Effects of trimetazidine on pHi regulation in the rat isolated ventricular myocyte

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Abstract
1. We have examined the effects of trimetazidine (TMZ) on intracellular pH (pHi) regulation in rat isolated ventricular myocytes. pHi was recorded ratiometrically by use of the pH-sensitive fluoroprobe, carboxy-SNARF-1 (carboxy-seminaphtorhodafluor). 2. Following an intracellular acid load (induced by 10 mM NH4Cl removal), pHi recovery in HEPES-buffered Tyrode solution was significantly slowed down upon application of 0.3 mM TMZ only when myocytes were pretreated for 5 h 30 min (slowing by approximately 50%; P < 0.01). This effect of TMZ on pHi recovery was shown to be not only time- but also dose-dependent with a large, quickly reversible, effect obtained with 1 mM TMZ applied for 2-3 h (slowing by approximately 64%; P < 0.001). This slowing of pHi recovery was also associated with a decrease of the NH4+ removal-induced acidification. 3. Relationship between intracellular intrinsic buffering power (beta i) and pHi was assessed in absence or presence of TMZ (0.3 mM or 1 mM). As expected, beta i increased roughly linearly with a decrease in pHi in all cases. However, both concentrations of TMZ significantly increased beta i (by approximately 55 and 65% at pHi 7.1, respectively). 4. When Na+/H+ exchange was inhibited by dimethyl amiloride (DMA; 40 microM), trimetazidine (1 mM) did not change the H+ flux estimated at pHi 7.1 (0.31 +/- 0.03 mequiv l-1 min-1, n = 5, control, versus 0.30 +/- 0.025 mequiv l-1 min-1, n = 5, TMZ), ruling out any effect of TMZ on background acid loading. 5. Acid efflux carried by Na+/H+ exchange was significantly decreased only when myocytes were pretreated with 1 mM TMZ, for 2-3 h (JeH = 2.86 +/- 0.38 mequiv l-1 min-1, n = 26, control, versus 1.66 +/- 0.26 mequiv l-1 min-1, n = 10, TMZ, estimated at pHi 7.1; P < 0.05). 6. In conclusion, the present work demonstrates that, following an intracellular acid load in HEPES-buffered medium, trimetazidine slows down pHi recovery in rat isolated ventricular myocytes, primarily through an increase of beta i. An effect on Na+/H+ exchange is also detected but only after long-term incubation of the myocytes with TMZ.