The effect of dihydro-ouabain and lithium-ions on the outward current in cardiac Purkinje fibers

1974 ◽  
Vol 350 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Isenberg ◽  
W. Trautwein
1982 ◽  
Vol 243 (1) ◽  
pp. H77-H86 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. Lipsius ◽  
W. R. Gibbons

We examined relationships between isometric tension and membrane currents in sheep Purkinje fibers voltage clamped by the two-microelectrode method. Oscillatory restitution of contractility was accompanied by a small oscillation in membrane current and by an aftercontraction. The membrane current oscillation resembled the transient inward current (TI) others have reported in the presence of strophanthidin. Twitches produced by voltage clamp depolarizations did not correlate with net outward current in normal solution, but when the early outward current was blocked by 0.5 mM 4-aminopyridine, the residual outward current did correlate with twitches elicited by strong depolarizing clamps, particularly in solutions containing higher than normal calcium concentrations. The results illustrate important similarities and differences between membrane current behavior in sheep Purkinje fibers and behavior others have reported in calf fibers. Correlations between restitution, aftercontractions, and TI's, and between twitch tension and a component of outward current, may arise because of calcium regulation of membrane conductance, electrogenic Na-Ca exchange, or a combination of these and other mechanisms.


1986 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 833-855 ◽  
Author(s):  
J R Hume ◽  
A Uehara

Changes in membrane current in response to an elevation of [Na]i were studied in enzymatically dispersed frog atrial cells. Na loading by either intracellular dialysis or exposure to the Na ionophore monensin produces changes in membrane current that resemble the "creep currents" originally observed in cardiac Purkinje fibers during exposure to low-K solutions. Na loading induces a transient outward current during depolarizing voltage-clamp pulses, followed by an inward current in response to repolarization back to the holding potential. In contrast to cardiac Purkinje fibers, Na loading of frog atrial cells induces creep currents without accompanying transient inward currents. Creep currents induced by Na loading are insensitive to K channel antagonists like Cs and 4-aminopyridine; they are not influenced by doses of Ca channel antagonists that abolish iCa, but are sensitive to changes in [Ca]o or [Na]o. A comparison of the time course of development of inward creep currents are not tail currents associated with iCa. Inward creep currents can also be induced by experimental interventions that increase the iCa amplitude. Exposure to isoproterenol enhances the iCa amplitude and induces inward creep currents; both can be attenuated by Ca channel antagonists. Both inward and outward creep currents are blocked by low doses of La, independently of La's ability to block iCa. It is concluded that (a) creep currents are not mediated by voltage-gated Na, Ca, or K channels or by an electrogenic Na,K pump; (b) inward creep currents induced either by Na loading or in response to an increase in the amplitude of iCa are triggered by an elevation of [Ca]i; and (c) creep currents may be generated by either an electrogenic Na/Ca exchange mechanism or by a nonselective cation channel activated by [Ca]i.


1985 ◽  
Vol 249 (1) ◽  
pp. H122-H132
Author(s):  
J. M. Jaeger ◽  
W. R. Gibbons

We have tried to answer two fundamental questions concerning the outward current IX1 of cardiac Purkinje fibers. 1) Is it possible that current changes identified as arising from IX1 in voltage-clamp experiments are actually manifestations of changes in the slow inward current (Isi); and 2) is IX1 in fact required to produce the electrical phenomena attributed to it? Isi behavior and the role of IX1 were explored using computer simulation. The Isi model produced current changes during depolarizations and hyperpolarizations from depolarized resting potentials like those attributed to IX1. It also produced a component of "tail currents" that behaved like IX1. If these current changes were analyzed, assuming that an outward current is responsible, the resulting kinetics and current voltage relation would be very similar to the kinetics and current voltage relation reported for IX1. Using the McAllister, Noble, and Tsien formulation of the Purkinje fiber action potential, we found that IX1 is not essential for repolarization of the reconstructed action potential nor is it needed to reproduce interval duration effects and the effects of applied current in that model. Data suggesting that calcium channel blockers reduce IX1 and that catecholamines increase IX1 may be explained as arising from changes in Isi. Thus many manifestations of IX1 can be explained as arising from unanticipated behavior of Isi, and IX1 does not necessarily play a key role in generating Purkinje fiber electrical activity.


1977 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
C M Baumgarten ◽  
G Isenberg ◽  
T F McDonald ◽  
R E Ten Eick

Voltage clamp hyperpolarization and depolarization result in currents consistent with depletion and accumulation of potassium in the extracellular clefts o cardiac Purkinje fibers exposed to sodium-free solutions. Upon hyperpolarization, an inward current that decreased with time (id) was observed. The time course of tail currents could not be explained by a conductance exhibiting voltage-dependent kinetics. The effect of exposure to cesium, changes in bathing media potassium concentration and osmolarity, and the behavior of membrane potential after hyperpolarizing pulses are all consistent with depletion of potassium upon hyperpolarization. A declining outward current was observed upon depolarization. Increasing the bathing media potassium concentration reduced the magnitude of this current. After voltage clamp depolarizations, membrane potential transiently became more positive. These findings suggest that accumulation of potassium occurs upon depolarization. The results indicate that changes in ionic driving force may be easily and rapidly induced. Consequently, conclusions based on the assumption that driving force remains constant during the course of a voltage step may be in error.


1984 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 771-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
R T Falk ◽  
I S Cohen

Membrane current following prolonged periods of rapid stimulation was examined in short (less than 1.5 mm) canine cardiac Purkinje fibers of radius less than 0.15 mm. The Purkinje fibers were repetitively stimulated by delivering trains of depolarizing voltage clamp pulses at rapid frequencies. The slowly decaying outward current following repetitive stimulation ("post-drive" current) is eliminated by the addition of 10(-5) M dihydro-ouabain. The post-drive current is attributed to enhanced Na/K exchange caused by Na loading during the overdrive. Depolarizing voltage clamp pulses initiated from negative (-80 mV) or depolarized (-50 mV) holding potentials can give rise to post-drive current because of activation of tetrodotoxin-sensitive or D600-sensitive channels. The magnitude of the post-drive current depends on the frequency of voltage clamp pulses, the duration of each pulse, and the duration of the repetitive stimulation. The time constant of decay of the post-drive current depends on extracellular [K] in accordance with Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The Km is 1.2 mM bulk [K], [K]B. The mean time constant in 4 mM [K]B is 83 s. Epinephrine (10(-5) M) decreases the time constant by 20%. The time constant is increased by lowering [Ca]o between 4 and 1 mM. Lowering [Ca]o further, to 0.1 mM, eliminates post-drive current following repetitive stimulation initiated from depolarized potentials. The latter result suggests that slow inward Ca2+ current may increase [Na]i via Na/Ca exchange.


1987 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 921-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
J L Kenyon ◽  
J L Sutko

We have used the two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique to investigate the components of membrane current that contribute to the formation of the early part of the plateau phase of the action potential of calf cardiac Purkinje fibers. 3,4-Diaminopyridine (50 microM) reduced the net transient outward current elicited by depolarizations to potentials positive to -30 mV but had no consistent effect on contraction. We attribute this effect to the blockade of a voltage-activated transient potassium current component. Ryanodine (1 microM), an inhibitor of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release and intracellular calcium oscillations in Purkinje fibers (Sutko, J.L., and J.L. Kenyon. 1983. Journal of General Physiology. 82:385-404), had complex effects on membrane currents as it abolished phasic contractions. At early times during a depolarization (5-30 ms), ryanodine reduced the net outward current. We attribute this effect to the loss of a component of calcium-activated potassium current caused by the inhibition of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release and the intracellular calcium transient. At later times during a depolarization (50-200 ms), ryanodine increased the net outward current. This effect was not seen in low-sodium solutions and we could not observe a reversal potential over a voltage range of -100 to +75 mV. These data suggest that the effect of ryanodine on the late membrane current is attributable to the loss of sodium-calcium exchange current caused by the inhibition of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release and the intracellular calcium transient. Neither effect of ryanodine was dependent on chloride ions, which suggests that chloride ions do not carry the ryanodine-sensitive current components. Strontium (2.7 mM replacing calcium) and caffeine (10 mM), two other treatments that interfere with sarcoplasmic reticulum function, had effects in common with ryanodine. This supports the hypothesis that the effects of ryanodine may be attributed to the inhibition of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release.


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