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Effects of pCai and pHi on cell-to-cell coupling

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Summary

Internal longitudinal resistance (ri), a determinant of cardiac conduction, is affected by changes in intracellular calcium and protons. However, the role and mechanism by which H+ and Ca2+ may modulate ri is uncertain. Cable analysis was performed in cardiac Purkinje fibers to measure ri during various interventions. In some experiments, intracellular pH (pHi) was recorded simultaneously to study the pHi-ri relation. Both intracellular Ca2+ and H+ independently modified ri. However, internal resistance of cardiac fibers was insensitive to pHi changes compared to other tissues. A latent period preceded the pHi-related changes in ri and the amount of change depended upon methodology. The results suggest that direct action of protons on ri may be subordinate to other regulatory processes. Ionic regulation of internal longitudinal resistance may occur by more than one mechanism: i) direct cationic binding to sites on junctional membrane proteins; and ii) H+- or Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation of junctional proteins.

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  1. The Krannert Institute of Cardiology, Departments of Medicine and Physiology and Biophysics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 46202, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

    M. L. Pressler

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Pressler, M.L. Effects of pCai and pHi on cell-to-cell coupling. Experientia 43, 1084–1091 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01956044

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