Short-term hibernation in adult cardiomyocytes is Po₂dependent and Ca²⁺mediated

The mechanism of myocardial hibernation, the reversible downregulation of contractile activity on reduction of coronary flow with unchanged cardiac energetics, is presently not understood. The oxygen consumption (VO(2)), shortening fraction (DeltaL), energy status [phosphocreatine (PCr), ATP, and adenosine and lactate release], and free intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) were measured in isolated rat cardiomyocytes at precisely controlled ambient PO(2) (Oxystat). When PO(2) was reduced from 25 to 6 mmHg, VO(2) decreased by 50%, while DeltaL was downregulated from 11.2 +/- 4.1 to 7.6 +/- 4.0%, and energy status was unchanged in the steady state (observation time 12 min). Only transiently PCr decreased, and lactate and adenosine release increased. Further reduction of PO(2) (to 3 mmHg) reduced VO(2) by 80%, decreased PCr by 35%, moderately increased adenosine and lactate release, and progressively reduced DeltaL by 50% (to 5.6 +/- 3.3%). All parameters fully recovered during reoxygenation. PO(2)-dependent downregulation of DeltaL was accompanied by a progressive reduction in systolic [Ca(2+)](i) (from 512 +/- 110 to 357 +/- 91 nmol/l at 6 mmHg and to 251 +/- 69 nmol/l at 3 mmHg), whereas diastolic free [Ca(2+)](i) remained unchanged. Therefore, the mechanism of the reversible, PO(2)-dependent downregulation of contractile activity (myocardial hibernation) involves a substantial reduction of systolic calcium.