The mechanism of the rate-dependent changes of the conducted action potential in rabbit ventricle

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 780-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Ruiz-Petrich ◽  
Normand Leblanc

Blockers of the transient outward current (4-aminopyridine) and the Ca current (Co2+) as well as injection of polarizing current during the plateau were used to assess the role of these current systems as determinants of action potential duration at different pacing rates. Papillary muscles and ventricular trabecula were superfused with oxygenated Krebs solution at 33 °C and driven at a basic rate of 1 Hz. The effects of varying the frequency of stimulation between 0.1 and 4 Hz on action potential parameters were determined under control conditions and during exposure to 2 mM 4-aminopyridine, 1–3 mM CoCl2, or a mixture of 4-aminopyridine and CoCl2. The control relationship between action potential duration and pacing rate showed a maximum between 1 and 2 Hz. Under 4-aminopyridine, the plateau height and the action potential duration increased. The rate-dependent shortening of the action potential at frequencies below 1 Hz was reduced or abolished, and enhanced shortening was observed at rates above 1 Hz. Exposure to Co2+ reduced the action potential shortening at rates higher than 1 Hz. Both blockers, 4-aminopyridine and Co2+ were necessary to eliminate the rate-dependent changes of the action potential duration. Our results indicated that both the transient outward current and the inward calcium current determine the plateau height and duration for frequencies ≤2 Hz, whereas at higher rates, the Ca current plays a dominant role.Key words: action potential duration, stimulation rate, Ca current, transient outward current.

1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (3) ◽  
pp. H1184-H1194 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Sanchez-Chapula ◽  
A. Elizalde ◽  
R. Navarro-Polanco ◽  
H. Barajas

In adult rabbit ventricular preparations, action potential duration is significantly increased when stimulation frequency is increased from 0.1 to 1.0 Hz. In neonatal preparations, a similar change in stimulation frequency produced no significant increase in action potential duration. To identify the ionic basis for this difference, we studied different outward currents in single myocytes from papillary muscle and from epicardial tissue of adult and neonatal rabbits. The densities of the outward currents in neonatal cells were about one-half of the current density in adult cells. The density of the voltage-activated transient outward current (I(to1)) was smaller in cells from papillary muscle than in cells from epicardium in adult and newborn rabbits. We found major differences in the kinetic behavior of I(to1) between adult and neonatal cells: 1) the rate of apparent inactivation was faster in neonatal cells, and 2) the recovery from inactivation was significantly faster in neonatal cells, with a time constant of 113 vs. 1,356 ms. We propose that this marked difference in the recovery from inactivation of I(to1) is the basis for the difference in frequency dependence of action potential duration.


2001 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 1720-1728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue-Qian Zhang ◽  
Lian-Qin Zhang ◽  
Bradley M. Palmer ◽  
Yuk-Chow Ng ◽  
Timothy I. Musch ◽  
...  

Two electrophysiological manifestations of myocardial infarction (MI)-induced myocyte hypertrophy are prolongation of action potential duration (APD) and reduction of transient outward current ( I to) density. Because high-intensity sprint training (HIST) ameliorated myocyte hypertrophy and improved myocyte Ca2+ homeostasis and contractility after MI, the present study evaluated whether 6–8 wk of HIST would shorten the prolonged APD and improve the depressed I to in post-MI myocytes. There were no differences in resting membrane potential and action potential amplitude (APA) measured in myocytes isolated from sham-sedentary (Sed), MI-Sed, and MI-HIST groups. Times required for repolarization to 50 and 90% APA were significantly ( P < 0.001) prolonged in MI-Sed myocytes. HIST reduced times required for repolarization to 50 and 90% APA to values observed in Sham-Sed myocytes. The fast and slow components of I towere significantly ( P < 0.0001) reduced in MI-Sed myocytes. HIST significantly ( P < 0.001) enhanced the fast and slow components of I to in MI myocytes, although not to levels observed in Sham-Sed myocytes. There were no significant differences in steady-state I toinactivation and activation parameters among Sham-Sed, MI-Sed, and MI-HIST myocytes. Likewise, recovery from time-dependent inactivation was also similar among the three groups. We suggest that normalization of APD after MI by HIST may be mediated by restoration of I to toward normal levels.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Tinaquero ◽  
◽  
Teresa Crespo-García ◽  
Raquel G. Utrilla ◽  
Paloma Nieto-Marín ◽  
...  

1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (5) ◽  
pp. H1738-H1745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Li ◽  
E. C. Keung

In the one-clip, two-kidney model of hypertensive rat, a gradual chronic pressure overload is imposed on the heart. Myocardial hypertrophy resulting from such pressure overload is associated with an increased but slower inactivating L-type calcium current and prolongation of action potential duration. Voltage clamp experiments in a variety of excitable tissues indicate that a 4-aminopyridine-sensitive transient outward current (Ito) plays an important role in regulating the action potential duration. Accordingly, we studied Ito in single adult cardiac myocytes enzymatically isolated from hypertrophied left ventricles of the renovascular hypertensive (HBP) rat hearts using the whole cell patch-clamp method. The current densities (normalized to cell capacitative surface area) measured at the early transient peak Ito, at the steady state, and as the difference between the transient peak and the steady state were larger in HBP cells (n = 23) than in control (Ctrl) cells (n = 20) (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the Ito reversal potential between Ctrl (-60.9 +/- 1.9 mV, mean +/- SE; n = 16) and HBP (-63.7 +/- 2.6 mV; n = 19) cells. The observed increase in Ito amplitude was not due to an increase in the number of channels available for activation or in the fraction of channels activated because there were no statistical differences in the membrane potential at which one-half of the Ito channels are activated (V0.5) for the steady-state activation and inactivation curves between Ctrl and HBP cells. The time course of inactivation of Ito was described by a double-exponential function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1989 ◽  
Vol 256 (5) ◽  
pp. H1500-H1504 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Fedida ◽  
Y. Shimoni ◽  
W. R. Giles

In the heart, alpha-adrenergic agonists have long been known to produce a positive inotropic effect that is rate dependent and associated with action potential prolongation but is not accompanied by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) elevation. The ionic mechanism of these effects is unknown. We report that a transient outward K+ current, a major determinant of plateau duration in rabbit and human atria, is strongly inhibited by norepinephrine and the alpha-adrenoceptor agonists methoxamine and phenylephrine. These effects of alpha-stimulation can be blocked by prazosin. The reduction in the transient outward current substantially slows action potential repolarization. These results can explain the regional and species-dependent positive inotropic effects of alpha-adrenergic stimulation in the heart and give important new insight into the autonomic regulation of cardiac function. In addition, reduction in this repolarizing current during the enhanced alpha-adrenergic responsiveness of myocardial ischemia may be a factor in the genesis of arrhythmias produced by catecholamines.


2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (1) ◽  
pp. H56-H65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Vecchietti ◽  
Eleonora Grandi ◽  
Stefano Severi ◽  
Ilaria Rivolta ◽  
Carlo Napolitano ◽  
...  

The effects of two SCN5A mutations (Y1795C, Y1795H), previously identified in one Long QT syndrome type 3 (LQT3) and one Brugada syndrome (BrS) families, were investigated by means of numerical modeling of ventricular action potential (AP). A Markov model capable of reproducing a wild-type as well as a mutant sodium current ( INa) was identified and was included into the Luo-Rudy ventricular cell model for action potential (AP) simulation. The characteristics of endocardial, midmyocardial, and epicardial cells were reproduced by differentiating the transient outward current ( ITO) and the ratio of slow delayed rectifier potassium ( IKs) to rapid delayed rectifier current ( IKr). Administration of flecainide and mexiletine was simulated by appropriately modifying INa, calcium current ( ICa), ITO, and IKr. Y1795C prolonged AP in a rate-dependent manner, and early afterdepolarizations (EADs) appeared during bradycardia in epicardial and midmyocardial cells; flecainide and mexiletine shortened AP and abolished EADs. Y1795H resulted in minimal changes in the APs; flecainide but not mexiletine induced APs heterogeneity across the ventricular wall that accounts for the ST segment elevation induced by flecainide in Y1795H carriers. The AP abnormalities induced by Y1795H and Y1795C can explain the clinically observed surface ECG phenotype. For the first time by modeling the effects of flecainide and mexiletine, we are able to gather mechanistic insights on the response to drugs administration observed in affected patients.


1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (1) ◽  
pp. H301-H321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Courtemanche ◽  
Rafael J. Ramirez ◽  
Stanley Nattel

The mechanisms underlying many important properties of the human atrial action potential (AP) are poorly understood. Using specific formulations of the K+, Na+, and Ca2+ currents based on data recorded from human atrial myocytes, along with representations of pump, exchange, and background currents, we developed a mathematical model of the AP. The model AP resembles APs recorded from human atrial samples and responds to rate changes, L-type Ca2+ current blockade, Na+/Ca2+ exchanger inhibition, and variations in transient outward current amplitude in a fashion similar to experimental recordings. Rate-dependent adaptation of AP duration, an important determinant of susceptibility to atrial fibrillation, was attributable to incomplete L-type Ca2+ current recovery from inactivation and incomplete delayed rectifier current deactivation at rapid rates. Experimental observations of variable AP morphology could be accounted for by changes in transient outward current density, as suggested experimentally. We conclude that this mathematical model of the human atrial AP reproduces a variety of observed AP behaviors and provides insights into the mechanisms of clinically important AP properties.


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