Characteristics of a transient outward current (sensitive to 4-aminopyridine) in Ca2+-tolerant myocytes isolated from the rabbit atrioventricular node

A transient outward current (Ito) has been observed in the atrioventricular node (AVN), but its characteristics in Ca-tolerant AVN myocytes have not been investigated previously. In this study, Ito was measured from Ca-tolerant rabbit AVN myocytes at 37 degrees C, using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. With interfering currents inhibited, 500-ms voltage-clamp pulses applied from -80 mV elicited Ito at potentials positive to -30 mV, which increased in magnitude with test potential amplitude. This current was completely blocked by external application of 5 mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). During a command pulse, Ito activated rapidly then inactivated with a bi-exponential time-course. Fast and slow time constants of current inactivation (tauf and taus, respectively) showed voltage dependence. At 0 mV, tauf was 14.5+/-2.7 ms and taus was 112.8+/-21. 2 ms, whilst at +60 mV tauf was 6.7+/-1.1 ms and taus was 63.7+/-9.2 ms (n=25). The steady-state inactivation relationship showed half-maximal inactivation at -33.8 mV (n=8). Re-activation of Ito after an inactivating pre-pulse showed a bi-exponential time-course of recovery: tau1 was 196+/-70 ms, and tau2 was 2707+/-1010 ms (n=6, at -80 mV). Repetitive application of voltage-clamp test pulses showed that Ito inactivation accumulated on repetitive stimulation, but reached a steady state rapidly for a given pulse frequency (0. 2-1.0 Hz). AVN Ito was sensitive to the class 1 anti-arrhythmic flecainide (EC50 for peak current of 24 microM), which showed selectivity for the rapidly inactivating current component. Quinidine also inhibited Ito in a dose-dependent fashion, but did not affect the current time-course. Under voltage-clamp conditions, a simulated diastolic depolarisation from -70 to -45 mV did not significantly reduce Ito amplitude, and under current-clamp conditions 4-AP inhibited spontaneous action potentials. Although this is consistent with a significant role for Ito in shaping AVN activity, under the conditions of this study 4-AP also partially blocked the "rapid" delayed rectifier current, IKr, and so the effects of 4-AP on action potentials could not be attributed exclusively to its effects on Ito.