Measurement of intracellular ionized magnesium concentration in myocytes isolated from the septomarginal band of sheep hearts.

The preparation by collagenase dispersion is described of isolated, calcium-tolerant myocytes from the septomarginal (moderator) band dissected from the sheep heart. Cells obtained were small rods (85 x 9 microns), with pronounced striations characteristic of cardiac myocytes. Isolated cells were loaded with the fluorescent ion-sensitive probes Mag-fura-2 or fura-2, for use in microspectrofluorimetry experiments to measure cytosolic free magnesium ([Mg2+]i) and calcium ([Ca2+]i) respectively; cells remained usable for up to 8 h after isolation. Glycolysis and electron transport were inhibited by a short exposure (4 min) to deoxyglucose (15 mM) and cyanide (2 mM), added simultaneously. This appeared to produce a small, but not statistically significant (P = 0.056) rise in [Mg2+]i, presumably resulting from Mg2+ liberated following consumption of MgATP. Inhibition of the Na pump by strophanthidin (20 microM), followed by removal of external Na in the presence of strophanthidin, caused an increase in both [Mg2+]i and [Ca2+]i. The time course of changes in the two ions were dissimilar, so it seems unlikely that the observed rise in the [Mg2+]i was due solely to a direct effect of [Ca2+]i on Mag-fura-2 or due to the displacement of [Mg2+]i by Ca from binding sites. Evidence is presented that suggests sodium-magnesium exchange plays a role in the regulation of myocyte [Mg2+]i.