Na/K pump-induced [Na]i gradients in rat ventricular myocytes measured with two-photon microscopy

Sanda Despa, Jens Kockskämper, Lothar A. Blatter, Donald M. Bers

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Abstract

Via the Na/Ca and Na/H exchange, intracellular Na concentration ([Na] i) is important in regulating cardiac Ca and contractility. Functional data suggest that [Na]i might be heterogeneous in myocytes that are not in steady state, but little direct spatial information is available. Here we used two-photon microscopy of SBFI to spatially resolve [Na]i in rat ventricular myocytes. In vivo calibration yielded an apparent Kd of 27 ± 2 mM Na. Similar resting [Na]i was found using two-photon or single-photon ratiometric measurements with SBFI (10.8 ± 0.7 vs. 11.1 ± 0.7 mM). To assess longitudinal [Na] i gradients, Na/K pumps were blocked at one end of the myocyte (locally pipette-applied K-free extracellular solution) and active in the rest of the cell. This led to a marked increase in [Na]i at sites downstream of the pipette (where Na enters the myocyte and Na/K pumps are blocked). [Na]i rise was smaller at upstream sites. This resulted in sustained [Na]i gradients (up to ∼17 mM/120 μm cell length). This implies that Na diffusion in cardiac myocytes is slow with respect to trans-sarcolemmal Na transport rates, although the mechanisms responsible are unclear. A simple diffusion model indicated that such gradients require a Na diffusion coefficient of 10-12 μm2/s, significantly lower than in aqueous solutions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1360-1368
Number of pages9
JournalBiophysical Journal
Volume87
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2004

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants HL-64098 (to D.M.B.), HL-64724 (to D.M.B.), and HL-62231 (to L.A.B.) and the American Heart Association fellowship #0225554Z (to S.D.). J.K. was a recipient of fellowships from the Falk Foundation (Loyola University Chicago) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Funding

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants HL-64098 (to D.M.B.), HL-64724 (to D.M.B.), and HL-62231 (to L.A.B.) and the American Heart Association fellowship #0225554Z (to S.D.). J.K. was a recipient of fellowships from the Falk Foundation (Loyola University Chicago) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of Health (NIH)HL-62231, HL-64724
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)R01HL064098
American Heart Association0225554Z
Falk Foundation
Loyola University of Chicago
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Biophysics

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