雷米普利对舒张眭心力衰竭大鼠心房肌L型钙通道的影响．

目的观察雷米普利对舒张性心力衰竭（DHF）大鼠模型心房肌细胞L型钙通道的影响。方法腹主动脉缩窄术建立DHF大鼠模型,随机分为DHF组及雷米普利大、中、小剂量组,另设对照组。全细胞膜片钳检测心房肌细胞L型钙通道电流（ICa—L）;RT—PCR检测L型钙通道上Cav1.2mRNA的表达;Western blot检测钙调控相关蛋白LTCC的表达。结果与对照组比较,DHF组大鼠心房肌细胞ICa—L电流密度峰值、Cav1.2mRNA表达及钙调蛋白LTCC的表达明显降低（P〈0．05）;与DHF组比较,雷米普利组心房肌细胞ICa—L电流密度峰值明显增加、Cav1-2mRNA及钙调控蛋白LTCC的表达增加（P〈0．05）,且剂量越大增加越明显。结论雷米普利能上调舒张性心力衰竭大鼠心房肌ICa—L电流密度峰值,增加Cav1.2mRNA及钙调控蛋白LTCC的表达,对DHF大鼠有治疗作用．其机制与调控心房肌细胞L型钙通道的功能有关。     

1型糖尿病小鼠心房肌细胞电重塑及AGE对其的影响

目的探讨1型糖尿病小鼠及AGE参与心房肌细胞电重塑机制研究。方法STZ腹腔注射小鼠,诱导1型糖尿病模型;全细胞膜片钳技术检测糖尿病小鼠心房肌细胞动作电位时程、I Ca,L、I to及I kur电流变化;Western blot检测心房肌组织AGE、RAGE及通道蛋白表达水平;AGE/RAGE处理HL-1细胞,检测离子通道蛋白的表达。结果与对照组相比,糖尿病小鼠随机血糖水平明显上升,心房肌细胞动作电位时程明显延长,I Ca,L、I to、I kur电流密度及通道蛋白Cav1.2、Kv4.3、Kv1.5表达均明显降低,AGE、RAGE蛋白水平增加;AGE诱导HL-1细胞离子通道蛋白明显下调,Anti-RAGE预处理可逆转其作用。结论1型糖尿病心房肌细胞动作电位明显延长,I Ca,L、I to、I kur电流及其通道蛋白表达降低;AGE参与HL-1心房肌细胞电重塑。     

银杏叶提取物对豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位及L型钙离子通道的影响

目的 :观察银杏叶提取物 (EGB)对豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位和L 型钙通道的影响。方法 :采用全细胞膜片钳技术的电流钳记录动作电位和电压钳记录L 型钙离子通道电流 (ICa L)。结果 :银杏叶提取物 (原液含银杏黄酮甙 0 .80 4g·L-1,银杏内酯0 .0 6g·L-1)明显缩短心室肌细胞动作电位时程(APD) ,1 80 0稀释液致APD90 缩短 13% (P <0 .0 5 ) ,1 2 0 0稀释液致APD90 缩短 2 3% (P <0 .0 5 ) ;银杏叶提取物对心肌细胞L 型钙离子通道的开放有抑制作用 ,在 1 80 0时ICa L 峰值降低 15 % (P <0 .0 5 ) ,1 2 0 0时ICa L峰值降低 4 2 % (P <0 .0 5 ) ,均呈浓度依赖性 ,随着药物浓度的增加 ,I V关系曲线逐渐上移 ,但出现电流峰值的电压不变。结论 :银杏叶提取物能明显缩短APD ,抑制心肌细胞钙离子通道的开放 ,具有明显的浓度依赖关系 ,可能是其抗心律失常的分子基础。     

机械敏感离子通道Piezo1通过激活β-catenin诱导心房成纤维细胞衰老北大核心CSCD

目的 衰老心房成纤维细胞中新型机械敏感离子通道Piezo1的基因表达明显升高,观察其是否通过激活β-catenin参与心房成纤维细胞的衰老进程。方法 通过酶消化法分离培养3~4周龄雄性C57BL/6小鼠原代心房成纤维细胞,给予叔丁基过氧化氢(TBHP)刺激建立衰老模型,检测衰老相关β-半乳糖苷酶(SA-β-Gal)活性。Western blot检测TBHP(100μmol·L^(-1))处理的细胞中Piezo1、β-catenin/p-β-catenin及衰老相关蛋白p53和p21的表达水平。衰老的小鼠心房成纤维细胞(MAFs)分别给予Piezo1通道抑制剂GsMTx4(3、10μmol·L^(-1))或Piezo1 siRNA,以及β-catenin抑制剂XAV939(3、10μmol·L^(-1));年轻的MAFs给予Piezo1特异性激动剂Yoda1(1、10μmol·L^(-1)),观察对细胞中β-catenin和衰老相关蛋白表达和活性的影响。结果 TBHP处理后,MAFs的SA-β-Gal染色阳性率明显增加,提示细胞发生衰老;且细胞中Piezo1、β-catenin/p-β-catenin和p53/p21的蛋白表达明显增加(P<0.05)。分别抑制Piezo1(GsMTx4/Piezo1 siRNA)或β-catenin(XAV939),可明显降低TBHP诱导的MAFs衰老率,以及减少β-catenin/p-β-catenin,p53/p21等蛋白表达和活性的增加(P<0.05)。而Yoda1可促进年轻细胞衰老,且β-catenin活性和衰老相关蛋白表达升高(P<0.05)。结论 机械敏感离子通道Piezo1通过激活β-catenin诱导心房成纤维细胞衰老的病理过程。     

银杏苦内酯B对豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位及L-型钙通道的影响

目的　研究银杏苦内酯B(BN 5 2 0 2 1)对豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位 (AP)和L 型钙通道的影响。方法　全细胞膜片箝技术。AP记录采用电流箝方式 ,电流记录采用电压箝方式。结果　BN 5 2 0 2 1明显缩短动作电位时程 (APD) ,在10 -6mol·L-1浓度 ,APD90 缩短 9% (P <0 0 5 )。在 10 -5mol·L-1浓度 ,APD90 缩短 12 % (P <0 0 1)。 10 -6mol·L-1以上浓度BN 5 2 0 2 1还明显缩短APD50 ,最大缩短达 14% (P <0 0 5 )。较高浓度 (10 -5mol·L-1)的BN 5 2 0 2 1可使静息电位增加 (P <0 0 5 )。BN 5 2 0 2 1浓度依赖性减少L 型钙电流(L ICa)。 10 -6mol·L-1浓度下 ,峰值L ICa降低 2 4 7% (P<0 0 1) ,10 -5mol·L-1浓度下 ,峰值L ICa降低 36 9% (P <0 0 1)。随着药物浓度的增加 ,I U关系曲线逐渐上移 ,但其峰值电压保持不变。结论　BN 5 2 0 2 1明显缩短APD ,抑制L ICa,且具有明显的浓度依赖关系。     

葛根素对于快速心房颤动家兔模型心房颤动的治疗作用

目的 探讨葛根素对家兔快速心房颤动(AF)模型的干预效果.方法 24只白兔随机均分为快速心房起搏AF(A)组、快速心房起搏AF±葛根素40 mg/kg治疗(B)组和正常对照组(C)组.A组与B组连续刺激7d,AF稳定后开胸取左心房组织,检测房颤前后心房肌L-型钙通道α1、β1亚单位和人类电压门控性钾通道Kv4.3 mRNA的表达,用透射电子显微镜观察各组心房肌超微结构改变.结果 与C组比较,A、B组心房肌细胞L型钙通道α1、β1亚单位和钾通道Kv4.3 mRNA的表达水平均下调(P＜0.01).A组心房肌细胞肌纤维溶解,线粒体明显肿胀、变形,出现空泡,嵴排列紊乱、融合或消失;B组上述改变较A组减轻.结论 葛根素可以改善快速AF所致的心房电重构,对AF有一定的治疗效果.     

腺苷对模拟缺血再灌注豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位的影响及其离子机制

目的　研究腺苷 (Ado)在模拟缺血缺氧时对豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位 (AP)、L 型钙电流 (ICa.L)和ATP敏感性钾电流 (IK .ATP)的影响。方法　在离体豚鼠心室肌和酶解法分离的单个豚鼠心室肌细胞上 ,分别应用细胞内微电极和全细胞膜片钳技术记录动作电位和电流。结果　在模拟缺血缺氧状态下 ,Ado剂量依赖性的增大动作电位时程 (APD)的缩短 (P <0 0 5 ) ;抑制再灌注后APD恢复 ,而表现出迟后恢复。在缺血缺氧状态下 ,ICa.L受到抑制 ,Ado并不加重心肌细胞缺血缺氧时ICa.L的减小 ,而再灌注后ICa .L的恢复比较缓慢 ,但同对照组比较无差异。Ado可加速缺血缺氧时IK .ATP的激活 ,Ado(10 0 μmol·L-1)组在缺血缺氧时和再灌注后IK .ATP较对照组均明显增大。结论　在缺血缺氧状态下 ,Ado可增大APD的缩短 ,抑制再灌注后APD的恢复 ,其机制主要在于在缺血缺氧状态下Ado增大了IK .ATP。     

左旋体盐酸非洛普的抗实验性心律失常作用

目的　研究左旋体盐酸非洛普 [levo 1 (2 ,6 二甲基苯氧基 ) 2 (3 ,4 二甲氧基苯乙氨基 )丙烷盐酸盐 ,l DDPH对实验性心律失常的抑制作用。方法　iv哇巴因、乌头碱或氯化钙制造大鼠、豚鼠室性心律失常模型 ;标准微电极技术记录动作电位 ;全细胞膜片钳技术记录L型钙电流 (ICa,L)。结果　l DDPH 5 0mg·kg-1抑制哇巴因诱发的豚鼠室性心律失常以及乌头碱和氯化钙诱发的大鼠室性心律失常 ;l DDPH 3 0 μmol·L-1缩短豚鼠右心室乳头肌细胞 5 0 %动作电位时程 (APD50 )并延长有效不应期 (ERP) (n =6,P <0 0 5 ) ;l DDPH抑制单个豚鼠心室肌细胞ICa,L,其IC50 值为 12 9(95 %可信限 :7 0～ 18 8) μmol·L-1(n =5 )。结论　l DDPH具有抗实验性心律失常作用 ;其机制与抑制ICa,L、缩短APD50 并延长ERP有关     

AT1R-Crim1信号通路在乳鼠肥大心室肌细胞Kir2.1 mRNA和蛋白表达调控中的作用

目的 探讨血管紧张素Ⅱ受体1型(AT1R)—半胱氨酸丰富跨膜成骨蛋白调控因子(Crim1)信号通路在乳鼠肥大心室肌细胞编码内向整流钾电流离子通道的Kir2.1 mRNA和蛋白表达调控中的作用.方法 分离1 d龄SD大鼠乳鼠心室获心室肌细胞,给予腺病毒空载体(Ad-Null)、Crim1基因重组腺病毒载体(Ad-Crim...     

lncRNA Gm44981抑制心脏衰老的作用和机制研究

目的 分析小鼠心脏衰老过程中长链非编码(lnc)RNA Gm44981的表达水平,探索其抑制心脏衰老的机制。方法 选取3月龄年轻和24月龄年老小鼠各5只,提取心肌组织RNA后,采用实时定量聚合酶链式反应(qRT-PCR)检测Gm44981的表达水平。另选取4月龄快速老化小鼠10只,分为对照组和Gm44981过表达组(构建Gm44981过表达快速老化小鼠模型),各5只。采用qRT-PCR检测对照组和Gm44981过表达组小鼠Gm44981和衰老相关分泌表型(SASP)表达水平,β-半乳糖苷酶(SA-β-gal)染色检测SA-β-gal活性,蛋白质免疫印迹试验检测p53和Sirt1衰老相关蛋白表达水平。采用qRT-PCR检测miRNA-34a表达水平。结果 Gm44981在年老小鼠的心肌组织中表达水平较年轻小鼠低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。与对照组比较,Gm44981过表达组小鼠Gm44981表达上调,白细胞介素(IL)-1α和IL-6等SASP和SA-β-gal表达下调,p53表达下调,Sirt1表达上调,miRNA-34a表达下调,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)...     

Elevated cAMP suppresses muscarinic inhibition of L-type calcium current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

We investigated the effect of carbachol (CCh) on L-type Ca2+ current (ICa(L)) enhanced by dialyzed adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and/or bath-applied 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) in guinea pig isolated ventricular myocytes. At pipette concentrations ([cAMP]pip) from 30 microM to 1 mM, cAMP increased ICa(L) to 25.8 +/- 0.9 microA/cm2 (682 +/- 24.8% increase above control). CCh (100 microM) did not inhibit ICa(L) at any [cAMP]pip. IBMX, a nonselective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor, increased ICa(L) maximally at 300 microM IBMX (17.9 +/- 0.7 microA/cm2; 449 +/- 20% increase). CCh (100 microM) inhibited ICa(L) by 92 +/- 9.5% at 30 microM IBMX and 78 +/- 4.6% at 100 microM IBMX; this effect was reduced or absent at higher IBMX concentrations (300 and 1,000 microM). Coadministration of cAMP and IBMX also progressively suppressed inhibition by CCh. CCh had a negligible effect on ICa(L) at 750 microM IBMX in the absence of pipette cAMP and at 50 microM IBMX in the presence of 100 microM [cAMP]pip. ACh-activated K+ current (IK(ACh)) was unchanged in atrial myocytes dialyzed with 100 microM cAMP; this excludes a phosphorylation-dependent desensitization of the muscarinic receptor (mAChR) or Gi by cAMP. LY83583 (100 microM), an inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production, attenuated inhibition of ICa(L) by CCh in the presence of IBMX. 8-Bromo-cGMP (8-Br-cGMP), an activator of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), mimicked CCh in its actions on ICa(L) raised by both cAMP (no significant change) and IBMX (49 +/- 5.1% inhibition). Okadaic acid, an inhibitor of type 1 and 2A phosphatases, blocked inhibition of IBMX-stimulated ICa(L) by either CCh or 8-Br-cGMP. Thus the ability of CCh to inhibit ICa(L) appears caused by cGMP/PKG activation of an okadaic acid-sensitive protein phosphatase, and elevated levels of cAMP protect against this action.     

In vitro and in vivo effects of the atrial selective antiarrhythmic compound AVE1231

The novel compound AVE1231 was investigated in order to elucidate its potential against atrial fibrillation. In CHO cells, the current generated by hKv1.5 or hKv4.3 + KChIP2.2b channels was blocked with IC50 values of 3.6 microM and 5.9 microM, respectively. In pig left atrial myocytes, a voltage-dependent outward current was blocked with an IC50 of 1.1 microM, mainly by accelerating the time constant of decay. Carbachol-activated IKACh was blocked by AVE1231 with an IC50 of 8.4 microM. Other ionic currents, like the IKr, IKs, IKATP, ICa, and INa were only mildly affected by 10 microM AVE1231. In guinea pig papillary muscle the APD90 and the upstroke velocity were not significantly altered by 30 microM AVE1231. In anesthetized pigs, oral doses of 0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg AVE1231 caused a dose-dependent increase in left atrial refractoriness (LAERP), associated by inhibition of left atrial vulnerability to arrhythmia. There were no effects on the ECG intervals, ventricular monophasic action potentials, or ventricular refractory periods at 3 mg/kg AVE1231 applied intravenously. In conscious goats, both AVE1231 (3 mg/kg/h iv) and dofetilide (10 microg/kg/h iv) significantly prolonged LAERP. After 72 hours of tachypacing, when LAERP was shortened significantly (electrical remodelling), the prolongation of LAERP induced by AVE1231 was even more pronounced than in sinus rhythm. In contrast, the effect of dofetilide was strongly decreased. The present data demonstrate that AVE1231 blocks early atrial K channels and prolongs atrial refractoriness with no effects on ECG intervals and ventricular repolarisation, suggesting that it is suited for the prevention of atrial fibrillation in patients.     

Virtual tissue engineering of the human atrium: modelling pharmacological actions on atrial arrhythmogenesis

Computational models of human atrial cells, tissues and atria have been developed. Cell models, for atrial wall, crista terminalis, appendage, Bachmann's bundle and pectinate myocytes are characterised by action potentials, ionic currents and action potential duration (APD) restitution. The principal effect of the ion channel remodelling of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), and a mutation producing familial AF, was APD shortening at all rates. Electrical alternans was abolished by the modelled action of Dronedarone. AF induced gap junctional remodelling slows propagation velocity at all rates. Re-entrant spiral waves in 2-D models are characterised by their frequency, wavelength, meander and stability. For homogenous models of normal tissue, spiral waves self-terminate, due to meander to inexcitable boundaries, and by dissipation of excitation. AF electrical remodelling in these homogenous models led to persistence of spiral waves, and AF fibrotic remodelling to their breakdown into fibrillatory activity. An anatomical model of the atria was partially validated by the activation times of normal sinus rhythm. The use of tissue geometry from clinical MRI, and tissue anisotropy from ex vivo diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging is outlined. In the homogenous model of normal atria, a single scroll breaks down onto spatio-temporal irregularity (electrical fibrillation) that is self-terminating; while in the AF remodelled atria the fibrillatory activity is persistent. The persistence of electrical AF can be dissected in the model in terms of ion channel and intercellular coupling processes, that can be modified pharmacologically; the effects of anatomy, that can be modified by ablation; and the permanent effects of fibrosis, that need to be prevented.     

Attenuated inhibition of L-type calcium currents by troglitazone in fructose-fed rat cardiac ventricular myocytes

We recently reported that troglitazone, an insulin-sensitizing agent, inhibited l-type Ca current (ICa,L) more effectively in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic ventricular myocytes than in age-matched control myocytes. However, whether this agent would effectively inhibit ICa,L in an animal model of hyperinsulinemia is unknown. Using whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques, ICa,L was measured in ventricular myocytes isolated from 12 to 16 weeks on fructose-enriched feeding and age-matched control rats. Under control conditions, fructose-fed myocytes did not differ from control myocytes in membrane capacitance, current density, or voltage-dependent properties of ICa,L. Troglitazone inhibited ICa,L in both control and fructose-fed myocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. However, this inhibition was less in fructose-fed than in control myocytes; the half-maximum inhibitory concentrations of troglitazone measured at a holding potential of -50 mV were 16.9 and 9.8 micromol/L, respectively. Contrary to the STZ-induced diabetic rat, the suppressive effect of troglitazone on cardiac ventricular ICa,L was attenuated in fructose-fed rats. Persistent elevation of plasma insulin concentration may play a role in these processes.     

Effect of ketamine on transient outward potassium current of isolated human atrial myocytes

The effects of ketamine on transient outward potassium current (I(to)) of isolated human atrial myocytes were investigated to understand the mechanism of part of its effects by whole-cell patch-clamp. Atrial myocytes were enzymatically isolated from specimens of human atrial appendage obtained from patients under going cardiac valve displacing. Ito is recorded in voltage-clamp modes using the patch-clamp technique at room temperature. Currents signals were recorded by an Axopatch 200B amplifier with the Digidata 1322A-pClamp 9.0 data acquisition system. Ketamine decreased I(to) of human atrial myocytes in a dose-dependent manner. The current-voltage curve was significantly lowered, 30, 100, 300, and 1000 micromol x L(-1) ketamine decreased respectively I(to) current density about (13.62 +/- 0.04)%, (38.92 +/- 0.05)%, (72.24 +/- 0.10)% and (83.84 +/- 0.05)% at the potential of 50 mV, with an IC50 of 121 micromol x L(-1). The I(to) activation curve, inactivation curve and the recovery curve were not altered by ketamine. So, ketamine concentration-dependently decreased I(to) of human atrial myocytes.     

Thrombus formation in the left atrial appendage in the course of atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is secondary to emboli arising from atrial cavities, particularly left atrial appendage. Stroke Prevention Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) III study showed washing flow, left appendage ejection fraction, natural echocontrast, and left appendage volume and morphology, as risk parameters of thromboembolism. METHODS: The authors examined 69 patients by transesophageal echocardiography, subdividing them into 3 groups: 26 patients in sinus rhythm in Group A (Gr.A), 22 patients in atrial fibrillation without thrombi in the left atrial appendage in Group B (Gr.B), 21 patients with tromboembolism and with thrombus in the left atrial appendage (Gr.C). RESULTS: Atrial volume in sinus rhythm (SR) patients (41.9 +/- 23.4 cm3) was lower than the one in Gr.B (86.2 +/- 47.9 cm3, p < 0.001) and Gr.C (78.6 +/- 28.5 cm3, p < 0.01), whereas no difference was found between Gr.B and Gr.C (86.2 vs. 78.6 cm3; p > 0.05). No difference was found between Gr.A and Gr.B left atrial appendage fraction (31.8% versus 29.1%, p > 0.05), whereas it was found related to Gr.C (31.8% versus 15.4% p < 0.01). Flow velocity within left atrial appendage was significantly higher in Gr.A in relation to the other two groups (p < 0.001); flow velocity in Gr.B was lower than in Gr.A but higher than in Gr.C and in all cases such differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Gr.A flow duration was approximately twice as much compared to the one in Gr.B (616.8 +/- 94.1 msec vs. 483.3 +/- 172.6 msec, p < 0.01), whereas it was approximately four times higher compared to the one in Gr.C (616.8 +/- 94.1 msec vs. 165.7 +/- 53.7 msec; p < 0.001). Such duration, if related to the corresponding cardiac cycle, indicates the percentage of time during which blood flows through a cycle within the left atrial appendage; this value is about 85% of cardiac cycle in Gr.A, while it is 65% in Gr.B (p < 0.01) and about 21% in Gr.C (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Such results add a new parameter to the ones suggested in the SPAF III study for the evaluation of TE risk, that is flow duration measurement within the left atrial appendage, and its ratio to the cardiac cycle. The availability to measure this parameter, by recording the transesophageal pulse wave sample volume positioned in the atrial appendage, makes the evaluation of TE risk more reliable.     

Effects of oxymatrine on calcium channels and GABA release in mice under neuropathic pain condition

OBJECTIVE To investigate effects of oxymatrine,an alkaloid from Sophora flavescens Ait.,on high-voltage dependent calcium channel and inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA under neuropathic pain condition.METHODS The partial sciatic nerve ligation(PSNL)was executed on C57/BL6 mice to produce neuropathic pain.Oxymatrine(150 mg·kg-1)was administrated intraperitoneally to PSNL mice.Mechanical hindpaw withdral threshold(MWT)was measured under Von-Frey filament stimulation with up-and-down method.In brain tissue,GABA concentration was measured with ELISA.Change of GABAAreceptor protein expression,N-type calcium channel(Cav2.2)and L-type calcium channel(Cav1.3)protein expressions were detected with Western-blot;intracellular calcium concentration was measured in cultured cortical neurons with Fluo-3/AM fluorescent probe.RESULTS Compared to saline,oxymatrine significantly increased ED50 of MWT on PSNL mice(P<0.05).GABA concentration and GABAAreceptor protein level in brain tissue were decreased in PSNL mice,while administration of oxymatrine increased both GABA concentration and GABAA receptor expression.Intracellular calcium concentration was increased in cultured cortical neurons by oxymatrine treatment,but this phenomenon was not seen under calcium-free condition.Protein expression of Cav2.2,but not Cav1.3,was found to be decreased in the brains of PSNL mice and to be restored to a normal level with oxymatrine administration.CONCLUSION Oxymatrine has analgesic effect on PSNL-induced neuropathic pain in mice.This phenominon relates to the increase of GABA release,GABAAreceptor expression,and also the restoration of expression level of Cav2.2 but not Cav1.3 in brain tissues,which suggesting that Ca2+ flow through Cav2.2 calcium channel may be the key point underlying oxymatrine analgesia.     

Role of ion channels in sepsis-induced atrial tachyarrhythmias in guinea pigs

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, are occasionally observed in patients suffering from sepsis. Modulation of cardiac ion channel function and expression by sepsis may have a role in the genesis of tachyarrhythmias.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Sepsis was induced by LPS (i.p.; 300 µg·kg⁻¹) in guinea pigs. Membrane potentials and ionic currents were measured in atrial myocytes isolated from guinea pigs 10 h after LPS, using whole cell patch-clamp methods.

KEY RESULTS

In atrial cells from LPS-treated animals, action potential duration (APD) was significantly shortened. It was associated with a reduced L-type Ca²⁺ current and an increased delayed rectifier K⁺ current. These electrophysiological changes were eliminated when N^G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) or S-ethylisothiourea was given together with LPS. In atrial tissues from LPS-treated animals, Ca²⁺ channel subunits (Ca_v1.2 and Ca_v1.3) decreased and delayed rectifier K⁺ channel subunits (K_v11.1 and K_v7.1) increased. However, L-NAME treatment did not substantially reverse such changes in atrial expression in LPS-treated animals, with the exception that K_v11.1 subunits returned to control levels. After LPS injection, inducible NOS in atrial tissues was up-regulated, and atrial NO production clearly increased.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

In atrial myocytes from guinea pigs with sepsis, APD was significantly shortened. This may reflect nitration of the ion channels which would alter channel functions, rather than changes in atrial expression of the channels. Shortening of APD could serve as one of the mechanisms underlying atrial tachyarrhythmia in sepsis.     

Electrophysiological effects of penticainide (CM 7857) in isolated human atrial and ventricular fibers

The intracellular electrophysiological properties of a new antiarrhythmic agent, penticainide (5 x 10(-6) to 5 x 10(-5) M) were studied in isolated driven human right atrial appendage and papillary muscle superfused with oxygenated Tyrode's solution. In atrial fibers, penticainide decreased the amplitude, maximum rate of rise (dV/dtmax), plateau amplitude, and duration (APD) of action potentials (AP). In ventricular fibers, the main AP modification induced by penticainide was a dV/dtmax diminution. All those effects were frequency and concentration dependent. Penticainide decreased resting potential at 5 x 10(-5) M only. Ventricular APD variations were relatively weak: in most of the cases, 5 x 10(-6) M decreased APD and 5 x 10(-5) M shortened long APD (greater than 300 ms) and lengthened short APD (less than 300 ms). The class I antiarrhythmic property (dV/dtmax decrease) of penticainide was rate dependent in both human fibers and was obtained at lower drug concentrations than those used in other species. The relatively rapid rate of onset and the rather slow recovery kinetics of dV/dtmax block suggest a common mechanism of action of penticainide on sodium channels in human heart and others mammals.