Rubidium Uptake in Rat Heart Tissue
Location
CSU 253/4/5
Start Date
4-4-2011 11:00 AM
End Date
4-4-2011 12:30 PM
Student's Major
Biological Sciences
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
Michael Bentley
Mentor's Department
Biological Sciences
Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Description
Rubidium is a congener for potassium and although it has a higher atomic mass, cells handle it in the same way as potassium. The purpose of this research is to determine the incorporation of rubidium chloride (RbCl) in excised rat hearts. To excise the hearts, the rats were anesthetized with Inactin (0.2 mL/100g). The aortas of the hearts were cannulated and infused for one hour using a Krebs Henseleit (KH) solution that mimics the pH and oncotic pressure of blood. A Langendorf infusion system was used to maintain constant physiological conditions such as oxygen, pressure, and temperature. Control hearts were infused with the KH solution containing normal amounts of KCl (4 mEq) and experimental hearts were infused with the KH solution containing 4 mEq RbCl instead of KCl. The hearts were frozen in liquid nitrogen, freeze-dried and examined using a scanning electron microscope. Rubidium incorporation into the heart muscle cells was determined by energy dispersive spectroscopy. The results indicate that rubidium is taken up by the heart tissue and replaces potassium in the cell. This technology will provide a means to study potassium incorporation in cardiac muscle during experimental disease conditions.
Rubidium Uptake in Rat Heart Tissue
CSU 253/4/5
Rubidium is a congener for potassium and although it has a higher atomic mass, cells handle it in the same way as potassium. The purpose of this research is to determine the incorporation of rubidium chloride (RbCl) in excised rat hearts. To excise the hearts, the rats were anesthetized with Inactin (0.2 mL/100g). The aortas of the hearts were cannulated and infused for one hour using a Krebs Henseleit (KH) solution that mimics the pH and oncotic pressure of blood. A Langendorf infusion system was used to maintain constant physiological conditions such as oxygen, pressure, and temperature. Control hearts were infused with the KH solution containing normal amounts of KCl (4 mEq) and experimental hearts were infused with the KH solution containing 4 mEq RbCl instead of KCl. The hearts were frozen in liquid nitrogen, freeze-dried and examined using a scanning electron microscope. Rubidium incorporation into the heart muscle cells was determined by energy dispersive spectroscopy. The results indicate that rubidium is taken up by the heart tissue and replaces potassium in the cell. This technology will provide a means to study potassium incorporation in cardiac muscle during experimental disease conditions.
Recommended Citation
DeBaere, Stacy; Emma Grossi; and Hayley Olson. "Rubidium Uptake in Rat Heart Tissue." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 4, 2011.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2011/poster-session-B/1
