Biomedical subjects

R E Ten Eick

Publications and source records attributed to R E Ten Eick.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1995

beta-adrenergic and cholinergic modulation of the inwardly rectifying K+ current in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes.

1. Whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to study the beta-adrenergic and cholinergic regulation of the inwardly rectifying K+ conductance (gK1) in isolated guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. 2. In Cl(-)-free solutions or in the presence of 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid or Co2+, bath-applied isoprenaline (Iso) partially inhibited the steady-state whole-cell conductance (gss) calculated from the steady-state current (Iss)-voltage (Iss-V) curve at membrane voltages (Vm) negative to the equilibrium potential for potassium (EK). Iss was also inhibited at Vm positive to EK when the extracellular [K+] was 20 mM. The Iso-sensitive component of gss exhibited the characteristics of the inwardly rectifying K+ conductance (gK1). 3. The Iso-induced inhibition of gK1 was reversible, concentration dependent, blocked by propranolol, mimicked by both forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP, and prevented by including a cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor in the pipette solution. These findings suggest that PKA mediates the Iso-induced inhibition of gK1. 4. The apparent dissociation constant (KD) for the concentration dependence of Iso-induced inhibition was 0.035 microM and the Hill coefficient was approximately 1.0. A maximal Iso concentration (1 microM) inhibited gK1 by 40 +/- 4.1% (mean +/- S.E.M.; n = 13). 5. Bath application of acetylcholine (ACh, 0.1 microM or more) antagonized the Iso-induced (1 microM) inhibition of gK1; [ACh] > 1.0 microM antagonized 88 +/- 2.1% (n = 10) of the inhibition. ACh increased the KD for Iso to inhibit Iso-sensitive gK1 and also reduced the maximal Iso-induced inhibition. 6. ACh-induced antagonism could be abolished by pre-incubating myocytes with pertussis toxin (PTX), suggesting that a muscarinic receptor-coupled, PTX-sensitive G protein, Gi, is involved. 7. ACh (10 microM) also antagonized approximately 70% of the dibutyryl cyclic AMP (1 mM)-induced inhibition of gK1 (n = 3), suggesting that the ACh-induced antagonism involves more than simply inhibiting the Iso-mediated activation of adenylyl cyclase via the activated Gi. 8. Intracellularly applied okadaic acid (OkA, 1 microM) did not alter gK1 (control = 134 +/- 5.1 nS vs. OkA = 136 +/- 6.1 nS), but the Iso-induced decrease in gK1 was less (P < 0.001) with OkA present (42.1 +/- 2.4 nS, n = 5) than when absent (54.0 +/- 2.2 nS, n = 10). However, ACh (10 microM) failed to antagonize Iso-induced inhibition with OkA present, suggesting involvement of a protein phosphatase.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1995

Beta-adrenergic and cholinergic modulation of inward rectifier K+ channel function and phosphorylation in guinea-pig ventricle.

1. To clarify the nature of the inhibition of whole-cell inwardly rectifying K+ current (IK1) by isoprenaline (Iso) and its antagonism by acetylcholine (ACh), we studied the effects of Iso and ACh and their surrogates on single channel currents (iK1) carried by inwardly rectifying K+ channels in cell-attached and excised inside-out patches obtained from guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. 2. Bath application of Iso suppressed iK1 channel activity in cell-attached patches. This was inhibited by propranolol. Bath-applied forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP mimicked the effect of bath-applied Iso. 3. Exposure of the cytosolic face of inside-out patches to purified catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) also suppressed iK1 channel activity, mimicking the effect of bath-applied Iso on iK1 recorded from cell-attached patches. 4. When applied directly to cell-attached patches via the patch pipette solution, ACh antagonized Iso-induced (1 microM applied via the bath) suppression of iK1 channels. In contrast, bath-applied ACh (10 microM) partially antagonized the effect of low concentrations of Iso (e.g. < 50 nM) on iK1 channels in cell-attached patches but had no detectable effect when 1 microM or more Iso was used. 5. In myocytes pretreated with pertussis toxin (PTX), ACh failed to antagonize Iso-induced suppression of iK1 channels. When inside-out patches were used, bath-applied preactivated exogenous inhibitory G protein subunit, G1 alpha, antagonized the suppression of iK1 channels induced by bath-applied catalytic subunit of PKA (PKA-CS), suggesting that a PTX-sensitive G1 alpha mediates ACh-induced antagonism of Iso-induced suppression of iK1. 6. Neither GTP gamma S nor G1 alpha antagonized the suppression of iK1 produced by bath-applied PKA-CS in inside-out patches when okadaic acid was present in the bath. In addition, bath application of alkaline phosphatase also reactivated iK1 channels suppressed by PKA-CS. 7. Findings in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes suggest that iK1 can be suppressed by a PKA-mediated phosphorylation of the iK1 channel occurring in response to Iso-induced beta-adrenergic receptor activation and that ACh can antagonize the suppression by mechanisms that involve both intracellular and membrane-delimited pathways. The membrane-delimited pathway appears to involve M2-cholinergic receptors, their associated G protein, G1, and a protein phosphatase, all located in the sarcolemma in close proximity to the involved iK1 channels.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1995

Comparison of the effects of internal [Mg2+] on IK1 in cat and guinea-pig cardiac ventricular myocytes.

The effects of internal Mg2+ (Mg2+i) on processes underlying the inward rectification of the cardiac IK1 in enzymatically isolated cardiac ventricular myocytes (CVM) obtained from cat, guinea pig and rabbit were compared using the whole-cell and excised inside-out patch configurations of the voltage-clamp technique. In confirmation of the findings of other investigators, Mg(2+)i-sensitive outward IK1 currents could be elicited from guinea pig CVM at 15 degrees C when Mg2+i was reduced from 1 mM to less than 1 microM, suggesting that Mg2+i has an important role in the inward rectification of IK1 in guinea pig CVM at unphysiologically low temperatures. However, as temperature was raised to more physiological levels (e.g., 30 degrees C), Mg(2+)i-sensitive outward IK1 currents could no longer be evoked. In contrast with the results obtained with guinea pig CVM, IK1 remained inwardly rectifying in cat and rabbit CVM independent of the Mg2+i concentration ([Mg2+]i) at 37 degrees, 15 degrees, 10 degrees, and 5 degrees C. Reduced [Mg2+]i at low temperature (15 degrees C), shifted the voltage dependence of guinea pig IK1 activation in the depolarizing direction; this resulted in an apparent linearization of IK1 conductance. When the range of the membrane potential examined was expanded to include voltages up to +80 mV, the guinea pig IK1 was found to exhibit inward rectification with the inflection in the I-V relationship that is found at approximately EK at normal temperature, also shifted 80 mV or more to much less negative voltages at low temperatures. In contrast, irrespective of [Mg2+]i or temperature, the voltage dependencies of the IK1 activation curves for both cat and rabbit myocytes were not changed from that defined when [Mg2+]i was 1 mM and temperature was 37 degrees C. We propose that Mg2+i affects inward rectification of IK1 in cold guinea pig CVM by altering the voltage dependence of activation.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Electrophysiology of adult cat cardiac ventricular myocytes: changes during primary culture.

To investigate the nature of electrophysiological changes in adult cat cardiac ventricular myocytes that may occur when cells are maintained in primary culture for 1-2 wk, the electrophysiology of cells freshly isolated from collagenase-perfused hearts (day 0 controls) was compared with that of cells maintained in primary culture for up to 14 days 1) on a two-dimensional (2D) surface (laminin-coated coverslips), which allowed for changes in cellular morphology, or 2) in a three-dimensional (3D) alginate matrix, which minimized changes in cell shape. Action potentials and whole cell ionic currents were recorded using a conventional whole cell patch technique. Whereas cellular resting potential and the depth of the "notch" terminating phase 1 were diminished relative to controls in 2D- and 3D-cultured cells, the action potential duration and the incidence of early afterdepolarizations (EADs) were increased relative to controls in 2D- but not in 3D-cultured cells. Corresponding alterations in whole cell ionic currents included a 40% reduction in inwardly rectifying K current (IK1) conductance (GK1) and a 90% reduction in transient outward K current (Ito) conductance (Gto) in 2D- and 3D-cultured cells relative to day 0 controls and a 50% increase in L-type Ca current (ICa-L) conductance (GCa-L) in 2D-cultured cells relative to 3D-cultured cells and day 0 controls. The reduction in Gto in long-term culture was half-maximal by days 7 and 8 and could not be attributed to reduced Ito availability, involvement of a noninactivating Ito, the cell culture procedure itself, or the presence of serum in the culture media. Gto was larger in day 0 cells from a heart with right ventricular hypertrophy than in day 0 normal control cells and was reduced subsequent to placement of cells in 3D culture for 19 days. The results suggest that long-term culture and change in cellular morphology can affect the electrophysiology of cardiac ventricular myocytes.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1995

Alteration of the sodium current in cat cardiac ventricular myocytes during primary culture.

To determine the response of cardiac Na current (INa) in adult cardiac ventricular myocytes to culture, single isolated ventricular myocytes from collagenase-perfused adult cat hearts were placed in primary culture for up to 2 wk on a two-dimensional (2D) surface (laminin-coated coverslips), which allowed the morphology of the myocytes to change markedly, or in a three-dimensional matrix (3D) of alginate, in which cell shape changed only minimally. Action potentials and INa were recorded from groups of 1) freshly isolated myocytes serving as the control (day 0),2) cells maintained in 2D culture for 9-14 days (2D, day 9-14), and 3) cells cultured in alginate for 9-14 days (3D, day 9-14) with use of a conventional whole cell patch technique. Maximal upstroke velocity (Vmax) of the action potential was reduced by approximately 50% in 2D- and 3D-cultured cells relative to controls. INa in 2D- and 3D-cultured cells was strikingly different from that in control myocytes. Half-maximal voltage (V 1/2) for the chord conductance-voltage relationship was shifted approximately 15 mV negatively to that for controls in 2D- and 3D-cultured cells. INa steady-state availability curve also shifted negatively relative to controls in 2D- and 3D-cultured myocytes, but the magnitude of this shift (approximately 16-20 mV) was greater than that for the chord conductance-voltage curve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1994

Enhancement of ATP-sensitive potassium current in cat ventricular myocytes by beta-adrenoreceptor stimulation.

1. To address the questions of whether beta-adrenoreceptor stimulation can augment ATP-sensitive potassium current (IK(ATP)), and what the mechanism of such an effect might be, action potentials and whole-cell ionic currents were recorded from adult cat cardiac ventricular myocytes using a conventional whole-cell patch technique. 2. An outwardly directed, ohmic, non-inactivating, glyburide (10 microM)-sensitive current reversing near the reversal potential for potassium (EK) developed slowly (10-25 min) in cells dialysed with an ATP-free pipette (intracellular) solution. During this time, action potential duration markedly decreased while the resting membrane potential hyperpolarized closer to EK. Extended (> 30 min) periods of internal dialysis with ATP-free solution eventually resulted in run-down of the outward current. 3. Externally applied isoprenaline (1 microM) caused a rapidly developing (< or = 60 s), sustained enhancement of a glyburide (10 microM)-sensitive IK(ATP) in cells internally dialysed with ATP-free solution. IK(ATP) remained elevated even after the isoprenaline was removed, and subsequent applications of the beta-agonist failed to increase IK(ATP) further. Half-maximal isoprenaline stimulation of IK(ATP) occurred at a concentration of approximate of 1.5 nM. 4. Pretreatment with propranolol (1 microM) prevented the enhancement of IK(ATP) by a beta-agonist. 5. Isoprenaline-induced IK(ATP) could be blocked by either internal application of GDP-beta-S (2-5 mM) or pretreatment with cholera toxin (1-10 microgram ml-1, > 18 h). Pretreatment with pertussis toxin (1-2 microgram ml-1, > 18 h) did not attenuate the isoprenaline response, whereas internally applied GTP-gamma-S (100 microM) or F- (20 mM) caused IK(ATP) to increase rapidly in the absence of the beta-agonist. 6. Although externally applied forskolin (10 microM) also stimulated IK(ATP), neither 1,9-dideoxyforskolin (10 microM) nor 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (200 microM) had any effect on the current. Internal application of the adenylate cyclase inhibitor 2'-deoxyadenosine-3'-monophosphate (100 microM) resulted in a reduction in the response to isoprenaline, while internal application of a protein kinase A inhibitor (PKI5-24, 22.5 microM) did not attenuate the response to the beta-agonist. 7. IK(ATP) developed slowly during internal dialysis with ATP-free solution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1994

A 3,4-diaminopyridine-insensitive, Ca(2+)-independent transient outward K+ current in cardiac ventricular myocytes.

A previously unrecognized current that initially is not present and requires at least 25 min of intracellular access to develop can be found in approximately 75% of cardiac myocytes isolated from cat ventricle within 90 min after intracellular access is obtained with conventional suction patch pipette electrodes. We refer to this patch-duration-dependent (PDD) current as IK(PDD). IK(PDD) can be elicited with depolarizing test steps (Vt) ranging between -40 and +60 mV applied after a hyperpolarizing conditioning step to -140 mV for 200 ms from a holding potential of -40 mV. It shows an ohmic voltage dependence and appears to be an essentially pure K+ current. At Vt = 30 mV, the current is a time-dependent, transient current with a time to peak of 1.06 +/- 0.10 ms (n = 5) and a decay phase that can be fit to the sum of two decaying exponentials (tau f = 3.30 +/- 0.51 ms and tau s = 2.48 +/- 5.6 ms; n = 5). The voltage dependence of the steady-state inactivation can be fit to a single exponential Boltzmann distribution with a slope factor of 8.97 mV, and the voltage at which 50% of the channels are inactivated is -78 mV. The current can be blocked by 0.2 mM Ba2+ extracellularly applied or Cs+ intracellularly applied but is insensitive to 0.5 mM 3,4-diaminopyridine. These characteristics are unlike those for other known K+ currents. The lack of similarity between IK(PDD) and any currently documented cardiac K+ current suggests that IK(PDD) is either a previously undescribed K+ current or a modification of IK1 that makes it adopt an ohmic nature transiently, even in the presence of millimolar internal Mg2+.

4-Aminopyridine↗

PubMed1994

Protein kinase-dependent Cl- currents in feline ventricular myocytes.

A Cl- current (ICl) induced by isoproterenol (ISO) has been identified in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes. This ISO-induced ICl can be inhibited by propranolol and mimicked by forskolin (FSK), suggesting that beta-receptors, cAMP, and protein kinase A (PKA) are involved in regulating the involved Cl- channel. Because activation of protein kinase C (PKC) mediated via alpha-adrenergic receptor stimulation is also known to regulate several ion channels, the idea that activation of PKC also can induce ICl was investigated by using isolated feline ventricular myocytes and the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. We found that extracellularly applied phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) could activate ICl in feline ventricular cells. Control experiments indicated that in the absence of PMA or other interventions, the steady-state current-voltage relation of patches maintained for more than 40 minutes was unchanged over a voltage range from -100 to +80 mV. This suggests that the present findings are not complicated by the development over time after patching of a steady-state ICl, similar to the findings reported for canine atrial myocytes. When induced by PMA, ICl was noninactivating and outwardly rectifying; it reversed polarity at approximately the equilibrium potential for Cl- and was sensitive to the Cl- channel blocker 9-anthracene carboxylic acid. In contrast, PMA failed to induce ICl when either staurosporine or calphostin C was added to the patch pipette solution used to internally dialyze the myocytes. The kinetic properties of PMA- and FSK-induced ICl were similar. When supramaximal concentrations of both ISO (1 mumol/L) and PMA (6 mumol/L) were applied simultaneously, the size of the induced ICl was the same as that induced by the same concentrations of either agonist applied alone. In addition, maximal induction of ICl with PMA (6 mumol/L) prevented the effects of FSK (1 mumol/L, the concentration causing approximately 40% of the maximal response [approximately EC40]), yet the effects of simultaneously applied submaximal concentrations (eg, approximately EC25 to approximately EC40) of both 0.5 mumol/L PMA and 1 mumol/L FSK were roughly additive. The results suggest that (1) both PMA and ISO or FSK can induce ICl with approximately equal efficacy, (2) the PMA- and ISO- or FSK-induced ICls are similar, and (3) they all flow through the same set of Cl- channels, implying that channel phosphorylation via either PKA or PKC can activate this feline cardiac ICl.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Enhanced functional expression of transient outward current in hypertrophied feline myocytes.

Cardiac hypertrophy can decrease myocardial contractility and alter the electrophysiological activity of the heart. It is well documented that action potentials recorded from hypertrophied feline ventricular cells can exhibit depressed plateau voltages and prolonged durations. Similar findings have been made by others in rabbit, rat, guinea pig, and human heart. Whole-cell patch voltage-clamp studies designed to explain these changes in the action potential suggest that the only component of the membrane current recorded from feline right ventricular (RV) myocytes found to be substantially different from normal is the 4-amino-pyridine-sensitive transient outward current (I(to)). However, it was not clear if the change in I(to) could explain the changes in the action potential of hypertrophied cardiocytes, nor was it clear if these changes reflect an alteration in the electrophysiological character of the channels underlying I(to). A kinetic comparison of I(to) elicited by hypertrophied RV myocytes with that elicited by comparable normal RV myocytes previously revealed no differences, suggesting that the increased magnitude of the peak I(to) recorded from hypertrophied myocytes arises because the current density increases and not because of any alteration in the kinetic parameters governing the current. This finding suggests that in hypertrophy additional normal channels are expressed rather than a kinetically different channel subtype emerging. Investigations designed to determine if enhancement of I(to) could explain the hypertrophy-induced changes in plateau voltage and action potential duration suggest that a change in I(to) density can indeed explain the entire effect of hypertrophy on RV action potentials. If this notion is correct, the likelihood of "sudden death" in patients with myocardial hypertrophy might be decreased by a blocker selective for cardiac I(to).

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1993

Effect of osmotic swelling and shrinkage on Na(+)-K+ pump activity in mammalian cardiac myocytes.

The effect on the sarcolemmal Na(+)-K+ pump of exposure to anisosmolar solutions was examined using whole cell patch clamping and ion-selective microelectrodes. Na(+)-K+ pump currents were measured in single ventricular myocytes by using pipette Na+ concentrations ([Na]pip) of 0-70 mM. The relationship between [Na]pip and pump current was well described by the Hill equation. The [Na]pip for half-maximal pump current (K0.5) was 21.4 mM in isosmolar (310 mosM) solution. K0.5 was 12.8 mM during cell swelling in hyposmolar solution (240 mosM) and 39.0 mM during cell shrinkage in hyperosmolar solution (464 mosM). The maximal pump currents, derived from the best fit of the Hill equation, and the Hill coefficients were similar in isosmolar, hyposmolar, and hyperosmolar solutions. A sustained (> 20 min) decrease in the intracellular Na+ activity developed during exposure of intact papillary muscles to hyposmolar solutions, and a sustained increase developed during exposure to hyperosmolar solutions. We conclude that osmotic myocyte swelling stimulates the sarcolemmal Na(+)-K+ pump at near-physiological levels of intracellular Na+, whereas shrinkage inhibits the pump. These changes are due to increases and decreases, respectively, in the apparent affinity of the pump for Na+.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Dependence of Na-K pump current on internal Na+ in mammalian cardiac myocytes.

Na-K pump current (Ipump) is a function of the intracellular Na+ concentration [( Na+]i). We examined the quantitative relationship between Ipump and [Na+]i in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes under steady-state conditions. [Na+]i was controlled and "clamped" at several selected concentrations using wide-tipped pipette microelectrodes, and membrane current was measured using the whole cell patch voltage-clamp technique. Ipump generated at a holding potential of -40 mV was determined by measuring the change in steady-state holding current before and during exposure to dihydroouabain (1 mM); Ipump was measured at 11 levels of [Na+]i ranging from 0 to 80 mM (n = 63) with only one measurement per cell and normalized to cell capacitance to account for differences between myocytes in sarcolemmal surface area. Ipump exhibited a nonlinear dependence on [Na+]i; a Hill analysis of the relationship yielded a half-maximal [Na+]i for pump stimulation of 43.2 mM and a Hill coefficient of 1.53. An alternative analysis of the experimental data was performed assuming that occupation of three internal binding sites by Na+ is required for enzyme turnover. Regression analysis gave the best fit when only two different binding affinities (KD) are postulated. The values are KD1 = 1 mM, KD2 = KD3 = 29 mM. From the analysis using the latter model, the level of [Na+]i at which Ipump saturated closely approximated the theoretical saturation level calculated from published estimates of pump turnover rate and density. The maximal sensitivity of the Na-K pump to changes in [Na+]i occurs when internal [Na+] is within the range for the normal resting physiological level.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Two stable levels of diastolic potential at physiological K+ concentrations in human ventricular myocardial cells.

Cells in many specimens of human ventricle can exhibit either of two stable levels of diastolic potential (DP) when exposed to 4 mM K+ in vitro (i.e., -78 +/- 4 mV or -45 +/- 5 mV, mean +/- SEM). In this report we show that the DP of some partially depolarized human ventricular cells developed a sustained 25-35 mV hyperpolarization (n = 28) when bath K+ concentration (K+b) was raised from 4 to 7 mM. On return of K+b to 4 mM, the DP of most, but not all, of these cells returned to the original depolarized levels. In other cells, the transition between the two levels of DP occurred at variable K+b ranging from 1 to 20 mM. We investigated the ionic mechanism(s) underlying the shifts between the two levels of potential by studying the K+ dependence of the DP in partially depolarized cells in 22 specimens of human ventricle. DP hyperpolarized an average of 25.6 mV (from -44.4 +/- 1.3 to -70.0 +/- 1.3 mV; n = 25) when K+b was increased from 4 to 7 mM. Intracellular K+ activity, determined by K+-selective microelectrodes, was within the range of normal reported for other mammalian species (106.7 +/- 4.4 mM in 4 mM K+; n = 22) and was unaffected by increasing K+b to 7 mM (111.7 +/- 6.6 mM; n = 6). Ba2+ (0.05 mM), a blocker of the inward rectifying K+ current, reversibly prevented the hyperpolarization, whereas acetylstrophanthidin (9 microM) failed to inhibit it. These results suggest that the hyperpolarization was due to a K+-dependent increase in K+ permeability and that electrogenic sodium pumping did not contribute significantly to the process. The ionic basis of the depolarization from a hyperpolarized level of DP also was investigated. Decreasing bath Na+ concentration and exposure to 30 microM tetrodotoxin did not prevent the depolarization. However, the depolarization could be inhibited by 2 mM Mn2+. These findings suggest that the depolarization may have been due to a Mn2+-sensitive inward current.

Diastole↗

PubMed1990

Characterization of the electrophysiological effects of metoprolol on isolated feline ventricular myocytes.

Metoprolol is considered to be a class II antiarrhythmic agent that is highly specific for cardiac beta-1 adrenergic receptors, yet long-term administration can produce prolongation of the rate-corrected Q-T interval in humans. Action potentials and sodium (INa), "L"-type calcium (ICa) and transient outward (Ito) or inward rectifying potassium (IKl) currents were recorded from isolated cat ventricular myocytes using the whole-cell-patch technique to determine if metoprolol can directly affect cellular electrophysiological activity. External and pipette solutions, holding potentials and voltage-clamp protocols appropriate to isolate and examine INa, IKl, Ito and ICa were used. Metoprolol reversibly decreased both the duration and voltage of the action potential plateau but had no effect on upstroke velocity, the repolarization rate during phase 3 or the resting potential. Confirming previous reports suggesting that metoprolol appears to have little or no local anesthetic activity, INa was not affected by metoprolol at concentrations up to 100 microM during voltage-clamp pulses applied at less than 1 Hz when holding potential was negative to -110 mV. However, when trains of pulses to -10 mV from a holding potential of -110 mV were applied at 1 to 5 Hz, use-dependent inhibition of INa occurred, suggesting that 100 microM metoprolol may interact with inactivated Na channels to inhibit INa. Metoprolol (10 and 100 microM) also caused a concentration-dependent decrease in peak inward IKl elicited in response to hyperpolarizing from -40 mV to potentials negative to the IKl reversal potential. In addition, during strong hyperpolarizations (i.e., less than or equal to -150 mV) an inward (i.e., downward) droop in current was observed during the inactivation phase approximately 20 to 30 msec after pulse onset. Metoprolol (10 microM) also reduced peak Ito and ICa without altering the time courses of inactivation of either current or the level of the steady-state outward current elicited positive to -40 mV; steady-state ICa, on the other hand, was reduced. The sensitivity to block by metoprolol was: IKl greater than ICa greater than or equal to Ito greater than INa.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1989

Ionic diffusion in voltage-clamped isolated cardiac myocytes. Implications for Na,K-pump studies.

The whole-cell voltage-clamp technique employing electrolyte-filled micro-pipette suction electrodes is widely used to investigate questions requiring an electrophysiological approach. With this technique, the ionic composition of the cytosol is assumed to be strongly influenced (as result of diffusion) by the ionic composition of the solution contained in the electrode. If this assumption is valid for isolated cardiac myocytes, the technique would be particularly powerful for studying the dependence of their Na,K-pump on the intracellular [Na+]. However, the relationship between the concentrations of ions in the solution filling the electrode and those in the cytosol has not been established. The relationship was investigated to determine in particular whether the [Na+] at the intracellular cation ligand binding sites for the Na-pump ([ Na+]ps) can be set and clamped by [Na+] in the pipette electrode ([ Na+]pip). If [Na+]pip can set and clamp [Na+]ps, this would provide a means for defining the dependence of the Na,K-pump on intracellular [Na+]. The relationship between [Na+]pip and [Na+]ps was analyzed using two approaches. First, a mathematical model of three-dimensional ionic diffusion within a whole-cell patch-clamped myocyte was developed and the effects of experimental parameters on mean [Na+]ps were investigated. When typical experimental values were simulated, the time course to achieve steady state mean [Na+]ps was found to be most sensitive to variations in electrode pore size, cell length and the Na+ pumping rate, but at steady state, mean [Na+]ps varies from [Na+]pip by 5% or less depending on pump rate. Second, to provide experimental support for the validity of the simulations, isolated ventricular myocytes were voltage-clamped and the reversal potential for the Na current was determined in order to estimate steady state intracellular [Na+]. The results of the mathematical and experimental analyses suggest that steady state [Na+]ps can be regulated by the [Na+] in suction pipette electrodes. These findings, while also having a broader significance, indicate for isolated cardiac myocytes that whole-cell suction micro-electrodes can provide a means to assess the dependence of the Na,K-pump on [Na+]ps.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1989

On the role of sodium ions in the regulation of the inward-rectifying potassium conductance in cat ventricular myocytes.

The conductance of the inward-rectifying K+ current (IK1) in isolated cat ventricular myocytes is decreased by reducing the extracellular Na+ concentration. Using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique, possible mechanisms underlying this Na+ dependence were investigated. These included (a) block of inward K+ current by the Na+ substitute, (b) changes in membrane surface charge associated with removal of extracellular Na+, (c) increases of intracellular Ca2+ due to suppression of Na-Ca exchange, (d) reduction of a Na+-dependent K+ conductance due to a subsequent decrease of intracellular Na+, (e) reduction of IK1 conductance (gK1) associated with reduction of intracellular pH due to suppression of Na-proton exchange. The findings support the hypothesis that the effect of removing Na+ is mediated through a decrease in intracellular pH. These include observations that: (a) reducing internal pH by reducing external pH caused a decrease in gK1, and the conductance changes caused by reducing extracellular pH and removing extracellular Na+ were not additive: (b) the effect of reducing pHo was attenuated by dialyzing with a low pH internal solution; (c) gK1 was reduced by exposure to the Na-proton exchange inhibitor dimethylamiloride, and this effect was absent in the absence of Na+. These findings imply that physiological or pathological processes such as ischemia and metabolic or respiratory acidosis which can produce intracellular acidosis should be expected to affect K+ permeation through the IK1 channel.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Voltage-dependent block of cardiac inward-rectifying potassium current by monovalent cations.

The inward-rectifying K+ current (IK1) in cat ventricular myocytes, like inward-rectifying K+ currents in many other preparations, exhibited a negative slope conductance region at hyperpolarized membrane potentials that was time-dependent. This was evident as an inactivation of inward current elicited by hyperpolarizing voltage-clamp pulses resulting in a negative slope region of the steady-state current-voltage relationship at potentials negative to -140 mV. Removing extracellular Na+ prevented the development of the negative slope in this voltage region, suggesting that Na+ can block IK1 channels in a time- and voltage-dependent manner. The time and voltage dependence of Cs+-induced block of IK1 was also examined. Cs+ blocked inward current in a manner similar to that of Na+, but the former was much more potent. The fraction of current blocked by Cs+ in the presence of Na+ was reduced in a time- and voltage-dependent manner, which suggested that these blocking ions compete for a common or at least similar site of action. In the absence of Na+, inactivation of IK1 could also be induced by both Cs+ and Li+. However, Li+ was less potent than Na+ in this respect. Calculation of the voltage sensitivity of current block by each of these ions suggests that the mechanism of block by each is similar.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1989

Inhibition of Na-K pump current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes by dihydroouabain occurs at high- and low-affinity sites.

Binding of cardiac glycosides to the Na+,K+-dependent ATPase has been shown to occur at both high- and low-affinity sites. However, recent reports suggest that glycoside-induced inhibition of electrogenic Na-K pump current occurs with simple first-order binding kinetics at relatively low-affinity sites. This implies that high-affinity binding sites have little to do with Na-K pump inhibition during exposure to cardiac glycosides. To better understand the role of the high-affinity site, we investigated the concentration dependence of Ipump inhibition by dihydroouabain (DHO) in guinea pig ventricular myocytes through use of wide-pore patch pipettes to "fix" internal Na+ activity at approximately 30 mM and to voltage clamp at -40 mV (T = 34 degrees C). DHO was found to have no effect on membrane conductance at a holding potential of -40 mV. Holding current was monitored and the difference between steady-state holding current before and during external exposure to nine concentrations (range, 0.01-1,000 microM) of DHO was measured and normalized to cellular membrane capacitance. The concentration dependence of the inhibition of Na-K pump current was biphasic and well fitted to a two-binding site model with inhibitory KD values of 0.05 microM and 64.5 microM. This is consistent with previously reported 3H-ouabain binding studies in guinea pig myocardium. These findings indicate that the electrogenic properties of the Na-K pump can be inhibited by glycoside binding to both high- and low-affinity sites.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Characterization of the inward-rectifying potassium current in cat ventricular myocytes.

Whole-cell membrane currents were measured in isolated cat ventricular myocytes using a suction-electrode voltage-clamp technique. An inward-rectifying current was identified that exhibited a time-dependent activation. The peak current appeared to have a linear voltage dependence at membrane potentials negative to the reversal potential. Inward current was sensitive to K channel blockers. In addition, varying the extracellular K+ concentration caused changes in the reversal potential and slope conductance expected for a K+ current. The voltage dependence of the chord conductance exhibited a sigmoidal relationship, increasing at more negative membrane potentials. Increasing the extracellular K+ concentration increased the maximal level of conductance and caused a shift in the relationship that was directly proportional to the change in reversal potential. Activation of the current followed a monoexponential time course, and the time constant of activation exhibited a monoexponential dependence on membrane potential. Increasing the extracellular K+ concentration caused a shift of this relationship that was directly proportional to the change in reversal potential. Inactivation of inward current became evident at more negative potentials, resulting in a negative slope region of the steady state current-voltage relationship between -140 and -180 mV. Steady state inactivation exhibited a sigmoidal voltage dependence, and recovery from inactivation followed a monoexponential time course. Removing extracellular Na+ caused a decrease in the slope of the steady state current-voltage relationship at potentials negative to -140 mV, as well as a decrease of the conductance of inward current. It was concluded that this current was IK1, the inward-rectifying K+ current found in multicellular cardiac preparations. The K+ and voltage sensitivity of IK1 activation resembled that found for the inward-rectifying K+ currents in frog skeletal muscle and various egg cell preparations. Inactivation of IK1 in isolated ventricular myocytes was viewed as being the result of two processes: the first involves a voltage-dependent change in conductance; the second involves depletion of K+ from extracellular spaces. The voltage-dependent component of inactivation was associated with the presence of extracellular Na+.

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