A Na+-Ca2+ exchange process in isolated sarcolemmal membranes of mesenteric arteries from WKY and SHR rats.

The existence of a Na+-Ca2+ exchange process in cell membrane vesicles isolated from mesenteric arteries of Wistar-Kyoto normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats was investigated. Membranes from cleaned mesenteric arteries were isolated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, which yielded three distinct membrane fractions. The lighter membrane fraction of both WKY and SHR rats was enriched in 5'-nucleotidase activity, a marker for cell membrane, by about 10-fold, based on the activity in the homogenate, and was higher in membranes of SHR compared with WKY rats. Ouabain-sensitive Na+-K+-ATPase activity, another marker for cell membrane, was also concentrated in the lighter membrane fraction and was lower in the membranes of SHR compared with WKY rats. Higher activities of 5'-nucleotidase and Na+-K+-ATPase of both WKY and SHR rats was taken as evidence that the lighter membrane fraction was enriched in plasma membrane. Electron microscopic examination indicated that the membranes were in vesicular form. When the vesicles were loaded with Na+, a time-dependent uptake of Ca2+ was observed if the assay was carried out in high potassium to create a Na+ concentration gradient across the membrane of the vesicles. Very little Ca2+ uptake was observed when the vesicles were loaded with K+ or when the uptake of Ca2+ was carried out under conditions in which the Na+ gradient across the vesicle membranes was reduced. Ca2+ uptake in Na+-loaded vesicles of SHR rats was only slightly increased compared with WKY rats. The data indicate that a Na+-Ca2+ exchange process exists in the cell membrane of rat mesenteric arteries.