Ca2+-mobility in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of ventricular myocytes is low.

ABSTRACT: The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in ventricular myocytes contains releasable Ca(2+) for activating cellular contraction. Recent measurements of intra-SR (luminal) Ca(2+) suggest a high diffusive Ca(2+)-mobility constant (D(CaSR)). This could help spatially to unify SR Ca(2+)-content ([Ca(2+)](SRT)) and standardize Ca(2+)-release throughout the cell. But measurements of localized depletions of luminal Ca(2+) (Ca(2+)-blinks), associated with local Ca(2+)-release (Ca(2+)-sparks), suggest D(CaSR) may actually be low. Here we describe a novel method for measuring D(CaSR). Using a cytoplasmic Ca(2+)-fluorophore, we estimate regional [Ca(2+)](SRT) from localized, caffeine-induced SR Ca(2+)-release. Caffeine microperfusion of one end of a guinea pig or rat myocyte diffusively empties the whole SR a

SUBMITTER: Swietach P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2479570 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature