The effects of blocking the Na-Ca exchange at intervals throughout the physiological contraction-relaxation cycle of single cardiac myocyte.

The method of rapid superfusion of the single isolated ventricular myocytes of guinea-pig heart was used in order to inhibit the Na-Ca exchange throughout the physiological contraction-relaxation cycle. Superfusion of the cell at selected intervals during the contraction with the Na,Ca-free solution resulted in increase in its amplitude, increase in time to peak shortening and in delay of relaxation, albeit the cells relaxed before reperfusion of normal Tyrode solution. The largest increase in amplitude of contraction (to 134 +/- 16%) was observed when the effective exchange of the cell's environment was attained approximately 50 ms after the pulse stimulating contraction. The effects declined promptly when the delay was increased beyond 100 ms. In the cells treated with 10 mM caffeine superfusion with the Na,Ca-free solution after the delay of 50-100 ms resulted in decrease in extent of shortening. Increase in delay resulted in slight increase in extent of shortening with respect to control and strong inhibition of relaxation. The strongest effects were observed when the delay was approximately 200 ms. Superfusion of the normal cells and of the cells treated with caffeine between contractions resulted in slight potentiation of the next beat. It is concluded that Na-Ca exchange provides an important mechanism of relaxation and outward Ca2+ transport in the physiological contraction of the ventricular cardiomyocyte.