ACTIONS OF THE SLOW CHANNEL ACTIVATOR, BAY-K-8644, ON THE ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY OF 3-DAY-OLD EMBRYONIC CHICK HEARTS

In order to assess the effects of Bay-K-8644 on electrical activities of young embryonic chick hearts in which the rising phase of the action potential (AP) depends on tetrodotoxin-insensitive slow Na+ currents, slow AP were recorded in spontaneously beating 3-day-old embryonic chick hearts. Bay-K-8644(10(-6) mol/l) caused increases in the maximum rate of rise, amplitude, and duration of the slow AP; there was a slow increase in the spontaneous firing rate. Thus, Bay-K-8644 stimulates Na+ influx through TTX-insensitive slow channels.