Role of the Na+-H+ exchanger (NHE1) in heart muscle function during transient acidosis. A study in papillary muscles from rat and guinea pig hearts

The sodium-hydrogen exchanger (NHE) helps the cell to recover from intracellular acidosis. In this study, we have investigated the effect of HOE 642 (a specific NHE1 blocker) on papillary muscles from rats and guinea pigs during transient acidosis and PKC activation by recording developed force (DF), action potential characteristics, and electrical conductance (stimulus-response interval). Two protocols were used, with or without HOE 642 (10(-5) mol/L): papillary muscle was exposed (i) for 15 min to a glucose-free, nonoxygenated HEPES buffer containing lactate (20 mmol/L) (pH 6.8) followed by 15 min recovery or (ii) to a PKC activator (phorbolmyristate acetate (PMA) (10(-9) mol/L)) for 30 min. The DF after acidification remained significantly decreased in the NHE-blocked papillary muscles. During recovery from acidosis, papillary muscles exposed to HOE 642 remained at a higher electrical resistance. The present study shows that post-acidotic continued depression of DF and change in tissue electrophysiological properties might occur as a result of blocking the NHE. During infarct development, the tissue-protecting effect of NHE blockade has been well documented. When acidosis or reduced contractile function is present, however, blocking NHE by HOE 642 might not improve the situation.