高胆固醇血症对大鼠心室肌细胞离子电流的作用

目的：观察高胆固醇血症对大鼠心室肌细胞离子电流的作用。方法： 通过全细胞膜片钳技术记录用酶解法分离的正常和高胆固醇饮食的大鼠心室肌细胞离子电流。结果： 高胆固醇组（组Ⅱ）血清总胆固醇水平明显高于正常组（组Ⅰ）［（3.10±0.62)mmol·L-1 vs (1.18±0.37)mmol·L-1, P<0.01, n=20］。组Ⅱ血清甘油三酯也明显高于组Ⅰ［（1.51±0.30)mmol·L-1 vs (0.43±0.15)mmol·L-1, P<0.01, n=20］。组Ⅱ大鼠心室肌细胞动作电位时程（APD）与组I相比明显延长，APD50从(70.86±8.12)ms延长至(116.16±6.90)ms (n=10, P<0.01); APD90 从(95.10±7.27)ms延长至(144.04±7.39)ms (n=10, P<0.01)；在实验电压 -120 mV， Ik1从(-16.98±4.54) pA/pF（组I）增加到(-19.92±4.08) pA/pF（组Ⅱ）(n=12, P<0.05)；在实验电压 0 mV， ICa-L从(-8.56±1.29) pA/pF（组Ⅰ）减少到(-5.24±0.90) pA/pF（组Ⅱ）(n=10, P<0.01)；在实验电压 +60 mV，Ito从(13.20±1.97) pA/pF（组I）减少到(10.30±1.97) pA/pF（组Ⅱ）(n=8, P<0.05)。结论： 高胆固醇血症可显著改变心肌细胞离子电流密度的大小，对心脏具有毒性作用。     

牵张刺激对乳大鼠心房肌细胞瞬时外向钾电流和内向整流钾电流的影响

 目的：探究牵张刺激对乳鼠心房肌细胞瞬时外向钾电流（Ito）、内向整流钾电流（IK1）和动作电位时程（APD）的影响。方法：取1日龄SD乳大鼠心脏,分离、消化获得心房肌细胞。于细胞牵引装置培养24 h分组：对照组不予牵张刺激;牵张组予增加12%硅胶膜面积牵张刺激24 h。膜片钳全细胞记录方法记录细胞膜Ito、IK1和APD的变化。结果：在+60 mV刺激电压水平,牵张组Ito密度与对照组相比明显降低［(16±04）pA/pF vs (121±29) pA/pF,P<001］。在-120 mV刺激电压下,牵张组IK1密度较对照组增大［（-108± 08） pA/pF vs (-88±09)pA/pF,P<001］。牵张组动作电位复极50%（APD50）和复极90％（APD90）均较对照组明显缩短［(105±14）ms vs (155±24) ms,(300± 28) ms vs (563±36) ms,P<001］。结论：牵张刺激可降低乳大鼠心房肌细胞Ito密度,增大IK1密度,缩短APD,这可能是压力负荷增大致心房电重构的基础之一。     

2型糖尿病大鼠心室肌细胞离子通道功能和表达变化

目的:探讨2型糖尿病大鼠心室肌细胞离子通道电流及其相关蛋白表达的改变。方法:采用Zucker糖尿病肥胖(Zucker diabetic fatty,ZDF)大鼠建立2型糖尿病大鼠模型,Zucker瘦型(Zucker lean,ZL)大鼠为对照组。采用急性酶解法分离大鼠单个心室肌细胞,采用全细胞膜片钳技术记录其动作电位、L型钙通道电流(I_Ca-L)及瞬时外向钾电流(I_to)的变化;提取大鼠心肌组织蛋白,采用Western blot检测心肌细胞肥大标志物β-肌球蛋白重链(β-myosin heavy chain,β-MHC)和心房钠尿肽(atrial natriuretic peptide,ANP),以及L型钙通道(Cav1.2)和钾通道(Kv4.3)的蛋白表达水平。结果:用高脂饮食诱导ZDF大鼠成功建立2型糖尿病模型;与ZL大鼠相比,ZDF大鼠心室肌细胞的动作电位时程显著延长,I_Ca-L和I_to密度显著降低[峰值分别为(?5.96±0.37)pA/pF vs(?4.92±0.30)pA/pF,(12.43±0.86)pA/pF vs(7.48±0.58)pA/pF,均P<0.05];与ZL大鼠相比,ZDF大鼠心肌组织中β-MHC和ANP的表达水平明显增加,伴有Cav1.2和Kv4.3蛋白表达下降(P<0.05)。结论:与ZL大鼠相比,2型糖尿病大鼠心肌细胞肥大,心室肌细胞动作电位时程延长,I_Ca-L和I_to密度及其相关蛋白表达水平降低,提示糖尿病大鼠心室肌细胞发生电生理重构。     

锌对异丙肾上腺素致损豚鼠心室肌细胞钙通道电流的影响

本实验应用全细胞膜片钳技术从离子通道水平研究锌对心肌细胞保护作用机理。结果显示 (1)异丙肾上腺素 (ISO) 10 - 8mol L可使正常豚鼠心室肌细胞钙电流 (Ica)从 1383± 2 6 5pA增至 16 10± 2 70pA(P <0 0 5 ,n =6 )。 (2 )锌0 2mmol L可使正常豚鼠心室肌细胞Ica从 1383± 2 6 5pA减小到 70 7± 10 8pA(P <0 0 5 ,n =6 )。 (3)先加锌 0 2mmol L再加ISO 10 - 8mol L ,Ica幅值增加到 10 30± 2 5 0pA ,与ISO组相比差异显著 (P <0 0 5 ,n =6 )。提示微量元素锌可抑制因ISO引起的豚鼠心室肌Ica的增加。     

急性坏死性胰腺炎对心室肌细胞钠和钙离子电流的影响

目的:研究急性坏死性胰腺炎(ANP)后心室肌细胞钠通道电流(I_Na)、L-钙通道电流(I_Ca-L)活性的变化。方法:采用牛磺胆酸钠逆行胰胆管注射建立鼠的ANP动物模型,应用膜片钳全细胞记录方法,观察ANP后1 h心肌细胞I_Na、I_Ca-L的变化。结果:I_Na和I_Ca-L电流-电压关系曲线在ANP组较对照组明显上移。ANP组I_Na电流密度峰值(-30 mV)为(12.45±2.26)pA／pF(n=16),明显低于假手术组(25.32±3.31)pA/pF(n=14),P<0.01;ANP组I_Ca-L电流密度峰值(+10 mV)为(3.63±0.65)pA／pF(n=16),显著低于假手术组(5.46±1.03)pA／pF(n=12),P<0.01。结论:ANP可导致心室肌细胞I_Na和I_Ca-L下降,引起心肌传导速度下降和动作电位时程缩短,可能是导致ANP后出现心律失常的原因。     

0.5 mT工频磁场对小鼠海马CA3区锥体神经元延迟整流钾离子通道和动作电位的影响

目的 研究与日常生活密切相关的0.5 mT工频磁场对小鼠海马CA3区锥体神经元的影响.方法 采用急性分离的方法制备小鼠海马CA3区锥体神经元,用0.5 mT、50 Hz磁场对小鼠海马CA3区锥体神经元刺激30 min后,运用全细胞膜片钳技术研究其延迟整流钾通道电流,Ik和动作电位特性.结果 0.5 mT工频磁场照射小鼠海马CA3区锥体神经元30 min后,其电流密度减小,对照组和曝磁组最大电流密度分别为（171.05＋1.32）pA/pF、（139.65±2.37）pA/pF（n=12,P〈0.05）;对照组和曝磁组半数激活电压分别为（7.44±0.64）mV、（34.09＋6.48）mV（n=12,P〈0.05）;斜率因子分别为11.36±0.57、19.97±3.45（n=12,P〈0.05）;动作电位复极化时程APD90由（14.63±0.34）ms延长为（21.74±1.47）ms（n=12,P〈0.05）.结论 0.5 mT工频磁场可使小鼠海马CA3区锥体神经元延迟整流钾通道电流Ik减小,通道开放延迟,通道激活速度减慢,动作电位复极化时间延长.     

花生四烯酸对家兔心室肌细胞动作电位和L-型钙电流的影响

目的：研究花生四烯酸(AA)对家兔单个心室肌细胞动作电位和L-型钙电流的影响。方法：酶解法分离家兔单个心室肌细胞，用全细胞膜片钳技术记录其动作电位和L-型钙电流。结果：①AA明显缩短动作电位时程（APD），而对静息电位（RP）和动作电位幅值（APA）无明显影响。②AA使L- 型钙电流峰电流密度从(10.21±3.15) PA/PF减少到（6.53±2.17）PA/PF(n=6,P＜0.05）,I-V关系曲线上移，其形状和峰值电压保持不变。结论：花生四烯酸能抑制L-型钙电流，缩短动作电位时程，这可能是其心血管作用的重要机制之一。     

丹皮酚对家兔心室肌细胞时外向钾电流的抑制作用

目的 探讨丹皮酚(Paeonol,Pae)对家兔心室肌细胞瞬时外向钾电流(transient outward potassium current,Ito)及其动力学的影响.方法 用酶解法分离单个兔心室肌细胞.全细胞膜片钳技术记录Pae对兔心室肌细胞Ito的影响前后变化.结果 Pae 100 μg/ml作用心肌细胞5 min,可使Ito明显减小.指令电位为+50 mV时,可使Ito从(41.45±5.89)pA/pF减少到(8.97±2.78)pA/pF,两者之间有显著性差异(n=6,P＜0.01).冲洗15 min后,Ito部分恢复至(39.74±0.82)pA/pF(n=6,P＜0.01,与给药后比较),接近给药前的峰值,表明该药对Ito的抑制作用是可逆的.在50～400 μg/ml范围内,Pae对Ito的抑制作用表现为浓度依赖性,IC50的平均值为101.55 μg/ml.Pae 100 μg/ml使各膜电位水平下Ito减小,I-V曲线下移.Pae不改变Ito稳态激活动力学曲线.但使失活动力学曲线显著左移,即向超极化方向移动,50% Ito失活曲线点分别为(-45.3±3.5)mV和(-81.19±2.9)mV(n=8,P＜0.01),与对照组相比,差异有显著性.同时可使Ito失活后恢复时间延长,用药前后50% Ito恢复时间分别为(20.1±2.5)ms和(45.1±2.2)ms(n=8,P＜0.01),与对照组相比,有显著性差异.结论 Pae对家兔心室肌细胞Ito具有显著的抑制作用,这可能是Pae发挥抗心律失常作用的另一电生理基础.     

琥珀酸在海马CA1区对突触前GABA释放的影响

为了观察琥珀酸在大鼠海马CA1区对突触前GABA释放的影响,我们采用红外可视全细胞膜片钳技术记录了琥珀酸对γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)能自发性微小抑制性突触后电流(miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents,mIPSCs)的作用。结果显示不同浓度的琥珀酸(10-6mol/L、10-5mol/L、10-4mol/L和10-3mol/L)在海马CA1区均能以浓度依赖的方式增强GABA能mIPSCs的频率,而对其电流幅度没有影响。10-4mol/L琥珀酸组GABA能mIPSCs的频率为2.25±0.99Hz,与正常对照组相比有显著性差异(n=8,P<0.01),而其电流幅度为31.63±6.16pA,与正常对照组相比没有差异(n=8,P>0.05)。以上实验结果表明琥珀酸能通过增强突触前GABA的自发性释放,对海马CA1区神经元产生超极化作用,此作用可能是琥珀酸抑制癫痫形成的主要方式之一。     

炙甘草汤含药血清对家兔心室肌细胞瞬时外向钾电流的抑制作用

目的:探讨炙甘草汤含药血清对家兔心室肌细胞瞬时外向钾电流(Ito)及其动力学的影响。方法:用酶解法分离单个兔心室肌细胞。血清药理学法确定血清中炙甘草汤含药浓度。全细胞膜片钳技术记录炙甘草汤含药血清对兔心室肌细胞Ito的影响前后变化。结果:20%炙甘草汤含药血清作用心肌细胞5min,可使Ito明显减小。指令电位为+50mV时,可使Ito从(43.3±5.89)pA/pF减少到(7.98±2.78)pA/pF(n=6,P<0.01)。该含药血清对Ito的抑制作用可逆。在5%~40%范围内,该含药血清对Ito的抑制作用为浓度依赖性,IC50的平均值为12.18%。20%该含药血清使各膜电位水平下Ito减小,I-V曲线下移。不改变Ito稳态激活动力学曲线,但使失活动力学曲线显著左移。50%Ito失活曲线点分别为(-41.4±3.5)mV和(-79.9±2.9)mV(n=8,P<0.05)。同时使Ito失活后恢复时间延长,用药前后50%Ito恢复时间分别为(18.2±2.5)ms和(44.1±2.2)ms(n=8,P<0.01)。结论:炙甘草汤含药血清对家兔心室肌细胞Ito具有显著的抑制作用,这可能是炙甘草汤抗心律失常的可能电生理基础之一。     

Cell swelling causes the action potential duration to shorten in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes by activating I KATP

 In guinea-pig ventricular myocytes, cell swelling by incubation in hypotonic solution caused a pronounced shortening of the action potential duration (APD₉₀: 15.5±14.6% compared to control; mean ± SD) after a latency of 12 min when the intracellular ATP concentration was 2 mM. This shortening was partially reversible within 10 min after reperfusion with isotonic solution (APD₉₀: 80.5±12.1% compared to control). With 5 mM intracellular ATP in the pipette electrode, the effect of cell swelling on the action potential was significantly reduced. Incubation with 1 μM glibenclamide, a blocker of the ATP-dependent K⁺ current (I _KATP), abolished the swelling-induced shortening of the action potential duration, whereas incubation with 0.5 mM 4,4’-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2’-disulphonic acid (DIDS), a blocker of the swelling-induced Cl^– current (I _Cl,swell), had no effect on the action potential duration in hypotonic solution. Simultaneous measurements of membrane currents substantiate that I _KATP is the current that underlies this effect. These results suggest that in the ischaemic myocardium I _KATP may be partially activated by cell swelling, resulting in a shortening of the action potential duration before the intracellular ATP concentration has fallen below 2 mM. Received: 30 March 1998 Received after revision: 7 July 1998 Accepted: 25 July 1998     

Effects of potassium channel openers in the isolated perfused hypokalaemic murine heart

Aim: We explored the anti‐arrhythmic efficacy of K⁺ channel activation in the hypokalaemic murine heart using NS1643 and nicorandil, compounds which augment I_Kr and I_KATP respectively. Methods: Left ventricular epicardial and endocardial monophasic action potentials were compared in normokalaemic and hypokalaemic preparations in the absence and presence of NS1643 (30 μm ) and nicorandil (20 μm ). Results: Spontaneously beating hypokalaemic hearts (3 mm K⁺) all elicited early afterdepolarizations (EADs) and episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT). Perfusion with NS1643 and nicorandil suppressed EADs and VT in 7 of 13 and five of six hypokalaemic hearts. Provoked arrhythmia studies using programmed electrical stimulation induced VT in all hypokalaemic hearts, but failed to do so in 7 of 13 and five of six hearts perfused with NS1643 and nicorandil respectively. These anti‐arrhythmic effects were accompanied by reductions in action potential duration at 90% repolarization (APD₉₀) and changes in the transmural gradient of repolarization, reflected in ΔAPD₉₀. NS1643 and nicorandil reduced epicardial APD₉₀ from 68.3 ± 1.1 to 56.5 ± 4.1 and 51.5 ± 1.5 ms, respectively, but preserved endocardial APD₉₀ in hypokalaemic hearts. NS1643 and nicorandil thus restored ΔAPD₉₀ from ?9.6 ± 4.3 ms under baseline hypokalaemic conditions to 3.9 ± 4.1 and 9.9 ± 2.1 ms, respectively, close to normokalaemic values. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate, for the first time, the anti‐arrhythmic efficacy of K⁺ channel activation in the setting of hypokalaemia. NS1643 and nicorandil are anti‐arrhythmic through the suppression of EADs, reductions in APD₉₀ and restorations of ΔAPD₉₀.     

心肌肽素对豚鼠心室肌细胞钠通道的影响

目的： 研究心肌肽素对豚鼠心室肌细胞钠通道的影响，探讨心肌肽素在离子通道水平的作用机制。 方法： 用急性酶解分离法获得豚鼠心室肌细胞，标准全细胞膜片钳技术记录钠电流(I_Na)。 结果： 心肌肽素1、5、10、50、100、500 mg/L使豚鼠心室肌细胞I_Na分别减少(0±1)%、(6±2)%、(10±2)%、(15±1)%、(22±9)%、(30±6)%，呈浓度依赖性抑制I_Na。心肌肽素50 mg/L使I_Na激活时间(TTP)从(2.8±0.7) ms延长至(3.0±0.8) ms (P<0.05)；使I_Na电流密度-电压曲线上移，但不改变激活电位、峰电位、反转电位和I-V曲线的形状；不影响稳态激活曲线、稳态失活曲线和稳态失活后恢复曲线。 结论： 心肌肽素浓度依赖性抑制豚鼠心室肌细胞I_Na，可能是其抗心律失常作用的机制之一。     

Arrhythmogenic mechanisms in the isolated perfused hypokalaemic murine heart

Aim: Hypokalaemia is associated with a lethal form of ventricular tachycardia (VT), torsade de pointes, through pathophysiological mechanisms requiring clarification. Methods: Left ventricular endocardial and epicardial monophasic action potentials were compared in isolated mouse hearts paced from the right ventricular epicardium perfused with hypokalaemic (3 and 4 mm [K⁺]_o) solutions. Corresponding K⁺ currents were compared in whole‐cell patch‐clamped epicardial and endocardial myocytes. Results: Hypokalaemia prolonged epicardial action potential durations (APD) from mean APD₉₀s of 37.2 ± 1.7 ms (n = 7) to 58.4 ± 4.1 ms (n =7) and 66.7 ± 2.1 ms (n = 11) at 5.2, 4 and 3 mm [K⁺]_o respectively. Endocardial APD₉₀s correspondingly increased from 51.6 ± 1.9 ms (n = 7) to 62.8 ± 2.8 ms (n = 7) and 62.9 ± 5.9 ms (n = 11) giving reductions in endocardial–epicardial differences, ΔAPD₉₀, from 14.4 ± 2.6 to 4.4 ± 5.0 and ?3.4 ± 6.0 ms respectively. Early afterdepolarizations (EADs) occurred in epicardia in three of seven spontaneously beating hearts at 4 mm [K⁺]_o with triggered beats followed by episodes of non‐sustained VT in nine of 11 preparations at 3 mm . Programmed electrical stimulation never induced arrhythmic events in preparations perfused with normokalemic solutions yet induced VT in two of seven and nine of 11 preparations at 4 and 3 mm [K⁺]_o respectively. Early outward K⁺ current correspondingly fell from 73.46 ± 8.45 to 61.16±6.14 pA/pF in isolated epicardial but not endocardial myocytes (n = 9) (3 mm [K⁺]_o). Conclusions: Hypokalaemic mouse hearts recapitulate the clinical arrhythmogenic phenotype, demonstrating EADs and triggered beats that might initiate VT on the one hand and reduced transmural dispersion of repolarization reflected in ΔAPD₉₀ suggesting arrhythmogenic substrate on the other.     

白藜芦醇经蛋白激酶G影响豚鼠心室肌细胞L-型钙通道

目的： 研究白藜芦醇经蛋白激酶G对正常豚鼠心室肌细胞L-型钙电流（I_Ca-L）的影响。 方法： 采用全细胞膜片钳技术,记录给予白藜芦醇前后I_Ca-L的变化，并分别记录给予蛋白激酶G（PKG）特异性激动剂8Br-cGMP(100 μmol·L^-1)、PKG特异性拮抗剂H8（5 μmol·L^-1）后白藜芦醇对I_Ca-L的影响。 结果： （1）白藜芦醇呈浓度依赖性抑制I_Ca-L，1、50、100 μmol·L^-1可使ICa-L峰值分别低18.31%±0.68％，56.20%±2.19％，84.51%±2.52％(n=5,P<0.05),但对I_Ca-L激活电位、峰电位、反转电位均没有影响；（2） 100 μmol·L^-1 8Br-cGMP轻度抑制I_Ca-L，电流密度低10.50%±1.11％，100 μmol·L^-1 8Br-cGMP+50 μmol·L^-1白藜芦醇使I_Ca-L电流密度降低87.58%±3.49％(n=6,P<0.05)；（3）5 μmol·L^-1 H8对I_Ca-L无影响，5 μmol·L^-1 H8+50 μmol·L^-1白藜芦醇对I_Ca-L无抑制作用。 结论： 白藜芦醇浓度依赖性抑制豚鼠心室肌细胞I_Ca-L，此作用机制可能与PKG激活有关。     

糖尿病家兔心室肌细胞L型钙电流对模拟缺血-再灌注呈

方法: 采用四氧嘧啶静脉注射建立6周的糖尿病家兔模型,胶原酶分离家兔左心室肌细胞,以膜片钳全细胞模式记录糖尿病家兔和正常对照家兔心室肌细胞在基线状态,模拟缺血灌流5 min和再灌注5 min三个时相的I_Ca,L。 结果: 糖尿病组和对照组心室肌细胞最大I_Ca,L密度在基线状态无显著差异;对照组细胞(n=11)最大I_Ca,L密度在基线、缺血灌流后和再灌注后分别为(-8.36±1.63)pA/pF、(-5.90±1.75)pA/pF 和 (-4.22±1.02)pA/pF,缺血时I_Ca,L小于基线(P<0.01),而再灌注后I_Ca,L较之基线(P<0.01)和缺血时(P<0.05)均显著减小;糖尿病组细胞(n=9)最大I_Ca,L密度在基线、缺血灌流后和再灌注后分别为(-7.55±1.62)pA/pF、(-6.05±1.58)pA/pF和(-5.12±1.13)pA/pF,仅再灌注后I_Ca,L明显小于基线(P<0.01),而缺血时I_Ca,L分别与基线(P>0.05)和再灌注后(P>0.05)相比均无显著差异。 结论: 糖尿病状态下的心室肌细胞I_Ca,L对急性缺血损伤呈现"钝化"反应,随缺血进程的衰减较正常细胞缓慢,而缺血后再灌注则对于有无糖尿病的心肌均强力抑制I_Ca,L。本研究结果可能有助于提示糖尿病条件下的缺血-再灌注心肌损伤机制以及对合并缺血性心脏病的糖尿病患者的治疗方案。     

KATP channel current increases in postinfarction remodeled cardiomyocytes

Adenosintriphosphate-sensitive potassium channels (K_ATP channels) are an important linkage between the metabolic state of a cell and electrophysiological membrane properties. In this study, K_ATP channels were studied in myocytes of normal and remodeled myocardium of the rat. Myocardial infarction was induced by ligature of the left anterior descending artery. Remodeled myocytes were obtained from the hypertrophied posterior left ventricular wall and interventricular septum 3 months after infarction. The current through K_ATP channels was measured in whole-cell and inside-out patches by using the patch-clamp technique. After myocardial infarction, the heart weight/body weight ratio was doubled and the myocytes were hypertrophied yielding a cell capacitance of 266±16 pF compared to 122±12 pF in control cells. The amount of Kir6.2 protein was indistinguishable in corresponding regions of control and remodeled hearts. The ATP sensitivity of K_ATP channels in remodeled cells was significantly lower than in control cells (half maximum block at 115 μmol/l ATP in remodeled and at 71 μmol/l ATP in control cells). The maximum I _KATP density induced by metabolic inhibition was higher in small remodeled (176±15 pA/pF) than in control cells (127±11 pA/pF), but was unchanged in large remodeled cells. Both, the higher I _KATP density and the lower sensitivity of the K_ATP channels to ATP suggest that remodeled cardiomyocytes develop an improved tolerance to ischemia by stabilizing the resting potential and decreasing excitability.     

A Na+-activated K+ current (I K,Na) is present in guinea-pig but not rat ventricular myocytes

 The effects of removing extracellular Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ on the membrane potential, membrane current and intracellular Na⁺ activity (a ⁱ _Na) were investigated in guinea-pig and rat ventricular myocytes. Membrane potential was recorded with a patch pipette and whole-cell membrane currents using a single-electrode voltage clamp. Both guinea-pig and rat cells depolarize when the bathing Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ are removed and the steady-state a ⁱ _Na increases rapidly from a resting value of 6.4± 0.6 mM to 33±3.8 mM in guinea-pig (n=9) and from 8.9±0.8 mM to 29.3±3.0 mM (n=5) in rat ventricular myocytes. Guinea-pig myocytes partially repolarized when, in addition to removal of the bathing Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, K⁺ was also removed, however rat cells remained depolarized. A large diltiazem-sensitive inward current was recorded in guinea-pig and rat myocytes, voltage-clamped at –20 mV, when the bathing divalent cations were removed. When the bathing K⁺ was removed after Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ depletion, a large outward K⁺ current developed in guinea-pig, but not in rat myocytes. This current had a reversal potential of –80±0.7 mV and was not inhibited by high Mg²⁺ or glybenclamide indicating that it is not due to activation of non-selective cation or adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K channels. The current was not activated when Li⁺ replaced the bathing Na⁺ and was blocked by R-56865, suggesting that it was due to the activation of K_Na channels. Received: 15 October 1998 / Received after revision: 22 January 1999 / Accepted: 5 February 1999     

Effect of catecholamines on the ventricular myocyte action potential in raised extracellular potassium

We describe the relationship between catecholamines and raised extracellular potassium ([K⁺]_o) on action potential parameters and calcium currents in isolated ventricular myocytes of the guinea-pig and relate these findings to the problem of understanding how the heart is protected from exercise-induced hyperkalaemia ([K⁺]_a up to 8.5 mm ). Action potential duration (APD₉₀), amplitude and upstroke velocity were recorded in stimulated (2Hz) guinea-pig ventricular myocytes using whole-cell patch electrode recordings (37 ±C). Cells were superfused with normal K⁺Tyrode and with raised K⁺Tyrode in the presence of either noradrenaline, adrenaline or raised calcium. Inward calcium current was measured using voltage clamp. Raised K⁺(8, 12, 16 mm K⁺Tyrode) caused a significant (P < 0.01) depolarisation, shortened the APD₉₀ and decreased the action potential amplitude and upstroke velocity. In raised K⁺Tyrode addition of noradrenaline (0.08–0.1 μm ) or adrenaline (0.1–0.2 μm ) increased action potential amplitude (P < 0.01), APD₉₀ (P < 0.01) and upstroke velocity (P < 0.01) (measured only in 16 mm K⁺Tyrode). In 12 mm K⁺Tyrode raised Ca²⁺(5–6 mm ) increased action potential amplitude (P < 0.05) and shortened APD₉₀ (P < 0.05). Addition of NA (0.08–0.1 μm ) increased the inward Ca²⁺current. All effects were fully reversible. In raised [K⁺]_o increases in catecholamines and [Ca²⁺]_o cause changes in action potential parameters that would be expected to maintain propagation of the cardiac action potential in the whole heart. Thus, in the ventricular myocyte the increase in conductance to Ca²⁺caused by catecholamines may be one factor that is important in minimising the potentially adverse effects of exercise-induced hyperkalaemia.     

Redox reaction modulates transient and persistent sodium current during hypoxia in guinea pig ventricular myocytes

Whole-cell and cell-attached patch clamp techniques were applied on isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes to study the possible regulatory mechanisms of redox agent on persistent and transient sodium current related to hypoxia. The results showed that hypoxia for 15 min increased persistent sodium current (I _Na.P) and decreased transient sodium current (I _Na.T) at the same time, while 1 mmol/l of reduced glutathione (GSH) could reverse the increased I _Na.P and the decreased I _Na.T simultaneously. Both persistent and transient sodium channel activities could be reversed concurrently again by application of 1 mmol/l oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Hypoxia for 15 min decreased the action potential amplitude (APA) and shortened action potential duration at 90% repolarization (APD₉₀) of ventricular papillary cells simultaneously, while 1 mmol/GSH could reverse the decreased APA and the shortened APD₉₀ at the same time; 1 mmol/l GSSG strengthened the decrease of APA induced by hypoxia and attenuated the decurtation of APD₉₀ induced by hypoxia compared with pure hypoxia. The correlation between I _Na.P and I _Na.T and the effects of GSH and GSSG on them suggested that during hypoxia, redox regulation played a tremendous part in sodium channel activity and that I _Na.P and I _Na.T might be charged by the same channel with different gating modes in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. Judging from their alterations during hypoxia and exposure to GSH and GSSG, we speculated that an interconversion might exist between I _Na.P and I _Na.T. That was when one of them was increased, the other was decreased, and vice versa.