Motivation: Patients with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) have RyR2 mutations and are prone to delayed after depolarisations (DAD), triggered by Ca2+ waves during β- adrenergic stimulation. These arrhythmias are often seen during periods where the heart rate increases; therefore, our objective was to study the effects of various stimulation frequencies in the RyR2R4496C knock-in mouse model of CPVT. Methods: Ventricular cardiac myocytes were isolated from either control or RyR2R4496C knock-in mutant mouse hearts by enzymatic digestion and loaded with Fluo-5F. Cells were then voltage clamped at -50 mV and depolarised to 0 mV using a 50 ms pulse. Cells were paced at frequencies of 1, 3, and 5 Hz in the presence of 1 μM isoproterenol. SR Ca2+ content was measured using the application of 5 mM caffeine and 20 mM 2,3-butane-dione-monoxime, with integration of the Na+-Ca2+ exchange current. All animal experimentation was compliant with the 1986 Scientific Procedures Act (UK). Results: Our data show that SR Ca2+ content is reduced by the RyR2R4496C mutation at 1, 3 and 5 Hz (P<0.05). Furthermore, SR Ca2+ content also increases with rate in control cells (1 Hz vs. 3 and 5 Hz P<0.05). However, this relationship appears to be impaired in RyR2R4496C mutant cells, with only 1 Hz vs. 5 Hz showing an increase in SR Ca2+ content. Our work also shows that increasing the stimulation frequency reduces both the L-type Ca2+ current and systolic Ca2+ transient amplitude. In addition, the RyR2R4496C mutation does not alter other Ca2+ cycling parameters, such as, the rate constant of decay for the systolic Ca2+ transient. Conclusion: These experiments demonstrate the RyR2R4496C mutation lowers SR Ca2+ content at all frequencies of stimulation, and modifies the relationship between frequency of stimulation and SR Ca2+ content. These observations suggest that the mutated RyR2R4496C responds differently to increases in the pacing frequency. This abnormal response to high frequencies of stimulation could explain why spontaneous Ca2+ release occurs at high frequencies of stimulation. This work offers mechanistic insights into the function of RyR2 in health and disease, aiding the development of future therapeutics.
37th Congress of IUPS (Birmingham, UK) (2013) Proc 37th IUPS, PCB037
Poster Communications: Sarcoplasmic reticulum content is reduced by the RyR2R4496C mutation at a range of frequencies in mouse cardiac myocytes
C. Circelli1, L. A. Venetucci1, A. W. Trafford1, D. A. Eisner1
1. Unit of Cardiac Physiology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
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Where applicable, experiments conform with Society ethical requirements.