Abstract

A possibility that intracellular Na+ ions available to Na+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase influence the action of digoxigenin to cause sodium-pump inhibition and a positive inotropic effect was examined with isolated left atria of guinea-pig hearts. The positive inotropic action of digoxigenin developed more rapidly when atria were stimulated at 3 Hz than at 1.5 Hz. The rate of development of the positive inotropic action was dependent on the frequency of membrane depolarizations rather than on contractions. Monensin, a known Na+ ionophore, enhanced the rate of development of the positive inotropic action of digoxigenin. Sodium pump activity, as estimated from ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake, was inhibited by digoxigenin in a concentration-dependent manner in quiescent atria. The inhibition was enhanced by electrical stimulation which shifted the concentration-inhibition curves to the left. The sensitivity of the sodium pump for digoxigenin was also affected by membrane depolarizations, suggesting a role for intracellular Na+. These data indicate that similar to the cardiac glycosides, the interaction of the aglycone with Na+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase is essential for the development of the positive inotropic action of this agent.