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.     

Amantadine-induced afterpotentials and automaticity in guinea pig ventricular myocytes

The ionic mechanisms of amantadine-induced changes in membrane potential and automatic activity in guinea pig ventricular myocytes were studied using the suction-pipette whole-cell clamp method. While 25-100 microM amantadine decreased the action potential amplitude and duration, 200 and 400 microM amantadine lengthened the action potential duration and decreased the maximum diastolic potential with an appearance of diastolic depolarization and automaticity. In the presence of 25-100 microM amantadine, the preparations developed an afterpotential due to incomplete repolarization and a delayed afterdepolarization that eventually brought about triggered automaticity. The former type of afterpotential was abolished by tetrodotoxin (TTX) and the latter by Co2+. Spontaneous activity from the diastolic depolarization was also abolished by Co2+ but not by Cs+. Amantadine suppressed the calcium current to as much as half of the control at the concentrations used (25-200 microM). The drug also produced a depression of the inward rectifier K+ current. The outward current showing time-dependent decay was activated at the plateau voltages by concentrations lower than 100 microM, whereas the delayed outward K+ current was depressed by the drug in a concentration-dependent manner at more positive potentials. Amantadine activated the TTX-sensitive and TTX-insensitive inward currents on repolarization from depolarized states, without producing the transient inward current. These results indicate that the amantadine-induced diastolic depolarization and afterpotentials are caused by changes in multiple ionic currents and that, therefore, the drug can be used as a unique model for the study of arrhythmogenesis.     

Membrane potential fluctuations and transient inward currents induced by reactive oxygen intermediates in isolated rabbit ventricular cells

The cellular basis of reactive oxygen intermediate-induced arrhythmias was investigated in isolated rabbit ventricular cells using the whole-cell voltage- and current-clamp techniques. Singlet oxygen and superoxide were generated by the photoactivation of rose bengal. Single ventricular cells exposed to rose bengal (10-100 nM) exhibited spontaneous membrane potential fluctuations at plateau potentials and at the level of the resting membrane potential. The voltage fluctuations induced in the resting potential occasionally triggered repetitive action potential discharges. At the resting membrane potential, the magnitude and dominant frequency of the voltage fluctuations were 1-3 mV and 1.5 Hz, respectively. At plateau potentials, the amplitude of the voltage fluctuations was about 2-5 mV, and the dominant oscillatory frequency was 2.6 Hz. In voltage-clamp experiments, transient inward currents were induced on repolarization after a depolarizing clamp step. Oscillatory currents also occurred occasionally during clamp steps to positive potentials. The peak frequencies of transient inward currents recorded at -20 and -70 mV were approximately 3.7 and 2.3 Hz, respectively, indicating that these currents may underlie the arrhythmogenic membrane potential fluctuations observed in current-clamp experiments. The rose bengal-induced transient inward currents were shown to be dependent on the magnitude and duration of the preceding voltage step. Studies of the voltage dependence of transient inward currents showed that these currents remained inward even at positive potentials (+30 mV), and replacement of extracellular sodium with lithium decreased transient inward current to approximately 10% of its initial value. Thus, the major component of oxidant stress-induced inward current appears to be electrogenic Na-Ca exchange. This oscillatory transient inward current may be responsible for the arrhythmias induced in isolated hearts exposed to reactive oxygen intermediates, and since oxidant stress has been implicated in reperfusion injury, it is possible that similar oscillatory currents may underlie reperfusion-induced arrhythmias.     

The electrophysiological effects of acetylcholine in single human atrial cells

Single cells were isolated from human atria. The ionic currents in these cells were measured using the whole cell clamp technique. Time-dependent currents during depolarizing clamp steps can be described as due to Ca current and transient outward current. Time-dependent inward currents were seen during hyperpolarizing voltage steps. These currents are carried by the inward rectifier iK1, while in some cells also an if pacemaker current is present. The effect of acetylcholine was investigated at potentials negative to -50 mV. Acetylcholine induces an inwardly rectifying K current. The acetylcholine-induced current is different from iK1 in kinetics and Ba-sensitivity. The effect of acetylcholine decreases in time due to desensitization. The electrical response of the human atrial cells to acetylcholine is qualitatively similar to the effect of acetylcholine in guinea-pig atrial cells.     

Suppression of time-dependent outward current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. Actions of quinidine and amiodarone.

Prolongation of cardiac action potentials may mediate some of the arrhythmia-suppressing and arrhythmia-aggravating actions of antiarrhythmic agents. In this study, suppression of time-dependent outward current by quinidine and amiodarone was assessed in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. The net time-dependent outward current contained at least two components: a slowly activating, La(3+)-resistant delayed rectifier current (IK) and a rapidly activating, La(3+)-sensitive current. Quinidine block of total time-dependent outward current during clamp steps to positive potentials was relieved as a function of time, whereas that induced by amiodarone was enhanced. In contrast, at negative potentials, suppression of current, whereas amiodarone reduced IK but not the La(3+)-sensitive current, suggesting that differential block of the two components of time-dependent current underlies the distinct effects of the two agents. In contrast to these disparate effects on total time-dependent outward current, steady-state reduction of IK by both drugs increased at positive voltages and saturated at approximately +40 mV; the voltage dependence of block by quinidine (17% per decade, +10 to +30 mV) was steeper than that by amiodarone (5% per decade, +10 to +20 mV). Block by quinidine was time dependent at negative potentials: on stepping from +50 to -30 mV, block initially increased very rapidly, and subsequent deactivation of IK was slowed. This effect was not seen with amiodarone. At -80 mV, quinidine block was relieved with a time constant of 40 +/- 15 msec (n = 4, twin-pulse protocol). The effects of quinidine on IK were compatible with neither a purely voltage-dependent model of quinidine binding nor a model incorporating both voltage- and state-dependent binding of quinidine to delayed rectifier channels having only one open state. The voltage- and time-dependent features of quinidine block were well described by a model in which quinidine has greater affinity for one of two open states of the channel. We conclude that the effects of quinidine and amiodarone on time-dependent outward current reflects block of multiple channels. Quinidine block of IK was far more voltage dependent than that produced by amiodarone, suggesting the drugs act by different mechanisms.     

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.     

Do catecholamines directly modulate the delayed plateau potassium current in frog atrium?

An important electrophysiological action of catecholamines in the heart is the modulation of the second inward current (iCa). Catecholamine augmentation of iCa has been attributed to an increase in the number of functional channels, as well as an increase in the probability of channel opening [1, 4, 12]. Another important electrophysiological action of catecholamines in the heart is the modulation of time-dependent outward currents. In the Purkinje fibre, epinephrine has been shown to shift the voltage-dependence of the pacemaker current, iK2 [13]. The delayed outward current(s) which is activated over the plateau range of potentials (ix) is also augmented by catecholamines in Purkinje fibers [14] as well as frog atrium [3]. Several possible mechanisms for enhancement of the outward plateau current by catecholamines have been proposed [2]: (i) a direct increase in the maximal conductance of the channel; (ii) an indirect enhancement of outward current mediated by stimulation of Na+-K+ exchange (which may reduce potassium concentration in restricted extracellular spaces and hence produce an increase in the driving force for K+) or (iii) an indirect augmentation of outward current via enhancement of intracellular Ca2+ (calcium-activated potassium conductance) [10]. To distinguish between these possible mechanisms, the influence of epinephrine and isoproterenol on the delayed outward K+ current in single isolated bullfrog atrial cells was examined. Evidence is presented that in single frog atrial cells, concentrations of epinephrine or isoproterenol which produce large increases in the second inward current have no detectable effect upon the delayed plateau K+ current.     

Early outward current in rat single ventricular cells

Voltage clamp experiments were conducted using single ventricular myocytes which had been dissociated enzymatically from adult rat hearts in order to examine further the membrane currents which contribute to the unusual plateau of the rat action potential. Membrane currents were recorded, using a single microelectrode (switching) voltage clamp circuit. From holding potentials near the resting potential (-80 to -90 mV), depolarizing clamp steps above -20 mV elicited an early outward current which overlapped in time with the slow inward current and displayed time-dependent inactivation. This is the first demonstration of a transient potassium current in an isolated ventricular myocyte. The early outward potential was voltage-inactivated at holding potentials of -50 to -40 mV and was blocked by 4-aminopyridine. The current was not dependent on Cao or ICa and was blocked by Bao. Double pulse experiments revealed that the time course for the recovery of the early outward current at -80 mV was rapid, and had a tau of 25 msec. The possible functional significance of this current is discussed.     

Differential effects of the new class III antiarrhythmic agents almokalant, E-4031 and D-sotalol, and of quinidine, on delayed rectifier currents in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

OBJECTIVES: The effects of almokalant (4-[3-ethyl[3-(propylsulphinyl)propyl]-amino]-2-hydroxy-propoxy]- benzonitrile), E-4031 (1-[2-(6-methyl-2-pyridyl)-ethyl]-4-(4-methylsulphonyl-amino- benzoyl)piperidine), d-sotalol, and quinidine were investigated on the delayed K+ rectifier current IK. The aim of the study was to compare the drug action on the two components of this current. METHODS: Membrane currents were measured in ventricular myocytes from guinea pig hearts with the whole cell voltage clamp technique. IK was activated during clamp steps from a holding potential of -40 mV to test potentials -30 and +50 mV. The tail current Itail was measured upon stepping back to holding potential. RESULTS: In control experiments. IK and Itail declined spontaneously ("run down"). With 300 ms long test pulses to +50 mV, only d-sotalol (10(-4) M) caused a significant further decrease in IK, whereas all four agents significantly reduced Itail (almokalant 10(-6) M, E-4031 10(-7) M, quinidine 10(-5) M). When tested with 1 s long clamp steps at various potentials almokalant (3 x 10(-6) M), E-4031 (10(-6) M), quinidine (10(-5) M), and d-sotalol (10(-4) M) reduced IK in the potential range between -20 and +40 mV, yielding a bell shaped inward rectifying drug sensitive current. Itail was reduced by almokalant and E-4031 over the whole voltage range with saturation of block positive to +20 mV. Similar reductions with quinidine but not with d-sotalol were also significant. With rest pulses to +50 mV of increasing duration (25 ms-4000 ms), Itail developed with a faster time course than IK and therefore the ratio of Itail/IK declined with pulse duration. With almokalant and E-4031, this ratio became independent of test pulse duration. For 250 ms pulses, Itail/IK was also significantly reduced by d-sotalol and quinidine. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of the rapidly activating inwardly rectifying component of IK is prominent with almokalant and E-4031 and less pronounced with d-sotalol and quinidine. Since inhibition of this component prolongs the cardiac action potential, it should contribute to the antiarrhythmic properties of the agents.     

Mechanism of increased amplitude and duration of the plateau with sudden shortening of diastolic intervals in rabbit ventricular cells

Action potentials and membrane currents were recorded from isolated single ventricular cells from rabbit hearts using the suction pipette whole-cell clamp method. Action potentials elicited after short diastolic intervals of less than 2 seconds showed an increase and prolongation of the plateau compared to those elicited after a 10-second rest period. The recovery of the tetrodotoxin-insensitive secondary inward current revealed a transient increase at short diastolic intervals above the level of full recovery (after 10 seconds). The increased secondary inward current recovery, however, was voltage-dependent, and the period of its increase did not cover the entire diastolic intervals of the action potential overshoots, suggesting the contribution of another ionic current to the changes in potential. During depolarizing voltage steps, from + to -20 mV, a rapid activating and then inactivating outward current was elicited, which overlapped the calcium current. This outward current exhibited time- and voltage-dependent properties similar to those of the transient outward current in Purkinje and other cardiac preparations. The recovery of the transient outward current was slow, achieving only 75% of its full level at 2 seconds, whereas the same level of calcium current recovery was achieved at 200 milliseconds. The application of 4-aminopyridine suppressed most of the transient outward current, and the rest of the current was abolished by caffeine or Co2+. The 4-aminopyridine sensitive transient outward current exhibited slow recovery kinetics compared to those of the other or calcium current, and its inhibition caused elimination of the augmented plateau during electrical restitution. The application of verapamil or Co2+ for inhibition of secondary inward current also abolished the action potential overshoot. These results indicate that an increase and prolongation of the plateau at short diastolic intervals are produced by the slower recovery from inactivation in the 4-aminopyridine-sensitive transient outward current than that in the calcium current.     

Apico-basal inhomogeneity in distribution of ion channels in canine and human ventricular myocardium

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to compare the apico-basal distribution of ion currents and the underlying ion channel proteins in canine and human ventricular myocardium. METHODS: Ion currents and action potentials were recorded in canine cardiomyocytes, isolated from both apical and basal regions of the heart, using whole-cell voltage clamp techniques. Density of channel proteins in canine and human ventricular myocardium was determined by Western blotting. RESULTS: Action potential duration was shorter and the magnitude of phase-1 repolarization was significantly higher in apical than basal canine myocytes. No differences were observed in other parameters of the action potential or cell capacitance. Amplitude of the transient outward K(+) current (29.6+/-5.7 versus 16.5+/-4.4 pA/pF at +65 mV) and the slow component of the delayed rectifier K(+) current (5.61+/-0.43 versus 2.14+/-0.18 pA/pF at +50 mV) were significantly larger in apical than in basal myocytes. Densities of the inward rectifier K(+) current, rapid delayed rectifier K(+) current, and L-type Ca(2+) current were similar in myocytes of apical and basal origin. Apico-basal differences were found in the expression of only those channel proteins which are involved in mediation of the transient outward K(+) current and the slow delayed rectifier K(+) current: expression of Kv1.4, KChIP2, KvLQT1 and MinK was significantly higher in apical than in basal myocardium in both canine and human hearts. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that marked apico-basal electrical inhomogeneity exists in the canine-and probably in the human-ventricular myocardium, which may result in increased dispersion, and therefore, cannot be ignored when interpreting ECG recordings, pathological alterations, or drug effects.     

Transient outward currents and action potential alterations in rabbit ventricular myocytes

To clarify ionic mechanisms underlying successive changes in action potential repolarization upon sudden increase in driving rate or initiation of rapid drive after a rest, membrane potentials and currents were recorded from isolated rabbit ventricular myocytes using the suction-pipette whole-cell clamp method. When 20 action potentials were elicited with a stimulus frequency of 2.0 Hz after a rest period of 20 s, the plateau and action potential duration showed complex changes in successive beats, whereas they were nearly constant with stimulation at 0.1 Hz. There were only weak correlations between changes in action potential parameters and preceding diastolic intervals. The changes were prominent in the first 10 beats but subsided gradually thereafter, attaining nearly steady configurations of action potentials. When depolarizing pulses were applied at a fast rate, under the voltage clamp, the amplitudes of the initial inward current in the presence of tetrodotoxin changed greatly depending on the pulse numbers and diastolic intervals, whereas the delayed outward K+ current changed little. Variations of the initial inward current in successive pulses were caused by different degrees of activation and recovery from inactivation in the Ca2+ current, the Ca(2+)-sensitive and -insensitive transient outward current. While inhibition of either one or two current components decreased the action potential alterations, blocking the three components completely abolished them. These results indicate that alterations of the Ca(2+)-sensitive and -insensitive transient outward current together with the Ca2+ current contribute to the action potential alterations after initiation of rapid drive or an increase in driving rates.     

Block of delayed rectifier potassium current, IK, by flecainide and E-4031 in cat ventricular myocytes

Block of the delayed rectifier potassium current, IK, by the class IC antiarrhythmic agent, flecainide, and by the novel selective class III antiarrhythmic agent, E-4031, were compared in isolated cat ventricular myocytes using the single suction-pipette, voltage-clamp technique. Flecainide (10 microM) markedly reduced IK elicited on depolarization steps to plateau voltages (+10 mV) and nearly completely blocked the "tail currents" elicited on repolarization to -40 mV (93 +/- 4% block at +40 mV, n = 3). E-4031 (1 microM) produced similar effects (96 +/- 3% block at +40 mV, n = 3). Slow voltage ramps from -100 to +40 mV confirmed inward rectifying properties of IK and showed that flecainide and E-4031 have no effects on the background potassium current, IK1. Thus, the results demonstrate that block of IK is a common feature of flecainide and E-4031. IK block by E-4031 most likely underlies the drug's potent class III antiarrhythmic properties. On the other hand, flecainide block of IK during an action potential would tend to prolong repolarization, but this effect may be obscured by concomitant block of plateau Na+ channels to produce little or no change in action potential duration, consistent with its class IC classification.     

Role of membrane potential in Ba2+ induced automaticity in guinea pig cardiac myocytes.

STUDY OBJECTIVE--The aim was to study in isolated myocardial cells the role of membrane potential in barium induced spontaneous activity and the ionic mechanism of the underlying pacemaker current. DESIGN--The membrane potential and resistance of single myocytes were studied at different voltage levels by means of current and voltage clamp steps in the absence and presence of barium (Ba). EXPERIMENTAL MATERIAL--The membrane potentials and currents of single guinea pig ventricular myocytes were recorded by means of an intracellular microelectrode through which current could also be passed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS--In the presence of Ba (0.1-0.2 mM), stepwise depolarisations induced a transient overshoot and initiated action potentials followed by an undershoot, diastolic depolarisation and spontaneous discharge. During progressive depolarisations, membrane resistance (Rm) increased, decreased transiently at the end of the action potential, and reincreased during diastole. Stepwise repolarisations had opposite effects. Hyperpolarisations reversed diastolic depolarisation and could unmask oscillatory potentials (Vos). Voltage clamp steps to +20 mV were followed by outward tail currents during which Rm increased. Larger or longer depolarisations were followed by larger outward tail currents at resting potential level. The outward tail current reversed at potentials negative to EK. CONCLUSIONS--In the presence of Ba, applied depolarisation facilitates the induction of spontaneous activity through an interplay between voltage dependent and time dependent Ba block and unblock of gK1, voltage dependent increase in Rm, increased potassium driving force, and negative shift in the slow inward current threshold and sometimes Vos. The pacemaker potential underlying spontaneous activity is due to the slow re-establishment of Ba block of IK1 during diastole.     

An inward rectifier and a voltage-dependent K+ current in single, cultured pericytes from bovine heart

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe passive electrical properties and major membrane currents in coronary pericytes. METHODS: 78 single, cultured bovine pericytes were studied with the patch-clamp technique in the whole-cell mode. RESULTS: The membrane potential of the cells was -48.9+/-9.6 mV (mean+/-S.D.) with 5 mM and -23.2+/-2.2 mV with 60 mM extracellular K+. The membrane capacitance was 150.2+/-123.2 pF. The current-voltage relation of the pericytes was dominated by an inward current at hyperpolarized potentials and an outward current at depolarized potentials. Increasing extracellular K+ from 5 to 60 mM led to an increase of the inward current and to a shift of this current to more depolarized potentials. The inward current was very sensitive to extracellular barium (50 microM). The maximum slope conductance of the cells at hyperpolarized potentials was 2.9+/-2.8 nS. Inward rectification of whole-cell currents was steep (slope factor = 6.8 mV). With elevated external K+ the outward current reversed near the potassium equilibrium potential. Onset of the outward current was sigmoid and inactivation of this current was monoexponential, slow (time constant = 12.8 s) and incomplete. Voltage-dependence of outward current steady-state activation was steep (slope factor = 4.6 mV). The outward current was very sensitive to 4-aminopyridine (dissociation constant = 0.1 mM). The maximum slope conductance at depolarized potentials was 16.6+/-15.6 nS. CONCLUSION: We report for the first time, patch-clamp recordings from coronary pericytes. An inward rectifier and a voltage-dependent K+ current were identified and characterized. Regulation of these currents may influence coronary blood flow.     

Characterization of a G-protein-regulated outward K+ current in mesophyll cells of vicia faba L.

Whole-cell voltage-dependent currents in isolated mesophyll protoplasts of Vicia faba were investigated by patch-clamp techniques. With 104 mM K+ in the cytosol and 13 mM K+ in the external solution, depolarization of the plasma membrane from -47 mV to potentials between -15 and +85 mV activated a voltage- and time-dependent outward current (Iout). The average magnitude of Iout at +85 mV was 28.5 +/- 3.3 pA.pF-1. No inward voltage-dependent current was observed upon hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane from -55 mV to potentials as negative as -175 mV. Time-activated outward current was blocked by Ba2+ (1 mM BaCl2) and was not observed when K+ was eliminated from the external and internal solutions, indicating that this outward current was carried primarily by K+ ions. The voltage dependency of outward K+ current revealed a possible mechanism for K+ efflux from mesophyll cells. A GDP analogue guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (500 microM) significantly enhanced outward K+ current. The outward K+ current was inhibited by the GTP analogue guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (500 microM) and by an increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentrations. Cholera toxin, which ADP-ribosylates guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins, also inhibited outward K+ current. These findings illustrate the presence in mesophyll cells of outward-rectifying K+ channels that are regulated by GTP-binding proteins and calcium.     

Cardiac electrophysiologic effects of parathyroid hormone in the guinea pig

Summary The cardiac electrophysiologic effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) were studied in three different experimental models. Purified synthetic human parathyroid hormone (hPTH 1–84), at a dose of 30 ng/g body weight (BW), prolonged the QT interval of surface ECGs in intact guinea pigs. To further clarify the mechanisms of the QT prolongation caused by hPTH, the action potentials of guinea pig papillary muscle were recorded by conventional microelectrode techniques. hPTH (10^–7 M) prolonged the action potential duration without changing the action potential amplitude, resting potential, maximal upstroke velocity of the action potential, or maximal repolarization rate. hPTH affected only the plateau phase, in a concentration-dependent fashion. The half-maximum concentration was 6.8 × 10^–8M for action potential duration at 30% repolarization (APD₃₀), 3.2 × 10^–8M for APD₅₀, and 2.1 × 10^–8M for APD₉₀. In isolated single guinea pig ventricular cells, the patch clamp method was used to record the slow inward calcium current (I_Ca) and delayed rectifier potassium current (I_K) responsible for the action potential plateau phase. hPTH increased the peak amplitude of I_Ca at +10mV by an average of 42%, and increased I_K at +10mV by 85%. These results indicate that, in ventricular muscle, hPTH prolongs the action potential duration and QT interval by the balance of the prolongation effect on APD by enhancing the slow inward calcium current and the shortening effect on APD by enhancing the delayed rectifier potassium current.     

Repolarizing currents in ventricular myocytes from young patients with tetralogy of Fallot.

OBJECTIVE: It was the aim of our study to describe repolarizing currents in ventricular myocytes isolated from children with tetralogy of Fallot. This is the first report on outward currents in ventricular myocytes from children. METHODS: Ventricular myocytes were isolated from tissue samples of the outflow tract of the right ventricle which were obtained during corrective surgery of tetralogy of Fallot. Action potentials and whole-cell currents were recorded with the patch clamp technique at a temperature of 36-37 degrees C. RESULTS: The mean resting potential was -71.7 +/- 1.92 mV, action potential amplitude was 110 +/- 2.96 mV and action potential duration at 90% repolarization was 794 +/- 99.5 ms (n = 12). In four out of 12 myocytes early afterdepolarizations (EADs) were observed. Upon hyperpolarization Ba(2+)-sensitive inward currents similar to the inward rectifier current (IKl) could be observed. The current density at -120 mV was -22.8 +/- 2.47 pA/pF (n = 14). A transient outward current (Itol) could be recorded in all myocytes studied, the current density varied from 0.3 to 8.6 pA/pF with a mean of 3.77 +/- 0.47 pA/pF at +40 mV (n = 38). Recovery of Itol from inactivation was fast (70% recovery within 100 ms), rate-dependent reduction amounted to 38.2% at 4 Hz. A delayed rectifier current was seen in only two out of 38 myocytes (rapid component IKr). CONCLUSIONS: The electrophysiological characteristics of right ventricular myocytes isolated from children with tetralogy of Fallot resemble in most cases subendocardial myocytes from adults. The most prominent difference is a fast recovery from inactivation as well as a small rate dependent reduction of Itol. The observed EADs may have clinical implications.     

Effect of OPC-8490 on the membrane potentials and membrane currents of single guinea-pig myocytes

Summary The direct actions of OPC-8490 on mammalian myocardium were examined by determination of the drug's effects on the action potentials of isolated guinea-pig single ventricular cells and on the underlying ionic currents. OPC-8490 (10⁶ to 10⁴ M) did not alter the resting membrane potential, but rather produced a dose-dependent prolongation of the duration of the action potential. The amplitude of the action-potential plateau was also increased by OPC-8490. Whole-cell voltage clamp experiments revealed that OPC-8490 blocks myocardial delayed outward K⁺ current (I_K), which regulates repolarization of the action potentials. However I_KI, which regulates the resting membrane potential, was not changed by OPC-8490. Ca current (I_Ca) was increased by OPC-8490 in a dose-dependent and reversible manner. These results suggest that OPC-8490 augments the plateau amplitude and increases the duration of the action potentials by not only increasing I_Ca, but also by decreasing delayed out-ward K⁺ currents. Moreover, OPC-8490 did not affect the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP in single cells. The OPC-8490 increase in I_Ca was thus unlikely to be mediated by a process involving cyclic AMP.     

Repolarizing K+ currents ITO1 and IKs are larger in right than left canine ventricular midmyocardium

BACKGROUND: The ventricular action potential exhibits regional heterogeneity in configuration and duration (APD). Across the left ventricular (LV) free wall, this is explained by differences in repolarizing K+ currents. However, the ionic basis of electrical nonuniformity in the right ventricle (RV) versus the LV is poorly investigated. We examined transient outward (ITO1), delayed (IKs and IKr), and inward rectifier K+ currents (IK1) in relation to action potential characteristics of RV and LV midmyocardial (M) cells of the same adult canine hearts. METHODS AND RESULTS: Single RV and LV M cells were used for microelectrode recordings and whole-cell voltage clamping. Action potentials showed deeper notches, shorter APDs at 50% and 95% of repolarization, and less prolongation on slowing of the pacing rate in RV than LV. ITO1 density was significantly larger in RV than LV, whereas steady-state inactivation and rate of recovery were similar. IKs tail currents, measured at -25 mV and insensitive to almokalant (2 micromol/L), were considerably larger in RV than LV. IKr, measured as almokalant-sensitive tail currents at -50 mV, and IK1 were not different in the 2 ventricles. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in K+ currents may well explain the interventricular heterogeneity of action potentials in M layers of the canine heart. These results contribute to a further phenotyping of the ventricular action potential under physiological conditions.