Spatial heterogeneity of myocardial perfusion predicts local potassium channel expression and action potential duration.

AIMS: In the heart, there is not only a transmural gradient of left ventricular perfusion and action potential duration (APD), but also spatial heterogeneity within each myocardial layer, where local blood flow and energy turnover vary more than three-fold between individual regions. We analysed at high spatial resolution whether a corresponding heterogeneity also extends to ion channel gene expression and APD. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the open-chest beagle dog, left ventricular 300 microL samples of very low or high flow were identified by radioactive microspheres and expression levels determined by quantitative PCR. The distribution of epicardial APD was assessed by mapping local activation repolarization intervals (ARIs) and QT interval (QT). ERG, the potassium channel mediating IKr, and KChIP2, the interacting protein modulating Ito, were increased in Low flow (3.3- and 2.5-fold, P < 0.001 and <0.05, respectively; n = 6 hearts, 30-31 samples each) as compared with High flow areas. This suggested enhanced repolarizing currents in Low flow areas, and in consequence, mathematical model analysis predicted a shorter local APD upon enhanced ERG and IKr. Epicardial mapping revealed a patchy, temporally stable APD pattern (n = 11), a small apico-basal gradient and an APD prolongation induced by the ERG blocker dofetilide predominantly in areas of short basal ARI or QT, respectively (n = 9). In addition, in Short QT areas, ERG expression was three-fold increased (P < 0.05, n = 4). CONCLUSION: The spatial pattern of perfusion is matched by the novel patterns of K+ channel expression and APD. Whenever this newly recognized intramural dispersion of APD increases, it may contribute to arrhythmogenesis.

Taurine transporter knockout depletes muscle taurine levels and results in severe skeletal muscle impairment but leaves cardiac function uncompromised.

Taurine is the most abundant free amino acid in heart and skeletal muscle. In the present study, the effects of hereditary taurine deficiency on muscle function were examined in taurine transporter knockout (taut-/-) mice. These mice show an almost complete depletion of heart and skeletal muscle taurine levels. Treadmill experiments demonstrated that total exercise capacity of taut-/- mice was reduced by >80% compared with wild-type controls. The decreased performance of taut-/- mice correlated with increased lactate levels in serum during exercise. Surprisingly, cardiac function of taut-/- mice as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiography, and isolated heart studies showed a largely normal phenotype under both control and stimulated conditions. However, analysis of taut-/- skeletal muscle revealed electromyographic abnormalities. (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of tissue extracts showed that in the heart of taut-/- mice the lack of taurine was compensated by the up-regulation of various organic solutes. In contrast, a deficit of >10 mM in total organic osmolyte concentration was found in skeletal muscle. The present study identifies taurine transport as a crucial factor for the maintenance of skeletal muscle function and total exercise capacity, while cardiac muscle apparently can compensate for the loss of taurine.