2+ current) suggested that the solvent would have a strong positive inotropic effect on guinea-pig papillary muscles. In muscles driven at 1 Hz, the major effects of 30 min superfusion with hyperosmotic 10% DMSO were: (1) a 33% lengthening of the action potential duration; (2) a 23% depression of developed tension; and (3) a pronounced positive inotropy on washout of the solvent. Osmotic change in cell volume was a possible reason for these effects; however, hyperosmotic sucrose solution that shrunk myocyte volume by a DMSO-like 12% failed to elicit the DMSO response. It was postulated that DMSO has both stimulatory and inhibitory actions: during treatment the stimulatory component (Ca2+ accumulation due to action potential lengthening and Na+ pump inhibition) is masked by a concomitant inhibition of Ca(2+)-myofilament interaction; removal of the solvent reveals the Ca2+ overload. In support of this interpretation. (1) DMSO depressed developed tension by up to 85% when the stimulatory influence was attenuated by eliminating action potential lengthening (rabbit papillary muscles), relieving pump inhibition (elevated K+), or preloading Ca2+ (low-K+ or low-Na+ superfusate), and (2) DMSO relaxed Na(+)-free contractures, and nearly abolished caffeine-induced contractures, in quiescent guinea-pig muscles. These data suggest that DMSO has a reversible, powerful inhibitory action on the myofilament force-generating machinery.

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Prevention of reoxygenation-induced arrhythmias in guinea pig papillary muscles.

Effects of various agents on reoxygenation-induced arrhythmias, action potentials, and tension of guinea pig papillary muscles were recorded to investigate the site of action. Triggered activities due to delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs) and aftercontractions were elicited on reoxygenation after 60-min substrate-free hypoxia. Low extracellular Ca2+ (0.1 mM) abolished arrhythmias, and high Ca2+ (4.9 mM) increased the amplitudes of DADs and aftercontractions. D-600 at the high concentration (20 microM) decreased the incidence of arrhythmias (p < 0.05 vs. no drug) and decreased the recovery of developed tension after reoxygenation (p < 0.001). Ryanodine (1 microM) abolished aftercontractions and arrhythmias but did not affect the recovery of developed tension. Tetrodotoxin (TTX 3 microM) and nicorandil (100 microM) decreased the incidence of arrhythmias (p < 0.05), but did not affect the recovery of developed tension or the amplitudes of aftercontractions. TTX caused only a slight decrease in Ca2+ transients in a fluo-3-loaded guinea pig ventricular myocyte. The Ca2+ entry through the Ca2+ channels apparently synchronized Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and D-600 at the high concentration apparently decreased the incidence of arrhythmias. TTX and nicorandil decreased arrhythmias, probably by decreasing the Na+ current or by increasing the ATP-sensitive K+ current, respectively.

Action Potentials↗

Phorbol ester activation of chloride current in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes.

1. Although earlier studies with phorbol esters indicate that protein kinase C (PKC) may be an important regulator of Cl- current (Icl) in cardiac cells, there is a need for additional quantitative data and investigation of conflicting findings. Our objectives were to measure the magnitude, time course, and concentration-dependence of Icl activated in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), evaluate its PKC dependence, and examine its modification by external and internal ions. 2. The whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to apply short depolarizing and hyperpolarizing pulses to myocytes superfused with Na(+)-, K(+)-, Ca(2+)-free solution (36 degrees C) and dialysed with Cs+ solution. Stimulation of membrane currents by PMA (threshold < or = 1nM, EC50 approximately equal to 14 nM, maximal 40% increase with > or = 100 nM) plateaued within 6-10 min. 3. PMA-activated current was time-independent, and suppressed by l mM 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid (9-AC). Its reversal potential (Erev) was sensitive to changes in the Cl- gradient, and outward rectification of the current-voltage (I-V) relationship was more pronounced with 30 mM than 140 mM Cl- dialysate. 4. The relative permeability of PMA-activated channels estimated from Erev measurements was I- > Cl- > > aspartate. Channel activation was independent of external Na+. 5. PMA failed to activate Icl in myocytes pretreated with 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) or dialysed with pCa 10.5 solution. Lack of response to 4 alpha-phorbol 12, 13-didecanoate (alpha PDD) was a further indication of mediation by PKC. 6. Icl induced by 2 microM forskolin was far larger than that induced by PMA, suggesting that endogenous protein kinase A is a much stronger Cl- channel activator than endogenous PKC in these myocytes. 7. The macroscopic properties of PMA-induced Icl appear to be indistinguishable from those of PKA-activated Icl. We discount stimulation of PKA by PMA as an explanation, and conclude that endogenous PKC may activate PKA-regulated Cl- channels in these myocytes.

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Activation of cardiac chloride conductance by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein.

1. Genistein (GST), an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK), Na3VO4 (VO4), an inhibitor of phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase), and forskolin (FSK), an activator of the cyclic AMP-dependent, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl- channel, were applied to guinea-pig ventricular myocytes to probe for a possible role of tyrosine phosphorylation in the regulation of cardiac Cl- channels. 2. Myocytes in the standard whole-cell configuration were pulsed to various potentials and Cl- current (ICl) measured as the difference from control background current. GST (1-500 microM) activated a current that had similar biophysical properties (time- and voltage-independent; Cl(-)-dependent reversal potential and outward rectification) as ICl activated by 5 microM FSK. The EC50 for activation of Cl- conductance (gCl) by GST was approximately 100 microM, and gCl activated by GST (500 microM) was as large as gCl activated by maximally-effective FSK (5 microM). Daidzein, a GST analogue with little effect on PTK, was at least one order less effective than GST. 3. GST responses were rapidly and reversibly inhibited by 0.1-1 mM VO4 treatments that had little effect on FSK-activated ICl. 4. Niflumic acid (100-200 microM) reversibly depressed GST (100 microM)-activated gCl by 55%. 5. GST (50 microM) strongly incremented current in myocytes with cyclic AMP-dependent CFTR ICl already activated by maximally-effective FSK 5 microM. 6. Based on these results, and on evidence of a synergistic interaction between GST and FSK, we conclude that inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation by GST causes an activation of cardiac CFTR that is not mediated by an elevation of cyclic AMP.

Animals↗

PKC-independent inhibition of cardiac L-type Ca2+ channel current by phorbol esters.

Active and inactive phorbol esters were applied to guinea pig ventricular myocytes to study the responses of L-type Ca2+ (ICa,L) and L-type Na+ (INa,L) currents. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) (10-100 rM) never stimulated ICa,L or INa,L and frequently depressed them by 5-30% in a voltage-independent manner. However, the phorbol ester consistently activated delayed-rectifying K+ (IK) and Cl- currents. The inhibition of ICa,L occurred approximately 3 times faster than comonitored stimulation of IK, and ICa,L and INa,L were unaffected by two interventions that suppressed IK stimulation [pretreatment with 50 microM 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) and dialysis with pCa 11 versus standard pCa 9 solution]. Inactive phorbol esters 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (alpha-PDD) and 4 alpha-phorbol had little effect on IK, but alpha-PDD had a PMA-like inhibitory effect on Ca2+ channel currents. We conclude that, unlike the stimulation of IK by PMA, inhibition of Ca2+ channel current by phorbol esters is a protein kinase C-independent action.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Electrical heterogeneity and conduction block in reoxygenated guinea pig papillary muscles.

To investigate the changes in electrical activity after reoxygenation, guinea pig papillary muscles were reoxygenated with 5 mM glucose solution after various durations (30-120 min) of substrate-free hypoxia. Action potential duration recovered to the control level on reoxygenation following 30-120 min hypoxia. The recovery of developed tension or resting tension was incomplete after reoxygenation following longer periods of hypoxia. There was a high incidence of arrhythmias on reoxygenation after 60 min hypoxia, which have been shown to be triggered activities due to delayed afterdepolarizations. In some muscles reoxygenated after prolonged hypoxia (90-120 min), there was electrical heterogeneity which was shown by variable action potential durations and configurations. There was also conduction block around the microelectrode site in muscle. It was suggested that the electrical heterogeneity and conduction block could predispose to reentry, and that triggered activities and reentry could be involved in the genesis of arrhythmias on reperfusion.

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Cyclic AMP-independent inhibition of cardiac calcium current by forskolin.

Low-to-moderate concentrations (< or = 3 microM) of forskolin (FSK) stimulated L-type Ca2+ current (ICa,L) and activated Cl- current (IC1) in guinea pig ventricular myocytes investigated under standard whole-cell conditions at 35 degrees. These stimulatory effects reached a steady state after several minutes and smoothly decayed after a short lag period on removal of the drug. Short (2-3 min) exposures to higher concentrations (10-100 microM) of FSK frequently had a multiphasic effect on ICa,L; marked stimulation during the first minute quickly faded during the next 1-2 min, and removal of the drug caused secondary stimulation that lasted for several minutes. Because the amplitude of cAMP-dependent ICl remained stable during the fade and secondary stimulation of ICa,L, the latter modulation of ICa,L seemed to be the result of a cAMP-independent inhibitory action of FSK on Ca2+ channels. Under conditions in which the stimulation of cAMP by FSK was slowed (22 degrees), rapid application of 10-30 microM FSK revealed that inhibition occurred within < 1 sec. In myocytes dialyzed with channel-up-modulating cAMP solution. 0.01-1 microM FSK had no effect on up-modulated currents, whereas high FSK rapidly and reversibly inhibited ICa,L by < or = 42% without affecting ICl. High FSK also inhibited ICa,L in myocytes dialyzed with protein kinase A inhibitor. External but not internal application of the inactive analog 1,9-dideoxy-FSK (30-100 microM) inhibited basal ICa,L. The inhibition was dependent on holding potential and involved a speeding up of ICa,L inactivation and a slowing of recovery from inactivation. We conclude that FSK inhibits cardiac ICa,L by reducing the availability of Ca2+ channels.

Animals↗

Action potentials, ionic currents and cell water in guinea pig ventricular preparations exposed to dimethyl sulfoxide.

Superfusion of guinea pig papillary muscles with Tyrode's solution that contained 0.3% to 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) caused a small hyperpolarization, a prolongation of the action potential (e.g., 4%, 15% and 33% prolongation with 1%, 5% and 10% DMSO, respectively) and a reduction (< or = 14%) in the maximal upstroke velocity (Vmax). Action potential prolongation was also induced by DMSO in muscles treated with the inorganic Ca++ channel blocker Co++ (5 mM) and in those depolarized with 24 mM K(+)-containing Tyrode's solution. In the latter case, there was no significant change in Vmax. In voltage-clamp experiments, superfusion of guinea pig ventricular myocytes with 0.1% to 10% DMSO solution had little effect on Ca++ and inward-rectifier K+ currents, moderately inhibited Cl- and Na+ currents, partially inhibited Na+ pump current and markedly depressed delayed-rectifier K+ current. The cell water shrinkages measured in muscles and myocytes superfused with DMSO solution appear to be only partially responsible for the solvent's effects. Other mechanisms that may be of greater importance in explaining the action of DMSO include direct block of channels by DMSO molecules and hindrance of channel hydration and opening related to osmotic stress.

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Marijuana-derived material-induced changes in monkey ciliary processes differ from those in rabbit ciliary processes.

The morphologic changes in ciliary processes and the associated intraocular pressure (IOP) were observed in owl and squirrel monkeys after intravitreal (IVT) and intravenous (IV) injections of water soluble marijuana-derived material (MDM). The response in monkeys differed from that reported in rabbits wherein IV injection induced severe ciliary swelling and a significant decrease in IOP. Only moderate swelling occurs in monkey processes after IV injection of relatively high dose of MDM, and this change, which includes disruption of the basal lamina of the pigment epithelium, is not associated with a change in IOP. Severe swelling occurs in the crests of monkey ciliary processes after IVT injection, which is accompanied by a fall in IOP. The difference in the response in monkey versus rabbit ciliary processes after IV injection of MDM may be due to a more compact stroma in the monkey processes.

Animals↗

A dual-pipette technique that permits rapid internal dialysis and membrane potential measurement in voltage-clamped cardiomyocytes.

Guinea pig ventricular myocytes were voltage-clamped and dialysed using two glass patch pipettes (P1, P2) with tip openings of around 2 microns. A substantial improvement in the efficacy of dialysis from P2 was achieved by the application of positive pressure (15-30 cm H2O) to P2, and similar negative pressure to P1. Evidence of enhanced dialysis was obtained by measuring the effect on Ca channel current of P2 dialysates containing Ca, cAMP, GTP [gamma-S], trypsin, or the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A. Times to maximum response were 3-5 times shorter than those calculated or observed by others using a single-pipette method. The speeding-up was verified in comparative experiments with 100 microM GTP [gamma-S] dialysates; maximum stimulation of ICa occurred after 1.3-1.8 min with the dual-pipette method, versus 8.2 min with a single pipette. Other advantages of the dual-pipette method include the option of following a control dialysis from P1 with a test dialysis from P2, and the measurement of actual membrane potential. The disadvantages are that the rate of success is lower than with single-pipette experiments, and that smaller cardiomyocytes are difficult subjects.

Animals↗

Whole-cell calcium current in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes dialysed with guanine nucleotides.

1. Whole-cell calcium current (ICa) was recorded in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes superfused with Na+,K(+)-free solution and dialysed with a substrate-free solution (minimum intracellular solution, MICS). A dual tight-seal pipette method was often used to permit pressure-enhanced dialysis of a test solution after a given pre-dialysis. 2. In dual-pipette experiments, test dialysates contained 100 mM-GTP-gamma-S (guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate] or 100 microM-GMP-PNP (guanyl-5'-imidodiphosphate). These non-hydrolysable analogues of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) enhanced ICa amplitude (+ 10 mV) by 20-40%. Dialysates containing 100 microM-GTP or GDP-beta-S (guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate] were ineffective, and pre-dialysis with GDP-beta-S blocked stimulation by GTP-gamma-S. 3. Non-hydrolysable GTP analogues slowed the inactivation of ICa and shifted the voltage eliciting maximum ICa by 5-10 mV in the negative direction. 4. ICa enhancement by GTP analogues was attributed to the activation of three GTP-binding regulatory (G) proteins (Gi, Gp and Gs). In single-pipette experiments, the inactivation of Gi by pre-treatment with pertussis toxin did not block enhancement, and a Gp-activating regimen (external acetylcholine-internal GTP) was without effect. Thus, it is probable that the effects of GTP analogues on ICa were primarily mediated by Gs activation. 5. PI-MICS dialysates contained phosphorylation-pathway inhibitors and were used to inhibit Ca2+ channel phosphorylation via the adenyl cyclase pathway. These were deemed effective since forskolin (1-5 microM) doubled ICa during control dialysis but was without effect after 8 min PI-MICS dialysis. However, 0.1 microM-isoprenaline increased ICa by 35% in myocytes totally unresponsive to forskolin, suggesting that beta-adrenergic receptor occupation can stimulate ICa even when the phosphorylation pathway is blocked. 6. After prolonged dialysis of myocytes with PI-MICS, ICa was still enhanced by pressure-assisted dialysis of 100 microM-GTP-gamma-S or GMP-PNP. We conclude that activated Gs has a direct effect on cardiac Ca2+ channels.

Action Potentials↗

Membrane-delimited stimulation of heart cell calcium current by beta-adrenergic signal-transducing Gs protein.

A severalfold increase in calcium current (ICa) is a signal feature of the maximal beta-adrenergic response of the heart. It is generally ascribed to enhanced adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent phosphorylation of calcium (Ca) channels after beta-receptor activation of the guanosine nucleotide-binding (G) protein Gs, and Gs activation of the adenylyl cyclase cascade. We blocked phosphorylation pathways in guinea pig cardiomyocytes to unmask other possible ICa-stimulatory modes. In blocked cells, ICa increased by approximately 50% during 1) beta-receptor activation of Gs, 2) intracellular activation of Gs, and 3) intracellular application of preactivated Gs, We conclude that fast, membrane-delimited Gs modulation participates in the physiological regulation of cardiac ICa.

Animals↗