Role of the Na+ /K+ /Cl− transporter in the positive inotropic effect of ouabain in cardiac myocytes

In this study we have characterized the bumetanide‐sensitive K+ /Na + /Cl− cotransport in cultured rat cardiac myocytes. (1) It carries about 10% of the total K+ influx. (2) It is sensitive to furosemide (Ki_0.5 = 10⁻⁶M) and bumetanide (Ki_0.5 = 10⁻⁷M) (3) It is strongly dependent on the extracellular concentrations of Na+ and Cl− (4) It carries out influx of both ions, K+ and Na+. A therapeutic concentration of ouabain (10⁻⁷M) stimulated the bumetanide‐sensitive K+ influx (as measured by ⁸⁶Rb +), in the cultured myocytes, with no effect on the bumetanide‐resistant K+ influx, which was mediated mostly by the Na + /K + pump. Stimulation of the bumetanide‐sensitive Rb+ influx by a low ouabain concentration was strongly dependent on Na+ and Cl− in the extracellular medium. A low concentration of ouabain (10⁻⁷M) was found to increase the steady‐state level of cytosolic Na + by 15%. This increase was abolished by the addition of bumetanide or furosemide. These findings suggest that ouabain, at a low (10⁻⁷M) concentration, induced its positive inotropic effect in rat cardiac myocytes by increasing Na+ influx into the cells through the bumetanide‐sensitive Na+ / K+ /Cl− cotransporter. In order to examine this hypothesis, we measured the effect of bumetanide on the increased amplitude of systolic cell motion induced by ouabain. Bumetanide or furosemide, added to cultured cardiac myocytes, inhibited the increased amplitude of systolic cell motion induced by ouabain. Neither bumetanide nor furosemide alone has any significant effect on the basal amp itude of systolic cell motion. We propose that stimulation of bumetanidesensitive Na+ influx plays an essential role in the positive inotropic effect in rat cardiac myocytes induced by low concentrations of ouabain.