自发性高血压大鼠左心室肌细胞动作电位延长的离子机制

目的:研究自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)左心室肌细胞动作电位时程延长的膜离子流基础.方法:应用酶解方法分离获得正常血压Wistar大鼠和SHR的左心室肌细胞,采用玻璃微电极技术记录动作电位,膜片钳全细胞记录膜离子流,对比正常心室肌细胞和肥大心室肌细胞间动作电位及膜离子流差别.结果:(1)SHR和Wistar大鼠的心脏/体重比分别为5.66±0.46 mg/g和3.7±0.29 mg/g (P<0.001) ,细胞平均膜电容分别为280.68±67.98 pF 和189.94±56.59 pF(P<0.05).提示SHR 心脏肥厚、心肌细胞增大;(2)SHR动作电位APD50和APD90较Wistar大鼠明显延长(21.33±1.56 ms vs 14.91±2.95 ms,P<0.001; 164.6±74 ms vs 93.27±10.59 ms,P<0.00 1),说明SHR心室肌细胞存在复极延迟;(3)SHR的平均ICa-L幅值显著大于Wistar大鼠,分别为1944±466.8 pA和1136±33.3 pA(P<0.001),电流密度二者间无差异(6.932±1.7 1 pA/pF vs 6.19±2.85 pA/pF) ,但SHR的慢失活时间常数明显延长(56.01±13.36 ms vs 43.63±17.89 ms,P<0.001);(4)S HR的Ik1内向电流密度显著小于Wistar大鼠(11.3±2.26 pA/pF vs 14.33 pA/pF,P<0.05),外向电流密度二者间差异无显著性(2.36±0.86 pA/pF vs 2.96±1.27 pA/pF);(5)SHR的Ik密度与Wista r大鼠间无差别(12.38±5.46 pA/pF vs 11.86±3.59 pA/pF);(6)SHR的Ito密度显著地低于Wistar 大鼠(+70 mV时, 8.21±6.64 pA/pF vs 19.16±6.17 pA/pF, P<0.001).但通道的激活和失活时间常数二者无差异,提示Ito的降低可能仅是通道数减少所致.结论:SHR左心室肌细胞动作电位时程延长系外向复极钾流(Ito、Ik1)减小和慢钙通道失活时间常数延长所致.     

伊布利特对兔急性心肌梗死后梗死周边区心外膜心室肌细胞L型钙电流的影响

目的观察伊布利特对急性心肌梗死(AMI)后一周心室肌细胞L型钙通道电流(ICa-L)的影响。方法兔开胸,左前降支结扎造成AMI,1周后酶解分离梗死周边区心外膜心室肌细胞,用全细胞膜片钳技术记录10-6mol/L伊布利特细胞外液(伊布利特组)对梗死周边区心外膜心室肌细胞ICa-L活性的影响,并与正常对照组(对照组)及AMI但未灌流伊布利特组(AMI组)比较。结果①AMI 1周时兔梗死周边区心室肌细胞ICa-L受到抑制,电流密度-电压曲线(I-V)上移,ICa-L电流密度峰值降低[-3.52±0.91 pA/pF(n=10)vs-5.68±1.53 pA/pF(n=10),P<0.05];伊布利特组电流密度峰值为-4.84±1.22 pA/pF(n=8),较AMI组显著增大(P<0.05),与对照组比较,虽有减小,但无差异(P>0.05)。②AMI组、伊布利特组ICa-L失活曲线明显左移,以AMI组左移更加明显,对照组半数失活电压(V0.5)为-32±4 mV(n=10),AMI组V0.5增加为-46±7 mV(n=10,P<0.05),伊布利特组V0.5为-36±6mV(n=8),与对照组比较无差异(P>0.05)。结论AMI后1周梗死周边带心室肌细胞L型钙通道受阻滞,伊布利特对缺血引起的ICa-L的异常有明显改善作用。     

辛伐他汀对血脂正常兔心肌缺血再灌注后L型钙电流的影响

目的通过研究辛伐他汀预处理对兔心肌缺血再灌注后L型钙离子通道电流(ICa-L)的影响,探讨他汀类药物抗心律失常的细胞学离子机制。方法45只新西兰大耳白兔随机分为3组:缺血再灌注组(I-R组,结扎冠状动脉左前降支30min后再开放120min);辛伐他汀治疗组(他汀组,手术前给予辛伐他汀5mg·kg-1·d-1,3天);假手术对照组(对照组,只开胸不结扎血管)。观察心律失常发生情况。采用酶解法分离缺血部位心室肌外膜单个心室肌细胞,采用全细胞膜片钳技术,记录ICa-L,同时检测各组血脂水平。结果各组动物血脂水平无显著差异。I-R组心律失常发生率较对照组增加,他汀组较I-R组心律失常发生率明显下降。对照组、I-R组和他汀组ICa-L电流密度峰值(0mV)分别为-3.13±1.22pA/pF(n=16),-4.24±0.92pA/pF(n=15)和-3.46±0.85pA/pF(n=13)。I-R组较对照组明显升高(P<0.05),他汀组较I-R组明显下降(P<0.05),他汀组与对照组无差异(P>0.05)。结论缺血再灌注可导致梗死区心室肌细胞I明显增加,辛伐他汀预处理可逆转这种变化。     

黄芩甙对大鼠心室肌细胞触发性心律失常的影响及其机制

目的研究黄芩甙对触发性心律失常的影响,探讨黄芩甙抗心律失常的机制。方法酶解法分离大鼠心室肌细胞,全细胞膜片钳技术记录黄芩甙作用前后的L型钙电流(ICa-L)的变化,外科手术得到心室乳头肌,标准玻璃微电极技术记录黄芩甙作用前后跨膜动作电位(TAP)的变化以及哇巴因诱发的延迟后除极(DAD)和触发活动(TA)的影响。结果①在电压钳制下,黄芩甙对ICa-L均有明显抑制作用,随浓度的增加,对ICa-L的抑制作用逐渐增强。10,20和40μmol/L的黄芩甙对ICa-L的最大电流密度抑制作用分别由15.8±1.2pA/pF减小到11.3±0.9,8.2±0.8,4.9±0.6pA/pF(P均<0.05)。黄芩甙对ICa-L的抑制作用具有非常好的量效性,半效抑制浓度为27.7±1.9μmol/L。显著上抬I-V曲线。②20μmol/L黄芩甙明显缩短动作电位时程,抑制哇巴因诱导的DAD和TA。结论黄芩甙能抑制触发性心律失常,这可能与黄芩甙抑制心肌细胞ICa-L内流,减少细胞内Ca2+超载有一定关系。     

艾司洛尔对心室肌细胞动作电位及L-型钙离子通道的影响

目的 观察艾司洛尔对豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位(AP)和L-型钙离子通道的影响.方法 Langendorff离体心脏逆向灌流法分离豚鼠心室肌细胞,随机选取心室肌细胞分为正常对照组和艾司洛尔(50 μmol/L和100 μmol/L)组.应用全细胞电流钳模式记录心室肌细胞AP,应用电压钳模式记录L-型钙离子通道电流(ICa-L).结果 艾司洛尔(100 μmol/L )可使心肌细胞AP时程APD20、APD50明显缩短(P<0.05),心室肌细胞ICa-L峰值电流明显降低(P<0.05).结论 艾司洛尔缩短心室肌细胞AP时程和抑制钙通道可能是其抑制交感风暴的机制之一.     

血管紧张素Ⅱ对大鼠心室肌细胞L型钙电流的影响

目的研究血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)对大鼠单个心室肌细胞L-型钙电流(ICa-L)的影响。方法通过全心灌流酶解法分离大鼠心室肌细胞,利用全细胞膜片钳技术,记录干预前及20 ng/L,200 ng/L AngⅡ干预后心室肌细胞的ICa-L及对失活曲线的影响。结果①AngⅡ可激活ICa-L,20 ng/L及200 ng/L AngⅡ能使心肌细胞ICa-L电流-电压关系曲线明显下移,峰电流密度增加(-7.05±1.35 pA/pF,-9.74±1.52 pA/pF vs-5.49±0.82 pA/pF,n=10,P均<0.05),但激活电位、峰电位和翻转电位无明显改变。②AngⅡ能使ICa-L失活曲线明显右移。结论AngⅡ对ICa-L具有激活作用。这可能是其对心血管作用的重要机制之一。     

索他洛尔对豚鼠心室肌动作电位及延迟整流钾电流的作用特性

目的　研究索他洛尔对豚鼠乳头状肌动作电位 (AP)和单个心室肌细胞延迟整流钾电流的作用及索他洛尔致心律失常的可能机制。方法　用标准微电极技术和全细胞膜片钳技术 ,分别测定豚鼠乳头状肌AP和单个心室肌细胞离子电流。结果　在索他洛尔浓度为 10 0 μmol/L时可明显延长APD ,使APD2 0 和APD90 分别延长13.33%和 19.71%。且该作用随BCL增加而增加 ,呈现出逆频率依赖性特点。在单个心室肌细胞的实验中10 0 μmol/L索他洛尔仅对IKr有阻滞作用 ,使IKr及IKr,tail的幅值从 (0 .6 8± 0 .2 7) pA/pF和 (0 .94± 0 .30 ) pA/ pF降至(0 .4 7± 0 .18) pA/ pF和 (0 .6 0± 0 .32 )pA/ pF ;且此作用也呈逆频率依赖性。结论　索他洛尔对心肌电生理的逆频率依赖性的作用特性可能是其诱发尖端扭转性室速 (TdP)等心律失常的机制之一。     

兔界嵴细胞离子通道特性研究

目的研究生理状态下及异丙肾上腺素灌流对兔界嵴(CT)与梳状肌(PM)细胞动作电位(AP)及钠电流(INa)、短暂外向钾电流(Ito)、L型钙电流(ICa-L)、延迟整流钾电流(IK)及内向整流性钾电流(IK1)的影响,探讨CT与房性心律失常的关系。方法酶解法分离兔CT及PM细胞,利用全细胞膜片钳技术,记录生理状态下及异丙肾上腺素灌流后CT与PM细胞AP及INa、Ito、ICa-L、IK及IK1的变化。结果①生理状态下,CT细胞动作电位时程(APD)较长,可见明显的平台期;PM细胞AP形态与普通心房肌细胞相似,1期复极迅速,平台期短,类似三角形。②生理状态下,CT细胞Ito电流密度比PM细胞明显降低(7.13±0.38 pA/pF vs 10.70±0.62 pA/pF,n=9,P<0.01),而INa、Ito、ICa-L、IK及IK1则无明显差别。③异丙肾上腺素灌流时CT与PM细胞APD20、APD50、APD90均延长(n=8,P<0.01);指令电位+50 mV时,CT与PM细胞Ito电流密度均减少(n=9,P<0.01)而IK均增加(n=8,P<0.05);指令电位+10 mV时,CT与PM细胞ICa-L电流密度均增加(n=9,P<0.01);IK1在两种心肌细胞均无明显差异。结论 CT与PM细胞AP差异与Ito有关。异丙肾上腺素灌流时ICa-L与IK增强,Ito抑制使CT与PM细胞APD延长,触发机制可能是CT参与房性心律失常的机制之一。     

缬草单萜氧化物对兔单个心室肌细胞L-型钙电流的影响

利用全细胞膜片钳记录技术研究30μg/L和100μg/L缬草单萜氧化物(VMO)对兔单个心室肌细胞L型钙电流(ICaL)和动作电位的影响。结果:30μg/L和100μg/L的VMO使兔心室肌细胞ICaL峰值由6.04±0.59pA/pF分别减至3.99±0.31pA/pF和2.31±0.24pA/pF(n=8,P<0.01);VMO使ICaL的电流电压曲线上移,但不改变其激活电位、电位峰值和反转电位;VMO还使钙电流失活曲线左移。30μg/LVMO可使动作电位时程(APD)明显缩短,APD50和APD90分别缩短了50.3%和29.6%(n=16,P<0.05),而静息电位和动作电位幅值无明显改变。结论:VMO对LCaL具有浓度依赖性阻滞作用。这可能是其对心血管作用的重要机制之一。     

正常大鼠心室肌细胞动作电位和瞬时外向钾离子流的特点

目的研究正常Spraque-Dawley大鼠外层、中层和内层心室肌细胞动作电位(AP)和瞬时外向钾离子流(Ito)的特点。方法采用酶消化法获得大鼠外层、中层和内层心室肌细胞,以全细胞膜片钳技术记录心室肌细胞AP和Ito。结果成功记录到大鼠心室肌细胞外、中和内层心肌细胞AP和Ito。外层至内层心室肌细胞动作电位时程(APD)逐渐延长(P<0.05)。在+70mV刺激时外层至内层心室肌细胞Ito电流密度逐渐减小,分别为59.50±15.99,29.15±5.53和12.29±3.62pA/pF(P<0.05)。三层心室肌细胞曲线半激活电压、半失活电压及失活后恢复时间均无差异(P>0.05)。结论大鼠三层心室肌细胞AP形态和Ito大小存在分层差别。     

绝对不应期电刺激对心力衰竭豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位时程和L型钙电流的影响

目的 探讨绝对不应期电刺激(ARPES)对健康和心力衰竭豚鼠心室肌细胞(分别简称NVM和FVM)动作电位(AP)时程(APD)和L型钙电流(ICa-L)的影响。方法 应用膜片钳技术中电流钳,首先记录基础刺激S1所诱发的AP(APS1),与S1延迟10 ms给予ARPES,记录ARPES给予后的AP(APARPES),比较APS1和APARPES的APD的值,以APD30、APD50和APD90代表动作电位复极30%、50％和90％时的APD值。分别以APS1和APARPES为测试电压,记录AP电压钳下的细胞膜ICa-L。结果(1)在NVM和FVM,ARPES应用后APD均明显延长,以APD30和APD50最为显著(P<0.01)。(2)在NVM,与APS1电压钳记录的ICa-L相比,APARPES电压钳记录的ICa-L电流强度有一过性的减弱和继发增强,但其单位膜电容下的电流强度的整合值略有降低(P<0.05)。在FVM,与APS1电压钳记录的ICa-L相比,APARPES电压钳记录的ICa-L电流强度的减弱程度明显减少,其单位膜电容下的电流强度的整合值是增加的(P<0.01)。结论 ARPES延长NVM和FVM的APD,对NVM和FVM的ICa-L具有不同的影响。     

缺血后处理对大鼠心室肌细胞内向整流钾电流和动作电位的影响

目的探讨缺血后处理(IPC)对大鼠心室肌细胞内向整流钾电流(IK1)和动作电位的影响及机制。方法实验分IPC组、缺血/再灌注(I/R)组、单纯灌流(SP)组,利用大鼠心脏建立离体灌注模型,采用胶原酶酶解法分离得到大鼠单心室肌细胞,采用膜片钳全细胞技术分别记录三组心室肌细胞电流和动作电位的变化。结果在-120mV和-30mV刺激电压水平,IK1电流密度:IPC组低于I/R组,I/R组高于SP组(P均<0.05),IPC组同SP组无差异(P>0.05)。与SP组和IPC组比较,I/R组静息电位明显升高(P<0.05);而动作电位幅度、20%动作电位时程、50%动作电位时程、90%动作电位时程均明显下降(P<0.05)。而IPC组各值与SP组无差异(P>0.05)。结论IPC可以降低大鼠缺血/再灌注心肌细胞IK1,延长缺血/再灌注心肌细胞APD。     

The ionic mechanisms of long QT interval in diabetic rabbits

Objective Abnormal QT prolongation associated with arrhythmias is considered the major cardiac electrical disorder and a significant predictor of mortality in diabetic patients. The precise ionic mechanisms for diabetic QT prolongation remained unclear. The present study was designed to analyze the changes of ventricular repolarization and the underlying ionic mechanisms in diabetic rabbit hearts. Methods Diabetes was induced by a single injection ofalloxan （145mg/kg, Lv. ）. After the development of diabetes （10 weeks）, ECG was measured. Whole-cell patch-clamp technique was applied to record the action potential duration （APD50, APD90）, slowly activating outward rectifying potassium current （IKs）, L-type calcium current （ICa-L） and inward rectifying potassium current （IK1）. Results The action potential duration （APD50 and APD90） of ventricular myocytes was obviously prolonged from 271.5＋32.3 ms and 347.8＋36.3 ms to 556.6~72.5 ms and 647.9~72.2 ms respectively （P〈 0.05）. Meanwhile the normalized peak current densities of IKs in ventricular myocytes investigated by whole-cell patch clamp was smaller in diabetic rabbits than that in control group at test potential of＋50mV （1.27~0.20 pA/pF vs 3.08~0.67 pA/pF, P〈0.05）. And the density of the ICa-L was increased apparently at the test potential of 10 mV （-2.67~0.41 pA/pF vs -5.404-1.08 pA/pF, P〈0.05）. Conclusion Ventricular repolarization was prolonged in diabetic rabbits, it may be partly due to the increased L-type calcium current and reduced slow delayed rectifier K＋ current （IKs） （J Geriatr Cardio12010; 7：25-29）.     

依那普利和厄贝沙坦及血管紧张素-(1-7)对快速心房起搏犬心房肌瞬时外向钾电流及L型钙电流的影响

目的研究依那普利、厄贝沙坦及血管紧张素-(1-7)[Ang-(1-7)]对快速心房起搏犬心房肌瞬时外向钾电流(Ito)、L型钙电流(ICa-L)及其基因表达的影响。方法普通杂种犬30只,分为假手术(S)组、心房起搏对照(C)组、依那普利(EN)组、厄贝沙坦(IB)组及Ang-(1-7)(A)组,每组6只。C组以特制起搏器维持500次/分右房起搏2周,S组安置起搏器但不予起搏刺激。EN组、IB组和A组,右房起搏同时分别给予依那普利、厄贝沙坦、Ang-(1-7)治疗至实验结束。观察心房肌细胞Ito、ICa-L和动作电位时程(APD)的变化,以及ItoKv4.3亚单位和ICa-Lα1C亚单位mRNA在心房组织的表达。结果与S组比较,心房起搏后,各刺激频率下C组和EN组APD复极达90%时程(APD90)显著缩短。IB组和A组,APD90缩短不显著。S组、IB组、A组,随着刺激频率增加APD90缩短,C组、EN组无此特征。除EN组外,不同刺激频率下,各组复极达50%时程(APD50)变化均不显著。与S组比较,C组、IB组Ito最大电流密度显著降低(P0.05),EN组显著升高(P0.01);C组、EN组、IB组ICa-L最大电流密度低于S组(P0.01)。C组、IB组Kv4.3mRNA转录水平低于S组(P0.01),EN组显著升高(P0.01)。C组、EN组、IB组、A组ICa-Lα1CmRNA转录水平较S组显著降低(P0.01)。结论依那普利、厄贝沙坦和Ang-(1-7)对快速心房起搏犬心房肌Ito、ICa-L及APD的影响不同。     

Age-related increase of early afterdepolarization in calsequestrin-2 knock-in mouse cardiomycyte

Objective To characterize early afterdepolarizations （EADs） caused triggered activity （TA） among calsequestrin-2 （CASQ2） knock-in （CASQ2 KI） mice and its relationship with aging. Methods Electrophysiological properties of ventricular myocytes from 3- month （mo, young）, 9-mo （adult-l） and 12-too （adult-2） in wild-type （WT） and CASQ2 KI mice were investigated with patch-clamp technique. Results The incidences of EADs and TA in CASQ2 KI cardiomyocytes increased with increasing age. In contrast, WT mice cardiomyocytes showed no significant change in matched-age groups. Compared with that in 3-mo CASQ2 KI mice, the 50% repolarization of action potential （APD50） showed prolongation in both 9-mo and 12-mo ones （9.2±0.9 ms of 9-mo and 10.3 ± 1.2 ms of 12- mo vs. 5.6± 0.3 ms of 3-mo）, while the 90 % repolarization of action potential （APD90） was similar among 3 age groups. Compared with 3-mo mice, the 9-mo and 12-mo CASQ2 KI mice showed markedly reduced transient outward potassium current （Ito） densities but increased L-type calcium current （ICa-L） densities. Conlcusion This study suggested that events of EADs and TA in CASQ2 KI mice increased with increasing age, It might be associated partly with the augment of cellular calcium concentration and the prolongation of APD50 induced by decrease of Ito and increase of ICa-L in adult CASQ2 KI mice     

福辛普利晚期预处理对缺氧复氧期心室肌动作电位的影响

目的：观察福辛普利晚期预处理对缺氧复氧心室肌细胞动作电位的影响。方法：应用全细胞膜片钳方法，记录观察酶解的成年豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位在缺氧复氧期的变化。结果：缺氧复氧的心室肌细胞膜静息电位增加，动作电位复极50时程（APD50）、APD90缩短（P均〈0．01）。福辛普利预处理可使晚期缺氧复氧的心室肌细胞膜静息电位降低，APD50、APD90延长，虽不显著（P〉0．05）。结论：福辛普利可稳定缺氧复氧心肌电生理活动，可模拟晚期预处理对心肌产生保护作用。     

Age-related increase of early afterdepolarization in calsequestrin-2 knock-in mouse cardiomycyte

Objective To characterize early afterdepolarizations (EADs) caused triggered activity (TA) among calsequestrin-2 (CASQ2) knock-in (CASQ2 KI) mice and its relationship with aging. Methods Electrophysiological properties of ventricular myocytes from 3-month (mo, young), 9-mo (adult-1) and 12-mo (adult-2) in wild-type (WT) and CASQ2 KI mice were investigated with patch-clamp technique. Results The incidences of EADs and TA in CASQ2 KI cardiomyocytes increased with increasing age. In contrast, WT mice cardiomyocytes showed no significant change in matched-age groups. Compared with that in 3-mo CASQ2 KI mice, the 50% repolarization of action potential (APD50) showed prolongation in both 9-mo and 12-mo ones (9.2±0.9 ms of 9-mo and 10.3±1.2 ms of 12-mo vs. 5.6±0.3 ms of 3-mo), while the 90 % repolarization of action potential (APD90) was similar among 3 age groups. Compared with 3-mo mice, the 9-mo and 12-mo CASQ2 KI mice showed markedly reduced transient outward potassium current (Ito) densities but increased L-type calcium current (ICa-L) densities. Conlcusion This study suggested that events of EADs and TA in CASQ2 KI mice increased with increasing age. It might be associated partly with the augment of cellular calcium concentration and the prolongation of APD50 induced by decrease of Ito and increase of ICa-L in adult CASQ2 KI mice (J Geriatr Cardiol 2010; 7:171-175).     

Reduced repolarization reserve in ventricular myocytes from female mice

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac repolarization is prolonged and repolarization reserve (RR) is diminished in female rabbits and humans, compared to males. Reduced RR is evidenced by the relatively greater increase in ventricular action potential duration (APD) in myocytes from females in response to drugs that block repolarizing K(+) currents. Mice are an increasingly important experimental model animal for cardiovascular research, but gender-dependent differences have not been reported for repolarization in murine ventricular myocytes. METHODS: APD and repolarizing K(+) currents were measured in isolated ventricular myocytes from adult littermate male and female mice. Repolarizing K(+) currents were dissected into transient (I(to)) and sustained (I(sus)) components and the selective I(sus) antagonist FK506 was used to probe for differences in RR. RESULTS: Under control conditions APD at 50% (APD(50)) and at 90% (APD(90)) repolarization was significantly longer in females (APD(50)=15 +/- 3 ms, n=6 and APD(90)=63 +/- 6 ms, n=6) compared to males (APD(50)=8 +/- 2 ms, n=7 and APD(90)=42 +/- 9 ms, n=7) at 1.0 Hz. At 0.3 Hz stimulation frequency APD(90), but not APD(50), was significantly longer in females (APD(50)=12 +/- 2 ms and APD(90)=54 +/- 5 ms, n=10) compared to males (APD(50)=11 =/- 2 ms and APD(90)=47 +/- 7 ms, n=10). FK506 treatment (25 microM) selectively and equally inhibited I(sus) in all cells, and significantly increased APD(50) and APD(90) in males and females at 0.3 and 1.0 Hz. However, increases in APD(50) and APD(90) (0.3 and 1.0 Hz) in response to FK506 were significantly greater in myocytes from females compared to males. Voltage clamp measurement of I(to) and I(sus) revealed that males had a relatively more prominent I(to) while females exhibited a more prominent I(sus). CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular action potential repolarization is prolonged in myocytes from female compared to male mice. Female mice have reduced RR that is unmasked by FK506. These findings suggest that gender is an important variable for cardiovascular studies using mice.     

Effects of autoantibodies against β1-adrenoceptor in hepatitis virus myocarditis on action potential and L-type Ca2+ currents

AIM: To investigate the effects of autoantibodies against β1-adrenoceptor in hepatitis virus myocarditis on action potential and L-type Ca2+ currents.METHODS: Fifteen samples of autoantibodies against β1-adrenoceptor positive sera of patients with hepatitis virus myocarditis were obtained and IgGs were purified by octanoic acid extraction. Binding of autoantibodies against β1-adrenoceptor to guinea pig cardiac myocytes was examined by immunofiuorescence. Using the patch clamp technique,the effects on the action potential and ICa-L of guinea pig cardiac myocytes caused by autoantibodies against β1-adrenoceptor in the absence and presence of metoprolol were investigated.Cell toxicity was examined by observing cell morphology and permeability of cardiac myocytes to trypan blue.RESULTS: The specific binding of autoantibodies against β1-adrenoceptor to guinea pig cardiomyocytes was observed.Autoantibodies against β1-adrenoceptor diluted at 1:80prolonged APD20, APD50 and APD90 by 39.2%, 29.1% and 15.2% respectively, and only by 7.2%, 5.3% and 4.1%correspondingly in the presence of 1 μmol/L metoprolol.Autoantibodies against β1-adrenoceptor diluted at 1:80,1:100 and 1:120 significantly increased the ICa-L peak current amplitude at 0 mV by 55.87±4.39%, 46.33±5.01% and 29.29±4.97% in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, after blocking of β1-adrenoceptors (1 μmol/L metoprolol), autoantibodies against β1-adrenoceptor diluted at 1:80 induced a slight increase of ICa-L peak amplitude only by 6.81±1.61%. A large number of cardiac myocytes exposed to high concentrations of autoantibodies against β1-adrenoceptor (1:80 and 1:100) were turned into rounded cells highly permeable to trypan blue.CONCLUSION: Autoantibodies against β1-adrenoceptor may result in arrhythmias and/or impairment of myocardiums in HVM, which would be mediated by the enhancement of ICa-L.