Rubidium as Substitute for Potassium in Rat Cardiac Tissue
Location
CSU Ballroom
Start Date
21-4-2014 10:00 AM
End Date
21-4-2014 11:30 AM
Student's Major
Biological Sciences
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
Victor Esenabhalu
Mentor's Email Address
victor.esenabhalu@mnsu.edu
Mentor's Department
Biological Sciences
Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Description
A normal cell contains a sodium/potassium ATPase pump that functions to maintain a high intracellular level of potassium (K+) inside the cell and high levels of sodium (Na+) outside the cell. Since rubidium (Rb+) shares similar chemical properties with potassium and has a similar atomic radius it can replace potassium in all known processes (Olga Jilkina et al). We used rat hearts as a model to determine and quantify how rubidium will take over as potassium in the sodium/potassium pump. First we used the Langendorff system to infuse the aorta of the rat heart with a buffer solution containing Rubidium Chloride (RbCl) so that it circulates through the coronary arteries. The Langendorff apparatus provides a means to control pH, temperature and pressure of the solutions perfusing the heart. A sequel to this procedure is the addition of ouabain to the buffer solution, which will inhibit the sodium/potassium pump. Following each procedure, the heart was freeze dried so that diffusion did not occur, thereby causing a change in the experiment. Using the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Rubidium will be measured in the cardiac tissue to determine the amount of Rubidium absorbed into the cells. Rubidium will be measured using the Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy system (EDS) associated with the SEM (JEOL JSM-6510LV). The heart is expected to beat for about one hour during which all necessary procedures regarding the use of the heart will take place. Rubidium is also expected to be taken up by the cells of the heart in positive slope with respect to time while the hearts continues to beat. When ouabain is introduced, the sodium/potassium pump activity will slow down. With ouabain, the level of rubidium uptake is expected to decrease while sodium is expected to accumulate inside the cell, causing the heart to stop beating.
Rubidium as Substitute for Potassium in Rat Cardiac Tissue
CSU Ballroom
A normal cell contains a sodium/potassium ATPase pump that functions to maintain a high intracellular level of potassium (K+) inside the cell and high levels of sodium (Na+) outside the cell. Since rubidium (Rb+) shares similar chemical properties with potassium and has a similar atomic radius it can replace potassium in all known processes (Olga Jilkina et al). We used rat hearts as a model to determine and quantify how rubidium will take over as potassium in the sodium/potassium pump. First we used the Langendorff system to infuse the aorta of the rat heart with a buffer solution containing Rubidium Chloride (RbCl) so that it circulates through the coronary arteries. The Langendorff apparatus provides a means to control pH, temperature and pressure of the solutions perfusing the heart. A sequel to this procedure is the addition of ouabain to the buffer solution, which will inhibit the sodium/potassium pump. Following each procedure, the heart was freeze dried so that diffusion did not occur, thereby causing a change in the experiment. Using the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Rubidium will be measured in the cardiac tissue to determine the amount of Rubidium absorbed into the cells. Rubidium will be measured using the Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy system (EDS) associated with the SEM (JEOL JSM-6510LV). The heart is expected to beat for about one hour during which all necessary procedures regarding the use of the heart will take place. Rubidium is also expected to be taken up by the cells of the heart in positive slope with respect to time while the hearts continues to beat. When ouabain is introduced, the sodium/potassium pump activity will slow down. With ouabain, the level of rubidium uptake is expected to decrease while sodium is expected to accumulate inside the cell, causing the heart to stop beating.
Recommended Citation
Asaolu, Bisola and Mai Vue. "Rubidium as Substitute for Potassium in Rat Cardiac Tissue." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 21, 2014.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2014/poster_session_A/1
