Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2012 | Original investigation
The role of Na+/H+ exchanger in Ca2+ overload and ischemic myocardial damage in hearts from type 2 diabetic db/db mice
Published in: Cardiovascular Diabetology | Issue 1/2012
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Background
A higher increase in intracellular Na+ via Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) during ischemia has been reported in type 2 diabetic mouse hearts. We investigated the role of NHE in inducing changes in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and alterations in ventricular function during ischemia-reperfusion in type 2 diabetic mouse hearts.
Methods
Hearts from male type 2 diabetic db/db (12-15 weeks old) and age-matched control db/+ mice were subjected to Langendorff perfusion and loaded with 4μM of the Ca2+ indicator fura-2. The hearts were exposed to no-flow ischemia for 15 minutes and then reperfused. [Ca2+]i was measured by monitoring fura-2 fluorescence at 500 nm (excitation wavelengths of 340 and 380 nm), while left ventricular (LV) pressure was simultaneously measured.
Results
db/db hearts exhibited a lower recovery of LV developed pressure than db/+ hearts during reperfusion following ischemia. Diastolic [Ca2+]i was increased to a greater level in diabetic hearts than in the control hearts during ischemia and reperfusion. Such an increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ overload during ischemia-reperfusion in diabetic hearts was markedly reduced in the presence of the NHE inhibitor cariporide. This was accompanied by a significantly improved recovery of ventricular function on reperfusion, as shown by a lower increase in diastolic pressure and increased recovery of developed pressure.
Conclusion
NHE plays a key role in enhancing cytoplasmic Ca2+ overload during ischemia-reperfusion and severely impairing post-ischemic cardiac function in hearts from type 2 diabetic db/db mice.