Ouabain binding and inotropy in acute potassium depletion in guinea pigs.

In hypokalaemia the incidence of cardiac toxicity with digitalis is increased, possibly through changes in the affinity or capacity of the digitalis receptor in the heart. Previous studies have reported an increased ouabain binding capacity or Na+-K+ ATPase activity after hypokalaemia in human erythrocytes and rabbit and guinea pig hearts and no change or decreases in rabbit or rat skeletal muscles with no changes in ouabain affinity. The present study determined (a) the effect of potassium on 3H-ouabain binding to normokalaemic guinea pig cardiac cell membranes, (b) the effect of acute hypokalaemia induced by a potassium deficient diet for 14-18 days in guinea pigs on 3H-ouabain binding to erythrocytes and cardiac and skeletal muscle homogenates, and (c) ouabain induced inotropy in isolated contracting guinea pig left atria, right ventricular papillary muscles, and soleus muscle strips from normokalaemic and hypokalaemic guinea pigs. 3H-ouabain binds to cardiac cell membranes in the presence of magnesium and inorganic phosphate with an affinity (KD value) of 1.13 X 10(-7) mol X litre-1. Potassium decreased this affinity without changing the binding capacity. Erythrocytes and heart muscle homogenates showed the same affinity as cardiac cell membranes, whereas soleus muscle homogenates had a higher affinity for ouabain (KD 5.1 X 10(-8) mol X litre-1). After hypokalaemia, the ouabain affinity did not change in any tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)