Contractility of isolated bovine ventricular myocytes is enhanced by intracellular injection of cardioactive glycosides. Evidence for an intracellular mode of action.

The contractions of isolated bovine left ventricular myocytes were evaluated by optically measuring the extent of unloaded shortening (ES), the maximal rate of shortening (MRS) and the maximal rate of re-lengthening (MRL). Ouabain, digoxin or digitoxin were intracellularly injected by 2 sec long pressure pulses via the microelectrodes. Their i.c. concentration was estimated to be 2-5 nM. Within 1-4 min after the injection, ES, MRS and MRL increased by more than 2-fold. The contractility renormalized within the following 20 min. Injection of solutions without glycosides did not increase the contractility. An interaction of the injected glycoside with the e.c. ouabain receptor could be largely excluded because a) the amount of the released glycoside was too small for e.c. effects, b) 500 nM e.c. antidigoxin, c) 20 mM [K]o or d) covalent binding of digoxin to HSA did not prevent the increase in contractility due to the i.c. injections. Since contractility also increased when the injections were performed at Na-free conditions, [Na]i-load is not necessary for the effect of i.e. glycosides. The increased contractility due to the injected glycosides was not observed when the contractility prior to the injection was already potentiated, e.g. by greater than 3.6 mM [Ca]o or by stimulation at frequencies greater than 1.25 Hz. The results are interpreted by the hypothesis that the i.c. glycosides facilitate the release of activator calcium from the SR. The possible i.c. modes of action are discussed as well as the idea that e.c. applied glycosides internalize and mediate inotropy via the i.e. mechanism.