Aim: To determine the effects of cyclovirobuxine D (CD) on intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and L-type Ca2+ current (I(Ca-L)) in isolated rat cardiomyocytes.
Methods: The effects of CD on the amplitude of I(Ca-L) and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization induced by KCl and caffeine were studied with the method of patch-clamp technique and laser scanning confocal microscopy in rat ventricular myocytes.
Results: CD decreased the amplitude of I(Ca-L) in a concentration-dependent manner. At 10 mV, 1 and 10 micromol x L(-1) CD decreased I(Ca-L) density from (- 9.9 +/- 1.8) pA/pF to (-6.4 +/- 1.4) and (-4.2 +/- 0.6) pA/pF, respectively. Confocal experiments showed that intracellular fluorescent intensity (FI) value of [Ca2+] in control resting level was not changed by 1 and 10 micromol x L(-1) CD. [Ca2+] increase in response to KCl could not be reduced by CD. The rise of [Ca2+]i in response to caffeine was further enhanced by pretreatment with CD.
Conclusion: CD decreased I(Ca,L) in a concentration-dependent manner and increased [Ca2+]i release induced by caffeine in rat ventricular cardiomyocytes.