糖尿病对大鼠心肌细胞动作电位和瞬时外向钾电流的影响

目的探讨糖尿病对大鼠心室肌细胞动作电位(AP)和瞬时外向钾电流(Ito)的影响。方法通过链脲佐菌素诱导糖尿病大鼠模型,双酶法急性分离出对照组和糖尿病组心室肌细胞,全细胞膜片钳技术分别观察心肌细胞AP和Ito电流密度变化以及Ito动力学改变。结果与对照组比较,糖尿病组心肌细胞AP形态明显增宽,AP复极20%、50%和90%的时程均明显延长(64.3±7.5 ms vs 29.7±9.2 ms;174.3±6.8 ms vs 98.9±4.2 ms;276.7±8.3 ms vs 173.7±7.2 ms,P均<0.01,n=12);在钳制电位为+50mV时,与对照组比较,糖尿病组心肌细胞Ito的电流密度显著降低(11.51±1.37 pA/pF vs 17.43±1.98 pA/pF,P<0.05,n=12);与对照组比较,糖尿病组心肌细胞Ito的I-V曲线明显下移;失活曲线显著左移(P<0.01,n=12);失活恢复曲线明显减慢。结论糖尿病引起了心肌细胞AP时程延长,Ito幅度降低,并使Ito的失活加快以及失活后恢复减慢。     

Ionic currents and action potentials in rabbit,rat, and guinea pig ventricular myocytes

Summary Distinct differences exist in action potentials and ionic currents between rabbit, rat, and guinea pig ventricular myocytes. Data obtained at room temperature indicate that about half of the rabbit myocytes show prominent phase 1 repolarization and transient outward current. Action potentials in guinea pig ventricular myocytes resemble those from rabbit myocytes not exhibiting phase 1 repolarization; and guinea pig myocytes do not develop transient outward current. Rat ventricular action potentials are significantly shorter than those from rabbit and guinea pig ventricular myocytes. Unlike rabbit and guinea pig myocytes, rat ventricular myocytes also exhibit a prominent phase 1 and lack a well defined plateau phase during repolarization. All rat ventricular myocytes exhibit a transient outward current which can be best fitted by a double exponential relation. There are no significant differences between the amplitude, voltage dependence and inactivation kinetics of the inward calcium currents observed in rabbit, rat and guinea pig. The steady-state current-voltage relations between –120 mV and –20 mV, which mostly represent the inward rectifier potassium current are similar in rabbit and guinea pig. The amplitude of this current is significantly less in rat ventricular myocytes. The outward currents activated upon depolarization to between –10 and +50 mV are different in the three species. Only a negligible, or absent, delayed rectifier outward current has been observed in rabbit and rat; however, a relatively large delayed rectifier current has been found in guinea pig. These large interspecies variations in outward membrane currents help explain the differences in action potential configurations observed in rabbit, rat, and guinea pig.     

Transient outward current modulates discontinuous conduction in rabbit ventricular cell pairs

OBJECTIVE: While several studies have demonstrated that the L-type calcium current maintains discontinuous conduction, the contribution of the transient outward current (I(to)) to conduction remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of I(to) inhibition on conduction between ventricular myocytes. METHODS: An electronic circuit with a variable resistance (R(j)) was used to electrically couple single epicardial myocytes isolated from rabbit right ventricle. We inhibited I(to) with 4-aminopyridine superfusion, rate-acceleration, or premature stimulation to evaluate the subsequent effects on conduction delay and the critical R(j), which was quantified as the highest R(j) that could be imposed before conduction failed. RESULTS: I(to) inhibition significantly enhanced conduction in all cell pairs (n=23). Pharmacologic inhibition of I(to) resulted in a 32+/-5% decrease in conduction delay and a 36+/-7% increase in critical R(j). Similarly, reduction of the basic cycle length from 2 to 0.5 s resulted in a 31+/-3% decrease in conduction delay and a 31+/-3% increase in critical R(j). Finally, premature action potentials conducted with a 41+/-4% shorter conduction delay and a 73+/-24% higher critical R(j) than basic action potentials. CONCLUSIONS: I(to) inhibition significantly enhanced conduction across high R(j). These results suggest I(to) may contribute to rate-dependent conduction abnormalities.     

急性胰腺炎时大鼠心室肌细胞瞬间外向钾电流的变化

目的探讨急性胰腺炎后心室肌细胞瞬间外向钾电流（Ito）的变化。方法以开腹胆总管注射牛磺胆酸钠的方法制备大鼠急性胰腺炎实验模型,2448 h后处死动物分离单个心室肌细胞,采用全细胞膜片钳记录技术观察Ito的变化,同时设假手术对照组。结果急性胰腺炎大鼠心室肌细胞的Ito受到抑制,电流密度?电压关系曲线下移,其+70 mV时的峰值电流密度由对照组的（52±13）pA/pF下降为急性胰腺炎组的（12±4）pA/pF（P<0.01）;其失活曲线左移,半数最大失活电位对照组为（-45±8）mV,急性胰腺炎组为（-55±9）mV,与对照组比较显著减小（P<0.01）,失活速度加快;急性胰腺炎组Ito恢复速度明显减慢,恢复时程延长,和对照组比较P<0.01。结论急性胰腺炎大鼠心室肌细胞的Ito受抑制。     

二十二碳六烯酸对Sprague-Dawley大鼠心室肌细胞动作电位和瞬时外向钾离子流的作用

目的 探讨二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)对Sprague-Dawley大鼠心窜肌细胞动作电位(AP)和瞬时外向钾离子流(Ito)的作用.方法 采用酶消化法获得大鼠耐钙心室肌细胞,以全细胞膜片钳技术分别记录加入 DHA 10、20、40、60、80、100、120 和200 μmol/L 后大鼠心室肌细胞AP和Ito的变化.结果 (1)当 DHA 浓度大于30 μmol/L时,动作电位时程(APD)逐渐延长,且呈浓度依赖性(P<0.05);当 DHA 浓度在0～30 μmoL/ L 时,随着 DHA 浓度增加,APD 延长不明显(P>0.05);加入不同浓度DHA后,在5 min内 APD 随时间延长而逐渐延长,5 min后 APD 基本固定.(2)加入不同浓度DHA 后,随着 DHA 浓度增加,Ito逐渐降低,DHA对Ito呈浓度依赖性阻滞(P<0.05).DHA 对Ito半效抑制浓度为58.3 μmoL/ L.结论 当加入不同浓度 DHA 后,APD 随着 DHA 浓度增加而逐渐延长,Ito逐渐降低,DHA 对 AP 和Ito的影响可能足其抗心律失常作用的机制之一.     

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells upregulate transient outward potassium currents in postnatal rat ventricular myocytes

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation has been shown to effectively improve cardiac function in experimental animals and patients with myocardial infarction and heart hypertrophy. BMSCs exert potent effects on cardiomyocytes through the inhibition of cardiac apoptosis, the attenuation of cardiac inflammation, etc. However, novel biological actions of BMSCs on cardiomyocytes remain to be explored. The present study was designed to investigate whether BMSCs affect electrophysiological features of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs). BMSCs and NRVMs were indirectly co-cultured at a ratio of 1:10 with a semi-permeable membrane. We found that compared with mono-cultured NRVMs, co-cultured NRVMs exhibited an obvious increase of transient outward potassium current (I_to), accompanied by significant changes in activation, inactivation and recovery of I_to. Meanwhile, K_V4.2 mRNA which encodes the channel carrying I_to was more abundant in co-cultured NRVMs than mono-cultured NRVMs. The increases in basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels were observed in culture medium of BMSCs. bFGF but not IGF-1 upregulated the K_V4.2 mRNA expression and enhanced I_to currents. Taken together, we conclude that BMSCs upregulate I_to of NRVMs, at least partially, by secreting bFGF that in turn upregulates K_V4.2 expression and alters the kinetics of I_to.     

Chromanol 293B inhibits slowly activating delayed rectifier and transient outward currents in canine left ventricular myocytes

INTRODUCTION: Drugs that selectively inhibit the slowly activating component of the delayed rectifier potassium current (I(Ks)) are being considered as possible antiarrhythmic agents, because they produce more prolongation of action potential duration at fast rates with less transmural dispersion of repolarization compared with blockers of the rapidly activating component (I(Kr)). Although the chromanol derivative chromanol 293B has been shown to be relatively selective in blocking I(Ks) in some species, its selectivity is far from established. METHODS AND RESULTS: The present study uses whole-cell, patch-clamp technique to examine the selectivity of this compound for inhibition of I(Ks) in comparison with other repolarizing ionic currents, such as I(Kr), inward rectifier potassium current (I(Kl)), transient outward current (I(to)), and L-type calcium current (I(Ca-L)) in canine left ventricular mid-myocardial and endocardial cells. Chromanol 293B blocked I(Ks) with an IC50 of 1.8 microM and I(to) with an IC50 of 38 microM. Concentrations as high as 30 microM did not affect I(Kl), I(Kr), or I(Ca-L). Higher concentrations of chromanol 293B (100 microM) caused a slight, but statistically insignificant, inhibition of I(Kr). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that chromanol 293B is a relatively selective blocker of I(Ks) in canine left ventricular myocytes.     

卡托普利对豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位及外向延迟整流钾电流的作用

目的 探讨卡托普利对豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位及外向延迟整流钾电流的作用。方法 采用内充3M KCL的标准微电极记录心肌动作电位。采用膜片钳全细胞技术，钳制电位-50mV，持续时间100ms，指令电位 40mV，记录外向延迟整流钾电流(Ik)最大峰电流。结果 与缺血组比较，卡托普利组APD30、APD50及ERP显著延长，APD50无显著变化。缺血组Ik幅度显著增高，而卡托普利组及卡托普利 缺血组显著降低。各组电流—电压关系曲线形态虽无显著变化，但缺血组显著上移，而卡托普利组、卡托普利 缺血组比缺血组下移。结论卡托普利降低外向钾电流及延长APD30、APD50和ERP。     

Differences in transient outward currents of feline endocardial and epicardial myocytes

Whole-cell voltage-clamp experiments were performed on enzymatically dissociated single ventricular myocytes harvested from feline endocardial and epicardial surfaces. The studies were designed to test the hypothesis that the differences in the amplitude of transient outward current (Ito) contribute to the difference in action potential configuration between endocardial and epicardial myocytes. In the control state, action potentials recorded from epicardial cells demonstrated a prominent notch between phases 1 and 2, and membrane current recordings displayed a prominent Ito, whereas in endocardial cells the notch in action potentials and Ito were small. External application of 4-aminopyridine (2 mM) reduced the amplitudes of notch and Ito in epicardial cells but not in endocardial cells. After application of 4-aminopyridine (2 mM) and caffeine (5 mM), the notch and Ito were abolished completely in both endocardial and epicardial cells. The first component of Ito (Ito1) was present in all epicardial cells studied (n = 20); it was absent in 12 of the 20 endocardial cells, and a small Ito1 was present in the remaining eight endocardial cells. The mean amplitude of Ito1 was significantly greater in epicardial than in endocardial cells. At a test voltage of +80 mV, the amplitude of Ito1 was 102.0 +/- 47.7 pA/pF in epicardial cells and 3.3 +/- 3.3 pA/pF in endocardial cells (p less than 0.01). The second component of Ito (Ito2) was present in all endocardial (n = 30) and epicardial (n = 30) cells studied. The amplitude of Ito2 was significantly greater in epicardial than in endocardial cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

阿魏酸钠对家兔心室肌细胞钾通道电流的影响

目的:探讨阿魏酸钠对家兔心室肌细胞膜延迟整流钾电流快速与缓慢激活成分(IKr、IKs)、内向整流钾电流(IK1)、瞬时外向钾电流(Ito)的影响.方法:酶解法分离单个家兔心室肌细胞,以经典的Ⅲ类药胺碘酮为对照,采用全细胞膜片钳技术记录浓度为3.0、10.0、30.0,100.0 μmol/L的阿魏酸钠对IKr,IKs、IK1、Ito的作用.结果:阿魏酸钠的作用弱于胺碘酮,二者均可浓度依赖性抑制IKr、ILs时间依赖性外向电流及尾电流(IKr,tail、IKs,tail).不同浓度的阿魏酸钠对IKr,tail的抑制率为:(12.1±2.5)%、(24.1±3.0)%、(47.0±5.8)%及(58.5±8.3)%(n=5,P＜0.05);对IKs,tail的抑制率为:(15.6±6.4)%、(27.1±6.5)%、(45.6±5.8)%及(51.8±6.6)%(n=5,P＜0.05),其对IKr,tail及IKs,tail的半数抑制浓度(IC50)均大于胺碘酮(43.6:3.48 μmol/L,44.9:5.11 μmol/L).30.0、100.0 μmol/L阿魏酸钠及10.0、30.0 μmol/L胺碘酮可使IK1的I-V曲线左移,在-100 mV及-20 mV测试电压下,阿魏酸钠对IK1内向、外向电流抑制率小于胺碘酮(n=5,P＜0.05).阿魏酸钠与胺碘酮均不影响Ito及其I-V曲线.结论:阿魏酸钠复合阻滞复极期多种钾电流,可能是其抗心律失常作用的电生理机制之一.     

心肌梗死后残存心室肌细胞L型钙通道的改变

目的　探讨L型钙通道在急性心肌梗死 (AMI)后室性心律失常发生中的作用及其机制。方法　开胸冠脉结扎制备兔AMI模型 ,于 1周和 2个月处死动物分离心室肌细胞 ,以膜片钳技术记录梗死及周边区心外膜细胞L -型钙通道电流 (ICa -L)的变化。结果　AMI兔梗死周边区心外膜细胞L型钙电流受到抑制 ,电流密度 -电压关系 (I -V)曲线上移 ,其峰值电流密度在正常对照组、AMI后 1周和 2个月分别为 - ( 5 5 8± 1 5 3) pA /pF(n =10 )、- ( 3 5 2± 0 93) pA/ pF (n =6 ,与对照组比较P <0 0 5 )和 - ( 4 84± 1 4 8)pA/ pF(n =11,与对照组比较P <0 0 5 ) ,但I -V曲线的形态轨迹不变。其失活曲线左移 ,失活速度加快 ,半数最大失活电位 3组分别为 -( 13 1± 4 2 )mV、- ( 2 5 9± 7 0 )mV和 - ( 2 1 3± 5 6 )mV ,P <0 0 5。结论　AMI后梗死周边带心外膜细胞L型钙通道受抑制 ,可能为AMI后室性心律失常发生的机制之一 ;AMI后 2个月钙通道的异常程度减轻 ,有恢复正常的趋势     

兔右室流出道心肌细胞动作电位及钠钙交换尾电流特性

目的研究兔右室流出道(RVOT)心肌细胞动作电位及钠钙交换尾电流(INCX,tail)相关特性,探讨源于RVOT室性心律失常的发生机制。方法采用全细胞膜片钳技术记录兔右室(RV)游离壁和RVOT心肌细胞的动作电位,在不更换细胞及电极内液情况下连续记录INCX,tail,对比分析两者动作电位和INCX,tail特性。结果兔RVOT心室肌细胞动作电位复极时程(APD)的变异程度大于RV游离壁心肌细胞。在RVOT心肌细胞记录到早期后除极及显著延长的APD。动作电位显著延长及后除极的RVOT心肌细胞所对应的INCX,tail到达峰值时程较动作电位正常的细胞延迟,并且电流强度大于RV游离壁对照组心肌细胞(P<0.05)。结论 RVOT心肌细胞APD变异程度大,而且APD显著延长的RVOT细胞INCX,tail到达峰值时程延迟及相应电流显著增大,这是RVOT部位好发触发活动的重要机制。     

Effects of quinidine on action potentials and ionic currents in isolated canine ventricular myocytes

We examined the effects of quinidine (5-20 microM) on transmembrane action potentials and ionic currents of isolated canine ventricular myocytes. Collagenase treatment of canine ventricular tissue produced a yield of 40-60% healthy cells. Myocytes had normal resting and action potentials as measured using conventional microelectrodes. Quinidine decreased Vmax, amplitude, overshoot, and the duration of action potentials stimulated by passage of brief current pulses through the recording pipette. Recovery was complete after washout except that action potential duration was prolonged compared with control. A discontinuous single microelectrode voltage ("switch") clamp was used to measure ionic currents. Quinidine irreversibly reduced steady-state outward current as measured with three different voltage clamp protocols. Quinidine reversibly decreased peak calcium current as well as the slowly inactivating and/or steady-state inward currents in the plateau voltage range, presumably both "late" sodium (tetrodotoxin-sensitive) and calcium (tetrodotoxin-insensitive) currents. The effect on calcium current showed both tonic and use-dependent block. Thus, quinidine has a multitude of actions on both inward and outward currents, which combine to produce the net effect of quinidine on action potential configuration.     

Effects of trimetazidine on action potentials and membrane currents of guinea-pig ventricular myocytes

The effects of trimetazidine on membrane potentials and membrane currents of enzymatically isolated guinea-pig ventricular cells were studied with the use of giga-seal suction pipettes for patch clamp. Trimetazidine (3 X 10(-5) M) decreased the action potential duration from 433 +/- 179 ms (mean and S.D., n = 9) to 319 +/- 156 ms within 8 mins. In voltage clamp experiment, trimetazidine at a concentration of 1.5 X 10(-4) M decreased the peak amplitude of calcium current by 40% (0.92 +/- 0.46 nA to 0.55 +/- 0.19 nA, mean +/- S.D., n = 5). The effect on calcium current was rate-dependent, e.g., at 1 Hz, trimetazidine blocked a larger fraction of the calcium current than at 0.2 Hz. The drug decreased the conductance of potassium current which flows via inward rectifier potassium channel from 28 +/- 11 nS to 19 +/- 10 nS, n = 5, P less than 0.05). Trimetazidine shifted the steady state current-voltage relationship outward at potentials positive to -20 mV. This shift was not due to the enhanced time- and voltage-dependent outward current (Ik). From these findings, it was concluded that trimetazidine shortens action potential duration by blocking the calcium channels with increases in steady state outward current or a possible blockade of non-inactivated component of the calcium current, at the plateau potentials. The reduction of calcium current and of inward rectifier potassium current may protect the cardiac cells from accumulation of calcium ions and from loss of potassium ions, in the presence of ischemia.     

Heterogeneity of the action potential in isolated rat ventricular myocytes and tissue

The objectives of this study were to measure action potential parameters in enzyme-dissociated, adult rat ventricular myocytes stimulated at 1 Hz, to compare these measurements with those obtained from intact ventricular tissue, and to determine myocyte and tissue responses at stimulus frequencies between 0.1 and 5 Hz. Action potentials were characterized in terms of amplitude, overshoot, resting potential, duration at 25% and 75% repolarization (APD25, APD75), and Vmax. Based on statistical differences in APD25 and APD75, myocyte action potentials were classified as type I (3.1 +/- 1.0 and 21.5 +/- 3.6 msec), type II (7.4 +/- 1.1 and 38.2 +/- 6.7 msec), or type III (14.5 +/- 1.9 and 46.0 +/- 4.1 msec). Action potentials corresponding to type I were found in right ventricular endocardium and right papillary muscles, and those corresponding to types II and III in the left ventricular endocardium [apex, middle (II); base (III)] and left papillary muscles (II). Myocytes and papillary muscles responded to increases in driving rate with nearly identical lengthening of APD25 and shortening of APD75. The one exception was at 5 Hz where a lengthening of the APD75 occurred in some myocytes. We conclude that action potential configuration in rat ventricle is heterogeneous, and that this is reflected by the different types of action potentials in isolated myocytes. It is likely that the magnitude of a transient outward current is a determinant of action potential configuration, and that slow reactivation of this current is a significant factor underlying the stimulus frequency response.     

Rate-dependent prolongation of action potential duration in isolated rat ventricular myocytes

Rate-dependent alterations of action potential duration (APD) in rat ventricular myocytes were investigated. Action potentials of the isolated myocytes were recorded with patch electrodes containing EGTA (11 mM), and showed a marked rate-dependent prolongation in the APD (0.2–5 Hz). This prolongation was significantly inhibited in the presence of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), a blocker of the transient outward K⁺ current (I_to). Thus, the rate-dependent decrease in I_to may underlie the change in APD. In contrast, the action potentials recorded from rat ventricular papillary muscles with conventional microelectrodes did not show rate-dependent alterations in the APD, i.e., the APD remained practically unaltered at the frequency range of 0.2–5 Hz. These results suggest that the rate-dependent prolongation of APD (due to rate-dependent blockade of I_to) becomes evident when the intracellular Ca²⁺ was chelated by the internal application of EGTA via patch pipette. We speculate that the rate-dependent prolongation of APD (via decreases in I_to) is masked in the ventricular papillary muscles, probably due to rate-dependent decreases in the inward current (e.g., electrogenic Na⁺–Ca²⁺ exchange current) that is regulated by the intracellular calcium.     

黄芪对兔急性心肌梗死心室肌细胞钠通道电流的影响

目的 :研究黄芪对兔急性心肌梗死 （AMI）后心室肌细胞钠通道电流 （INa）的影响。方法 :采用结扎兔冠状动脉左前降支的方法建立 AMI动物模型 ,应用膜片钳全细胞记录方法 ,观察 AMI后 1周心外膜梗死区心肌细胞 INa的变化。结果 :AMI后 1周 INa的 I- V曲线明显上移。对照组 INa电流密度峰值 （- 30 m V）为 4 5 .5 0± 5 .33p A/ p F（n=12 ） ,AMI组为 2 2 .4 8± 4 .6 2 p A/ p F（n=14 ） ,显著低于对照组 （P<0 .0 1） ;黄芪组为 37.14± 3.79p A / p F（n=15 ） ,与 AMI组相比 ,显著增大 （P<0 .0 5 ）。结论 :AMI后 1周梗死区心室肌细胞 INa明显下降 ,黄芪可以使 AMI后下降的 INa趋于正常 ,逆转 AMI后形成的电重构。     

胺碘酮慢性作用对兔心室肌细胞L型钙通道电流和跨壁动作电位相关性研究

目的 从单个心室肌细胞L型钙通道电流时间常数(τ)和组织块跨壁动作电位复极90%时程(APD90),探讨胺碘酮慢性作用抗心律失常的可能细胞电生理机制.方法 健康兔口服胺碘酮80 mg·kg-1·d-1共4周,记录离体兔带血管心室肌组织块跨膜心室肌细胞动作电位后分离心室肌细胞,记录单细胞L型钙通道电流τ,比较对照组、胺碘酮组及索他洛尔组干预下τ与APD90比值(τ/APD90)变化.结果 对照组τ为(98±8)ms(n=10)、APD90为(220±10)ms(n=5)、τ/APD90为0.44±0.03.与对照组相比,胺碘酮组τ明显延长[为(164±8)ms,n=8,P＜0.05],APD90亦明显延长[为(321±12)ms,n=5,P＜0.05],τ/APD90较对照组增加(分别为0.51±0.03与0.44±0.03,P＜0.05).索他洛尔(3×10-5mmoL/L)组与对照组相比,τ明显延长[为(128±7)ms,n=8,P＜0.05],但因APD90延长较著[为(405±13)ms,n=4,P＜0.01],使τ/APD90较对照组明显减少(分别为0.32±0.05与0.44±0.03,P＜0.05).索他洛尔+胺碘酮组的τ为(150±12)ms、APD90为(355±11)ms(n=4),与索他洛尔组比较,τ/APD90增加(为0.44±0.02,P＜0.05),与对照组相比,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 心室肌细胞膜L型钙通道电流的τ/APD90大小与胺碘酮慢性作用相关,这为胺碘酮慢性作用的安全性提供了一种可能解释.     

Modulation of outward potassium currents in aligned cultures of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes during phorbol ester-induced hypertrophy.

Protein kinase C-stimulating phorbol esters induce a strong hypertrophic response when applied in vitro to cardiac ventricular myocytes. The aim of this study was to determine if this in vitro model of hypertrophy is associated with changes in the expression of voltage-gated K(+)channels. Myocytes were isolated from 3--4-day-old neonatal rats and cultured on aligned collagen thin gels. Membrane currents were measured with the use of the whole-cell arrangement of the patch clamp technique and the expression levels of the Kv1.4, Kv4.2 and Kv2.1 alpha subunits quantified using Western blot analysis. Voltage steps positive to -30 mV resulted in the activation of both a transient (I(to)) and a sustained (I(sus)) component of outward K(+)current in the aligned myocytes. Overnight exposure to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) caused a 55% increase in myocyte size and a three-fold reduction in the peak amplitude of I(to). No differences in the half-maximal voltages required for activation and steady-state inactivation were observed between I(to)measured in control and PMA-treated myocytes. In contrast, PMA treatment resulted in a 62% increase in a tetraethylammonium-sensitive component of I(sus)(TEA-I(sus)) and was associated with the appearance of a slow component of current decay. Expression levels of the Kv1.4 and Kv4.2 alpha subunits were strongly depressed in the hypertrophic myocytes, while the density of the Kv2.1 alpha subunit was enhanced. PMA-induced changes in the Kv alpha subunits were partially prevented through inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Thus, PMA-induced hypertrophy of cultured ventricular myocytes is associated with an altered expression of voltage-gated K(+)channels.