Alterations in contractile properties and Ca2+ transients by beta-and muscarinic receptor stimulation in ferret myocardium.

1. To clarify the mechanism which regulates the time course of twitch tension when beta- and muscarinic receptors are stimulated, intracellular Ca2+ transients, Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile element and the cross-bridge cycling rate (CCR) were measured in ferret ventricular muscles. 2. Isoprenaline (Iso; 0.1 microM) increased peaks of Ca2+ transients measured with aequorin and tension, and abbreviated the time courses of both signals. Addition of acetylcholine (ACh; 0.01-1 microM) to the Iso-treated preparation dose dependently decreased the peaks of both signals and restored the time course of Ca2+ transients. However, the time course of tension was not recovered by the addition of ACh, and the relaxation time in particular, was further shortened by ACh. Carbachol (1 microM) applied to the Iso-treated preparation yielded similar results. 3. [Ca2+]i and tension at a quasi-steady level of tetanic contraction, which was produced by ryanodine (5 microM) and repetitive stimulation, were measured and Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile element was estimated. Iso (0.1 microM) decreased the Ca2+ sensitivity and the addition of ACh (1 microM) completely recovered it to the control level. 4. In order to measure CCR, the perturbation analysis method was applied to steady-state tension of tetanic contraction. The CCR was not altered even when the tetanic tension level was decreased to 50% by decreasing [Ca2+]o. Iso (0.1 microM) slightly decreased the tetanic tension level and increased the CCR from 2.73 to 3.25 Hz. The effect of Iso was observed when the Iso-decreased tension was recovered by an increase in [Ca2+]i. The addition of ACh (1 microM) recovered the CCR which was increased by Iso, to the control level. Atropine (10 microM) blocked the effect of ACh, and carbachol (1 microM) restored the CCR increased by Iso to the control level. 5. The time course of Ca2+ transients, Ca2+ sensitivity and CCR were antagonistically regulated by beta- and muscarinic receptor stimulation, but the time course of tension did not parallel the changes in these parameters. Therefore, these results suggest that the time course of tension, particularly the relaxation time, is not determined by the time course of Ca2+ transients, Ca2+ sensitivity and the CCR, and that other factors might be involved in the regulation of the time course of tension when beta- and muscarinic receptors are stimulated.