Cellular distribution and localization of Ca2+ in bullfrog myocardial cells was investigated on the light and electron microscopical level using different preparation procedures. Fixation and dehydration in glutaraldehyde and ethanol solutions containing increased amounts of Ca2+ (5-25 mM) cause the formation of numerous electron-dense deposits at the external face of the sarcolemma. X-ray microanalysis demonstrates that the deposits are mainly composed of calcium. Similar results were obtained in cryopreparations by quick-freezing of fresh myocardial tissue. Granules with a diameter of 16.6 nm, which clearly exceed all other cell constituents in contrast, are found at the entire myocardial cell surface. Besides an increased amount of calcium the granules contain potassium and phosphorus. Fluorescence microscopy on single cells obtained from bullfrog atrium by treatment with digestive enzymes and stained with chlorotetracycline (CTC) as a fluorescent probe for membrane-bound Ca2+ clearly support the observations made on the fine structural level. A strong fluorescence signal depending on the CTC- and Ca2+-concentration of the incubation medium is observed at the sarcolemma and can be inhibited by addition of La3+. The results of the present investigation suggest that the surface coat of the sarcolemma of myocardial cells represents an important compartment for accumulation and release of external Ca2+. The external lamina which partly covers the surface of myocardial cells seems not to be involved in the Ca2+ exchange.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Histochemical demonstration of an ATP-dependent Ca2+-pump in bullfrog myocardial cells.

In the present investigation different finestructural and histochemical procedures were employed to demonstrate normal morphology and Ca2+-transport mechanism in bullfrog atrial myocardium. For normal morphology specimens were fixed in 1% OsO4, 2.5% glutaraldehyde or liquid propane at -185 degrees C before they were prepared for conventional embedding and freeze-etching, respectively. Special interest was focussed on the caveolae system, which is composed of single, spherical membrane invaginations (diameter, 85 nm), randomly distributed at the entire cell periphery. The caveolae enlarge the cell surface by 24.5% and occupy 8.5% of the cellular volume. The caveolae membrane contains a few intramembraneous particles with a diameter of 8.4 nm comparable to the size of ATPases as found in other cells. For histochemistry the specimens were first stabilized by treatment with 50% glycerol, 0.025% glutaraldehyde or 0.15% formaldehyde and then incubated in a medium containing 4 mM CaCl2, 4 mM EGTA, 5 mM MgCl2, 5 mM K2C2O4, 5 mM ATP and 20 mM histidine at pH 7.0. This incubation always succeeded in the formation of electron-dense deposits with elliptical shape, measuring 100-200 nm in length and 10-30 nm in diameter. According to X-ray spectra they deliver a characteristic calcium-peak and can be found within two different cellular compartments: in small invaginations of the sarcolemma, i.e. the caveolae-system, and in the intrafibrillar sarcoplasmic reticulum. The elliptical deposits can be clearly distinguished from round electron-dense granules measuring 16 nm in diameter, which are located within randomly distributed small vesicles and composed of potassium and phosphate. Contrary to the elliptical deposits the round granules are also present in controls and seem to be identical with the so-called atrial granules. In comparison to observations obtained with the same method in other muscular systems and derived from various control experiments the results of this study favour the existence of an ATP-dependent Ca2+-pumping mechanism in frog atrial muscle bound to both, the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the caveolae system.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗