Regulation of active cation flux by vanadate in beating rat heart muscle cells in culture.

Looking for a supposed digitalis-like action of compounds of the trace element vanadium, we have investigated the influence of vanadate (Na3VO4) on beating and on active cation flux of [42K+] and [89Rb+] in cultured rat heart muscle cells: Na3VO4(10(-6)-10(-3)M) exerts a positive chronotropic effect and increases contraction velocity and beating automaticity of the cells. Vanadate-induced alteration of beating is paralleled by stimulated uptake of [42K+] and [86Rb+] up to 75%. This stimulation has to be attributed to increased activity of (Na++)-ATPase and cannot solely be explained by the enhanced beating frequency. In contrast to ouabain, vanadate raises intracellular potassium content up to 15% and prevents cell contractures of ouabain-intoxicated heart muscle cells. The experimental data speak against a possible digitalis-like action of vanadate in cultured rat heart muscle cells.