老龄大鼠心房肌细胞起搏电流的特征

目的: 研究老龄大鼠心房肌细胞起搏电流(I_f)的特征,探讨其可能参与心房颤动的机制。方法: 选择22-24月龄SD大鼠分离心房肌细胞,利用全细胞膜片钳技术记录I_f。结果: 约85%的老龄大鼠心房肌细胞可以记录到的超极化激活I_f,在-150 mV时,I_f的电流幅值约为(382±23)pA,电流密度约为(3.2±0.4)pA/pF。而青年大鼠只有40％的心房肌细胞记录到I_f的电流幅值约为(86.9±8.4)pA,电流密度约为(0.9±0.1)pA/pF。从I-V曲线可见,老龄大鼠随着超极化电位的增加,电流增加幅度明显加快。在-150 mV时,其激活时间常数(τ)为(230.2±14.4)ms,而青年对照组心房肌细胞的τ则为(670.5±23.6)ms。此外,老龄大鼠心房肌细胞电流的半激活电压为(-87.2±2.3)mV,明显向更正的电位方向移动,而青年鼠细胞的半激活电压为(-104.4±6.3)mV,这使得老龄鼠的起搏电流更易激活。相反,二者的翻转电位和激活曲线斜率差异不大。结论: 老龄大鼠心房肌细胞起搏电流的密度和激活均高于青年鼠。

Characteristics of pacemaker current in aged rat atrial myocytes

AIM: To investigate the characteristics of pacemker current (I_f) of atrium myocytes in aged rats. METHODS: Aged SD rats (22-24 months) were used in the study. The single atrium myocytes were isolated. I_f current was recorded by the technique of whole-cell patch clamp. RESULTS: The densities of I_f increased markedly in aged rat atrium myocytes compared with that in the cells of young rats. At the test potential of-150 mV, the average amplitude of I_f was (382±23)pA and the current density was (3.2±0.4)pA/pF, while the average amplitude of I_f in control group was (86.9±8.4)pA and the current density was (0.9±0.1)pA/pF,P<0.01. I_f current was augmented at negative hyperpolarzing test potential. Time constants of activation in aged and control cells were (230.2±14.4)ms and (670.5±23.6)ms, respectively. Furthermore, steady state curves in the elder cells was shifted to positive potentials and the voltages for half maximal activation were (-87.2±2.3)mV (aged cells) and (-104.4±6.3)mV (control cells). In contrast, the slope of activation curves and reversed potential of I_f were slightly different between aged cells and control cells. CONCLUSION: The amplitude and densities of I_f in atrium cells of aged rats were larger than that of control rats.