Ras reduces L-type calcium channel current in cardiac myocytes. Corrective effects of L-channels and SERCA2 on [Ca(2+)](i) regulation and cell morphology.

Heart failure is associated with dysregulation of intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)), reduction in myofibrils, and increased activation of Ras, a regulator of signal-transduction pathways. To evaluate the potential effects of Ras on [Ca(2+)](i), we expressed constitutively active Ras (Ha-Ras(V12)) in cardiac myocytes and monitored [Ca(2+)](i) via fluorescence and electrophysiological techniques. Ha-Ras(V12) reduced the magnitude of the contractile calcium transients. Unexpectedly, however, calcium loading of the sarcoplasmic reticulum was increased, suggesting that Ha-Ras(V12) introduces a defect in excitation-calcium release coupling. Consistent with this idea, L-channel calcium currents were reduced by Ha-Ras(V12), which also downregulated the activity of the L-channel gene promoter. Coexpression of L-channels and SERCA2 largely corrected Ha-Ras(V12)-induced dysregulation of [Ca(2+)](i). Furthermore, whereas Ha-Ras(V12) downregulated myofibrils, this effect was blocked by coexpression of L-channels. These results suggest that Ras downregulates L-channel expression, which may play a pathophysiological role in cardiac disease.

Dihydropyridine receptor gene expression in skeletal muscle from mdx and control mice.

The expression of isoform-specific dihydropyrine receptor-calcium channel (DHPR) alpha 1-subunit genes was investigated in mdx and control mouse diaphragm (DIA) and tibialis anterior (TA). RNase protection assays were carried out with a rat DHPR cDNA probe specific for skeletal muscle and a mouse DHPR cDNA probe specific for cardiac muscle. The level of expression of the gene encoding the cardiac DHPR was very weak in TA muscle from both control and mdx mice. Compared to TA, DIA expressed mRNA for the cardiac isoform at significantly higher levels, but mdx and control mouse DIA levels were similar to one another. In contrast, mRNA expression levels for the DHPR skeletal muscle isoform were lower in control DIA than TA. However, there was a dramatic increase in the expression for the DHPR skeletal muscle isoform in mdx DIA compared with control DIA, reaching the TA expression level, whereas dystrophy did not affect TA expression. [3H]-PN200-110 binding was used to further assess DIA DHPR expression at the protein level. The density of binding sites for the probe was not significantly affected in DIA muscles of mdx vs. control mice, but it was reduced in older mdx and control mice. The increase in DHPR mRNA levels without a consequent increase in DHPR protein expression could be secondary to possible enhanced protein degradation which occurs in mdx DIA. The altered DHPR expression levels found here do not appear to be responsible for the severe deficits in contractile function of the mdx DIA.

Characteristics of the chloride conductance in muscle fibers of the rat diaphragm.

In muscle fibers from the rat diaphragm, 85% of the resting membrane ion conductance is attributable to Cl-. At 37 degree C and pH 7.0, GCl averages 2.11 mmho/cm2 while residual conductance largely due to K+ averages 0.34 mmho/cm2. The resting GCl exhibits a biphasic temperature dependence with a Q10 of 1.6 between 6 degree C and 25 degree C and a Q10 of nearly 1 between 25 degree C and 40 degree C. Decreasing external pH reversibly reduced GCl; the apparent pK for groups mediating this decrease is 5.5. Increasing pH up to 10.0 had no effect on GCl. Anion conductance sequence and permeability sequence were both determined to be Cl-greater than Br-greater than or equal to I-greater than CH3SO4-. Lowering the pH below 5.5 reduced the magnitude of the measured conductance to all anions but did not alter the conductance sequence. The permeability sequence was likewise unchanged at low pH. Experiments with varying molar ratios of Cl- and I- indicated a marked interaction between these ions in their transmembrane movement. Similar but less striking interaction was seen between Cl- and Br-. Current-voltage relationships for GCl measured at early time-points in the presence of Rb+ were linear, but showed marked rectification with longer hyperpolarizing pulses (greater than 50ms) due to a slow time-and voltage-dependent change in membrane conductance to Cl-. This nonlinear behavior appeared to depend on the concentration of Cl- present but cannot be attributed to tubular ion accumulation. Tubular disruption with glycerol lowers apparent GCl but not GK, suggesting that the transverse tubule (T-tubule) system is permeable to Cl- in this species. Quantitative estimates indicate that up to 80% of GCl may be associated with the T tubules.

On the inhibition of muscle membrane chloride conductance by aromatic carboxylic acids.

25 aromatic carboxylic acids which are analogs of benzoic acid were tested in the rat diaphragm preparation for effects on chloride conductance (G(Cl)). Of the 25, 19 were shown to reduce membrane G(Cl) with little effect on other membrane parameters, although their apparent K(i) varied widely. This inhibition was reversible if exposure times were not prolonged. The most effective analog studied was anthracene-9-COOH (9-AC; K(i) = 1.1 x 10(-5) M). Active analogs produced concentration-dependent inhibition of a type consistent with interaction at a single site or group of sites having similar binding affinities, although a correlation could also be shown between lipophilicity and K(i). Structure-activity analysis indicated that hydrophobic ring substitution usually increased inhibitory activity while para polar substitutions reduced effectiveness. These compounds do not appear to inhibit G(Cl) by altering membrane surface charge and the inhibition produced is not voltage dependent. Qualitative characteristics of the I-V relationship for Cl(-) current are not altered. Conductance to all anions is not uniformly altered by these acids as would be expected from steric occlusion of a common channel. Concentrations of 9-AC reducing G(Cl) by more than 90 percent resulted in slight augmentation of G(I). The complete conductance sequence obtained at high levels of 9-AC was the reverse of that obtained under control conditions. Permeability sequences underwent progressive changes with increasing 9-AC concentration and ultimately inverted at high levels of the analog. Aromatic carboxylic acids appear to inhibit G(Cl) by binding to a specific intramembrane site and altering the selectivity sequence of the membrane anion channel.

Single channel characteristics of a high conductance anion channel in "sarcoballs".

Previously undescribed high conductance single anion channels from frog skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) were studied in native membrane using the "sarcoball" technique (Stein and Palade, 1988). Excised inside-out patches recorded in symmetrical 200 mM TrisCl show the conductance of the channel's predominant state was 505 +/- 25 pS (n = 35). From reversal potentials, the Pcl/PK ratio was 45. The slope conductance vs. Cl- ion concentration curve saturates at 617 pS, with K0.5 estimated at 77 mM. The steady-state open probability (Po) vs. holding potential relationship produces a bell-shaped curve, with Po values reaching a maximum near 1.0 at 0 mV, and falling off to 0.05 at +/- 25 mV. Kinetic analysis of the voltage dependence reveals that while open time constants are decreased somewhat by increases in potential, the largest effect is an increase in long closed times. Despite the channel's high conductance, it maintains a moderate selectivity for smaller anions, but will not pass larger anions such as gluconate, as determined by reversal-potential shifts. At least two substates different from the main open level are distinguishable. These properties are unlike those described for mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channels or skeletal muscle surface membrane Cl channels and since SR Ca channels are present in equally high density in sarcoball patches, we propose these sarcoball anion channels originate from the SR. Preliminary experiments recording currents from frog SR anion channels fused into liposomes indicate that either biochemical isolation and/or alterations in lipid environment greatly decrease the channel's voltage sensitivity. These results help underline the potential significance of using sarcoballs to study SR channels. The steep voltage sensitivity of the sarcoball anion channel suggests that it could be more actively involved in the regulation of Ca2+ transport by the SR.

TNF alpha receptor expression in rat cardiac myocytes: TNF alpha inhibition of L-type Ca2+ current and Ca2+ transients.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) is a potentially powerful anti-neoplastic agent; however, its therapeutic usefulness is limited by its cardiotoxic and negative inotropic effects. Accordingly, studies were undertaken to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of TNF alpha-mediated cardiodepression. Single cell RT-PCR, [125I]TNF alpha ligand binding and Western immunoblotting experiments demonstrated that rat cardiac cells predominantly express type I TNF alpha receptors (TNFRI or p60). TNF alpha inhibited cardiac L-type Ca2+ channel current (ICa) and contractile Ca2+ transients. Thus, it is possible that the negative inotropic effects of TNF alpha are the result of TNFRI-mediated blockade of cardiac excitation-contraction coupling.

Different sites control voltage dependence and conductance of sarcoball anion channel.

Single anion-selective channels from frog skeletal muscle SR were recorded using the sarcoball technique (Stein, P., and P. T. Palade. 1988. Biophys. J. 54:357-363). The voltage dependence of the open probability (Po) was found to be dependent on the concentration of permeant anions on either side of the patch membrane. With 50 mM or greater permeant anions present on both sides of the membrane, the Po vs. voltage plot yielded a bell-shaped curve centered around 0 mV (Hals, G. D., P. G. Stein, and P. T. Palade. 1989. J. Gen. Physiol. 93:385-410). When permeant anions in the bath (Cl-) were replaced with relatively impermeant anions (gluconate, MOPS, propionate, or Hepes), the Po vs. voltage relationship was shifted by approximately -35 mV. Similarly, analogous experiments with the pipette solution produced a shift of comparable magnitude, but opposite polarity (approximately +35 mV). The stilbene derivative DIDS also shifted the voltage dependence, which suggests that amino groups may be involved in the shifts in voltage dependence. Other amino group modifiers reduced the single-channel conductance, and these data more strongly support the notion that amino groups are involved in conduction as well. The results indicate that amino groups involved in the conductance decrease are separate from those related to voltage sensitivity.

Slow calcium and potassium currents in frog skeletal muscle: their relationship and pharmacologic properties.

Slow Ca and K currents across frog skeletal muscle membrane were recorded with the Vaseline gap voltage clamp in order to investigate block by divalent cations and various organic compounds. Cd2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Mn2+, Mg2+ all block Ca currents, as do barbiturates, D-600 and nifedipine. Local anesthetics also block Ca currents, with the impermeant quaternary lidocaine derivative, OX-314, being more than an order of magnitude less potent than its permeant parent compound. Surprisingly, all agents that blocked Ca currents also blocked the slow K currents. To explain this pharmacologic parallel, one could suggest that K current is activated by Ca2+ appearing in the myoplasm due to the combination of Ca current and release from internal stores. While possibly correct for intact fibres, this hypothesis appears not to apply in our case where the myoplasm contained the Ca chelator EGTA at high concentration. Instead, K currents seem to be activated by a decrease in external [Ca2+]. In the transverse tubules, Ca current is known to cause [Ca2+] to decline to submicromolar concentrations, and evidence is presented that K currents are activated by Ca depletion from a restricted extracellular space. It is suggested that K currents flow through Ca channels that have become capable of passing monovalent cations after the tubules have become depleted of Ca2+.

Slow calcium and potassium currents across frog muscle membrane: measurements with a vaseline-gap technique.

1. A vaseline-gap voltage-clamp technique was used to record slow Ca2+ and K+ currents from frog skeletal muscle fibres loaded with the Ca2+ chelator EGTA. 2. K+ currents were increased when Mg2+ replaced external Ca2+, and they were abolished when internal K+ was replaced by tetraethylammonium (TEA+). Ca2+ currents could be studied in isolation in fibres loaded with (TEA)2EGTA. 3. Under maintained depolarization, Ca2+ currents slowly increase (half-time of 35 msec or more at 25 mV) and then decline to a steady value. Decline under repolarization is rapid (half-time of 6-7 msec) and complete. During an action potential, the Ca2+ influx through this system is probably less than the influx observed with tracers. 4. Ba2+, Sr2+, Ca2+, Mn2+ and Mg2+ can carry current across the membrane; Ni2+ and Co2+ cannot. Ca2+ currents are weakly blocked by external Mg2+.

A non-selective cation conductance in frog muscle membrane blocked by micromolar external calcium ions.

Membrane currents were recorded from voltage-clamped, EGTA-loaded muscle fibres under conditions where currents through ordinary Na+, K+ and Cl- channels were prevented by drugs or by absence of permeant ions (K+, and Cl-). At 10 mM-external [Ca2+], substitution of Na+ for the large and presumably impermeant organic cations tetramethyl- (TMA+) or tetraethylammonium (TEA+) failed to increase peak inward current. Hence the Ca2+ channel was not significantly permeable to Na+ under these conditions. When external [Ca2+] was reduced to levels below 1 microM in the presence of external Na+, step depolarizations to negative potentials produced tetrodotoxin-resistant inward currents. At -20 mV, they rose to a peak of 30-200 microA/cm2 within 150 ms and declined thereafter. Ca2+ and several other divalent cations reversibly blocked this inward current. The sequence of blocking potencies was Ca2+ greater than Sr2+ greater than or equal to Co2+ greater than Mn2+ congruent to Cd2+ greater than Ni2+ congruent to Mg2+. Large inward currents may be carried by Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ and Cs+ but not by TMA+ and TEA+. The effect of external Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o) was explored over a 10(8)-fold range in concentrations. Na+ was present at a fixed concentration. When [Ca2+]o was gradually increased from 10(-10) to 10(-2) M, inward current first diminished 10-fold, reached a minimum at [Ca2+]o = 60 microM and then increased again as [Ca2+]o was increased further and Ca2+ itself became a current carrier. Block of inward current at [Ca2+]o less than 10(-5) M could be described by binding of a single Ca2+ to a site, with a dissociation constant of the order of 0.7 microM at -20 mV.

Local anesthetics. Effect of pH on use-dependent block of sodium channels in frog muscle.

Sodium currents were studied under voltage clamp in the presence of neutral, amine, and quaternary local anesthetic compounds. Use-dependent block was observed as a cumulative depression of INa seen with repetitive depolarizing test pulses applied at frequencies of 2-10s-1. With quaternary QX-314, the time constant of use dependence was long, and with neutral benzocaine, very short. With lidocaine and procaine, increasing external pH (pHo) changed the time constant from long to short, but alterations of internal pH have no effect. Inactivation in Na channels was measured by the influence of prepulses on peak INa during test pulses. Single-stimulus inactivation curves were shifted more with lidocaine at high pHo than at low pHo, but inactivation curves measured during pulse trains with any of the drugs and at any pHo were strongly shifted. All measurements show that the drug-receptor reaction was slow for amine drugs at low pHo, as for quaternary drugs at any pHo, and fast for amine drugs at high pHo, as for neutral drugs at any pHo. The major effect of low pHo on amine drugs was to reduce the concentration of drugs in the fiber and to protonate drug molecules on the receptor, thus trapping them in the blocking position for a longer time. Direct effects of pH on the receptor seemed minimal.

K-current fluctuations in inward-rectifying channels of frog skeletal muscle.

K currents and K-current fluctuations were recorded in inwardly rectifying K channels of frog skeletal muscle under voltage-clamp conditions. External application of 0.2 to 10 mM Cs reduces the inward mean K current but produces a distinct increase of the spectral density of K-current fluctuations. The additional fluctuations arise from the random blocking by Cs ions. From the variance of current fluctuations, the steady-state current and the probability of the open unblocked channel an effective single-channel conductance gamma* was calculated. Gamma* strongly depends on the external Cs concentration (7.8 pS at 0.2 mM Cs, 2.1 pS at 10 mM Cs). This dependence is interpreted in terms of a two-step blocking process: (1) a fast exchange of Cs ions between the external solution and a first binding site inside the channel which leads to the Cs-modulated effective single-channel conductance, and (2) a slow Cs binding to a second site deeper in the channel which produces the observed current fluctuations. With this hypothesis we obtained a real single-channel conductance of gamma approximately equal to 10 pS and a real density of n approximately equal to 4 inwardly rectifying channels per micrometer2 of muscle surface area.

Calcium depletion in frog muscle tubules: the decline of calcium current under maintained depolarization.

1. Ca2+ currents in frog skeletal muscle fibres were studied with a voltage-clamp technique. Under membrane depolarization maintained for several seconds, Ca2+ current was found to decline with time constants of 0.2-2 sec when [Ca2+]o = 10 mM. 2. Ca2+ currents are diminished by nifedipine, D-600, tetracaine and Ni2+. 3. When peak current is diminished by making the membrane potential positive, by block with drugs or by substituting the relatively less permeant Mn2+ for Ca2+ then the rate of decline is diminished also. When peak current is increased by recording at relatively negative membrane potentials or by substituting for Ca2+ the more permeant ions Ba2+ or Sr2+, then the rate of decline is increased in proportion. Evidently, the size of the current determines the rate of decline. 4. Decline of current is greatly slowed in isotonic Ca2+ saline or when the [Ca2+]o is buffered by the organic anion malate. These findings indicate that the decline of current arises from Ca2+ depletion in an extracellular compartment, most probably the transverse tubules. On this basis, an analysis of Ca2+ current decline and recovery leads to the following conclusions. 5. Ca2+ current flows almost entirely across the membranes of the transverse tubules. 6. After allowing for the tortuosity of the tubular network, the apparent diffusion coefficient for Ca2+ in the transverse tubules is about 2.6 X 10(-6) cm2/sec, three times less than the diffusion coefficient for K+ in the transverse tubules and about three times less than the diffusion coefficient for Ca2+ in free solution. 7. The transverse tubule lumen does not appear to have a large Ca2+-buffering capacity in the millimolar range. At [Ca2+]o = 10 mM, the tubule lumen binds less than 0.6 dissociable Ca2+ ions for every free ion.

A model of the L-type Ca2+ channel in rat ventricular myocytes: ion selectivity and inactivation mechanisms.

1. We have developed a mathematical model of the L-type Ca2+ current, which is based on data from whole-cell voltage clamp experiments on rat ventricular myocytes. Ion substitution methods were employed to investigate the ionic selectivity of the channel. Experiments were configured with Na+, Ca2+ or Ba2+ as the majority current carrier. 2. The amplitude of current through the channel is attenuated in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ or Ba2+. Our model accounts for channel selectivity by using a modified Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz (GHK) configuration that employs voltage-dependent channel binding functions for external divalent ions. Stronger binding functions were used for Ca2+ than for Ba2+. 3. Decay of the ionic current during maintained depolarization was characterized by means of voltage- and Ca2+-dependent inactivation pathways embedded in a five-state dynamic channel model. Particularly, Ca2+ first binds to calmodulin and the Ca2+-calmodulin complex is the mediator of Ca2+ inactivation. Ba2+-dependent inactivation was characterized using the ttau same scheme, but with a decreased binding to calmodulin. 4. A reduced amount of steady-state inactivation, as evidenced by a U-shaped curve at higher depolarization levels (>40 mV) in the presence of [Ca2+]o, was observed in double-pulse protocols used to study channel inactivation. To characterize this phenomenon, a mechanism was incorporated into the model whereby Ca2+ or Ba2+ also inhibits the voltage-dependent inactivation pathway. 5. The five-state dynamic channel model was also used to simulate single channel activity. Calculations of the open probability of the channel model are generally consistent with experimental data. A sixth state can be used to simulate modal activity by way of introducing long silent intervals. 6. Our model has been tested extensively using experimental data from a wide variety of voltage clamp protocols and bathing solution manipulations. It provides: (a) biophysically based explanations of putative mechanisms underlying Ca2+- and voltage-dependent channel inactivation, and (b) close fits to voltage clamp data. We conclude that the model can serve as a predictive tool in generating testable hypotheses for further investigation of this complex ion channel.

Spontaneous death of isolated adult rat cardiocytes in culture in association with internucleosomal cleavage of genomic DNA.

Many isolated adult cardiocytes do not survive beyond the early days of culture, but why they die has not been defined. We examined the possibility of apoptosis as the mechanism of death in cultured atrial and ventricular rat cardiocytes. Calcium-tolerant cardiocytes isolated by enzymatic dissociation were cultured with a medium containing FBS. Nucleosomal DNA fragmentation was detected by electrophoresis of DNA extracted from the cardiocytes, by immunohistochemical in situ DNA nick-end labelling of single cells, and by enzyme immunoassay for in vitro quantification in cytoplasmic fraction. Electrophoresis on the 5th to 14th day of culture revealed the ladder appearance characteristic of internucleosomal DNA cleavage in apoptosis with a consistent single peak of increased cytoplasmic DNA fragments. After the 14th day, the cytoplasmic DNA fragments decreased, and the ladder appearance could no longer be detected by electrophoresis. Cardiocytes positive with nick-end labelling were seen by the 5th day, and then increased in number over the remaining days. These results indicate that many isolated cardiocytes die spontaneously by apoptosis within the first 2 weeks of culture, suggesting a possible signal dependence for survival of adult cardiocytes. In addition to chemical signal depletion in culture, other possible explanations for this apoptosis include the absence of an electric signal during culture, lack of contractile activity, and initial loss of intercellular connections.

Control of cardiac Ca2+ levels. Inhibitory actions of sphingosine on Ca2+ transients and L-type Ca2+ channel conductance.

The naturally occurring second messenger sphingosine (SPH) was examined for its ability to influence cardiac myocyte Ca2+ regulation. SPH inhibited intracellular Ca2+ transients in adult and neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. The inhibition was steeply dose dependent, with complete blockage of the Ca2+ transients occurring in the 20- to 25-mumol/L range. Whole-cell patch clamping revealed substantial inhibition of the L-type Ca2+ channel current (ICa) by SPH. The ability of SPH to block both the Ca2+ transients and ICa was not dependent on protein kinases, since the general protein kinase inhibitor H7 failed to prevent the actions of SPH. The specificity of the effect of SPH was determined in experiments showing that SPH analogues did not produce comparable effects. Neither the naturally occurring ceramide, N-stearoyl SPH, nor the cell-permeant ceramide, N-acetyl SPH, had SPH-like actions on the Ca2+ transients or L-type channel conductances. Caffeine-induced Ca2+ transients were also inhibited by the actions of SPH on cardiac sarcoplamic reticulum Ca2+ release, and the threshold for caffeine-induced Ca2+ release was raised. We conclude that SPH inhibits excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac myocytes by reducing the amount of entering "trigger Ca2+" for Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release and by simultaneously raising the threshold of the ryanodine receptor for Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release. Consequently, we propose that sphingolipids produced by the sphingomyelin signal transduction pathway could be physiologically relevant regulators of cardiac [Ca2+]i and therefore cardiac contractility.

Sphingosylphosphocholine modulates the ryanodine receptor/calcium-release channel of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes.

Sphingosylphosphocholine (SPC) modulates Ca2+ release from isolated cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes; 50 microM SPC induces the release of 70 80% of the accumulated calcium. SPC release calcium from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum through the ryanodine receptor, since the release is inhibited by the ryanodine receptor channel antagonists ryanodine. Ruthenium Red and sphingosine. In intact cardiac myocytes, even in the absence of extracellular calcium. SPC causes a rise in diastolic Ca2+, which is greatly reduced when the sarcoplasmic reticulum is depleted of Ca2+ by prior thapsigargin treatment. SPC action on the ryanodine receptor is Ca(2+)-dependent. SPC shifts to the left the Ca(2+)-dependence of [3H]ryanodine binding, but only at high pCa values, suggesting that SPC might increase the sensitivity to calcium of the Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+)-release mechanism. At high calcium concentrations (pCa 4.0 or lower), where [3H]ryanodine binding is maximally stimulated, no effect of SPC is observed. We conclude that SPC releases calcium from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes by activating the ryanodine receptor and possibly another intracellular Ca(2+)-release channel, the sphingolipid Ca(2+)-release-mediating protein of endoplasmic reticulum (SCaMPER) [Mao, Kim, Almenoff, Rudner, Kearney and Kindman (1996) Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci. U.S.A 93, 1993-1996], which we have identified for the first time in cardiac tissue.

Expression and characterization of Edg-1 receptors in rat cardiomyocytes: calcium deregulation in response to sphingosine 1-phosphate.

Recent evidence indicates that sphingolipids are produced by the heart during hypoxic stress and by blood platelets during thrombus formation. It is therefore possible that sphingolipids may influence heart cell function by interacting with G-protein-coupled receptors of the Edg family. In the present study, it was found that sphingosine 1-phosphate (Sph1P), the prototypical ligand for Edg receptors, produced calcium overload in rat cardiomyocytes. The cDNA for Edg-1 was cloned from rat cardiomyocytes and, when transfected in an antisense orientation, effectively blocked Edg-1 protein expression and reduced the Sph1P-mediated calcium deregulation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that cardiomyocytes express an extracellular lipid-sensitive receptorsystem that can respond to sphingolipid mediators. Because the major source of Sph1P is from blood platelets, we speculate that Edg-mediated Sph1P negative inotropic and cardiotoxic effects may play important roles in acute myocardial ischemia where Sph1P levels are probably elevated in response to thrombus.