Sodium TQF NMR and Intracellular Sodium in Isolated Crystalloid Perhsed Rat Heart

The feasibility of monitoring intracellular sodium changes us-ing Na triple quantum filtered NMR without a chemical shift reagent (SR) was investigated in an isolated rat heart during a variety of interventions for Nai loading. Perfusion with 1 mM ouabain or without K+ present in the perfusate for 30 min produced a rise of the Na TQF signal with a plateau of-190% and-228 % relative to the preintervention level, respectively. Stop-flow ischemia for 30 min resulted in a TQF signal growth of-147%. The maximal Na TQF signal increase of 460 % was achieved by perfusion without K+/Ca2+, corresponding to an elimination of the Na transmembrane gradient. The observed values of Na NMR TQF growth in the physiological and patho-logical ranges are in agreement with reported data by other methods and have a linear correlation with intracellular so-dium content as determined in this study by Co-EDTA method and by sucrose-histidine washout of the extracellular space. Our data indicate that the increase in Na TQF NMR signal is determined by the growth of Na,, and the extracellular Na contribution to the total TQF signal is unchanged at-64%. In conclusion, Na TQF NMR without using SR offers a unique and noninvasive opportunity to monitor alterations of intracellular sodium. It may provide valuable insights for developing car-dioprotective strategies and for observing the effects of phar-maceutical treatments on sodium homeostasis. Key words: intracellular sodium; triple quantum filter; calcium paradox; ischemia