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R Fischmeister

Publications and source records attributed to R Fischmeister.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Inhibition by glucagon of the cGMP-inhibited low-Km cAMP phosphodiesterase in heart is mediated by a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein.

We have recently reported that glucagon activated the L-type Ca2+ channel current in frog ventricular myocytes and showed that this was linked to the inhibition of a membrane-bound low-Km cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) (Méry, P. F., Brechler, V., Pavoine, C., Pecker, F., and Fischmeister, R. (1990) Nature 345, 158-161). We show here that the inhibition of membrane-bound PDE activity by glucagon depends on guanine nucleotides, a reproducible inhibition of 40% being obtained with 0.1 microM glucagon in the presence of 10 microM GTP, with GTP greater than GTP gamma S, while GDP and ATP gamma S were without effect. Glucagon had no effect on the cytosolic low-Km cAMP PDE, assayed with or without 10 microM GTP. Glucagon inhibition of membrane-bound PDE activity was not affected by pretreatment of the ventricle particulate fraction with cholera toxin. However, it was abolished after pertussis toxin pretreatment. Mastoparan, a wasp venom peptide known to activate G(i)/G(o) proteins directly, mimicked the effect of glucagon. PDE inhibition by glucagon was additive with the inhibition induced by Ro 20-1724, but was prevented by milrinone. This was correlated with an increase by glucagon of cAMP levels in frog ventricular cells which was not additive with the increase in cAMP due to milrinone. We conclude that glucagon specifically inhibits the cGMP-inhibited, milrinone-sensitive PDE (CGI-PDE). Insensitivity of adenylylcyclase to glucagon and inhibition by the peptide of a low-Km cAMP PDE were not restricted to frog heart, but also occurred in mouse and guinea pig heart. These results confirm that two mechanisms mediate the action of glucagon in heart: one is the activation of adenylylcyclase through Gs, and the other relies on the inhibition of the membrane-bound low-Km CGI-PDE, via a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1992

A loudspeaker-driven system for rapid and multiple solution exchanges in patch-clamp experiments.

A new and inexpensive system allowing rapid and synchronized changes of solutions around a membrane patch or a cell under voltage-clamp conditions is described. Four plastic capillary tubings (OD 640 microns; ID 430 microns) were glued together horizontally and attached to a coil of a commercially available loudspeaker. Servo-control of the position of the coil allowed the mouth of any of the capillaries to be positioned near the pipette tip within 6 ms. A high flow speed of the test solution was crucial to achieve rapid solution exchange. At a flow speed of 5 cm/s, complete exchange of the external environment of a frog ventricular cell was achieved within 20-30 ms. The time course of solution change was found to be 3-5 times faster at the tip of an open patch pipette. To preserve the physical integrity of the cell, the cell was usually perfused by a control capillary at a slow velocity (0.2-0.4 cm/s) and test solutions flowing out of adjacent capillaries at high velocity (4-5 cm/s) were applied to the cell only for short periods. Determination of the three-dimensional contamination profile around the mouth of the control capillary allowed the optimal conditions for the use of the system to be established and possible sources of contamination to be avoided between adjacent capillaries with unmatched flow speeds. Successive and multiple changes in external solutions could be easily synchronized with voltage-clamp depolarizations to examine the time course of the effect of drugs on voltage-operated ion channels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Direct regulation of cardiac Ca2+ channels by G proteins: neither proven nor necessary?

The cardiac L-type Ca2+ channel has served as a model for ion channel regulation for over a decade. The Ca2+ current is increased by beta-adrenoceptor stimulation and this effect is inhibited by muscarinic acetylcholine receptor stimulation. It is well established that beta-adrenoceptor stimulation increases this current largely by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation but recently data have been presented that suggest that this channel may also be regulated directly by G proteins. This review by Criss Hartzell and Rodolphe Fischmeister evaluates evidence for this second regulatory pathway and concludes that, although G proteins affect cardiac Ca2+ channels in bilayers and excised patches, there is little evidence that this pathway is physiologically significant.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗
PubMed1991

Sympathetic regulation of cardiac calcium current is due exclusively to cAMP-dependent phosphorylation.

The positive inotropic effect of the sympathetic nervous system on the heart is partly mediated by an increase in the voltage-gated Ca2+ current (ICa). This increase is generally attributed to beta-adrenergic receptor-stimulated cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of the Ca2+ channel. It has been suggested that cAMP-dependent phosphorylation cannot explain all the effects of beta-adrenergic agonists on ICa and that a parallel membrane-delimited pathway involving the 'direct' action of the G protein Gs also stimulates ICa. A precedent exists for such a membrane-delimited pathway in the activation of a K+ channel by acetylcholine in heart. A membrane-delimited pathway for stimulation of ICa might be important in rapid beat-to-beat regulation of contraction by the sympathetic nervous system, because isoproterenol may produce a biphasic increase in ICa with the rapid phase (tau = 150 ms) putatively mediated by the direct pathway and the slow phase (tau = 35 s) by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation. Here we report that in frog, rat, and guinea pig ventricular myocytes ICa increases slowly and monophasically in response to isoproterenol. The increase is completely blocked by inhibitors of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation. Furthermore, the time course of the increase in ICa closely parallels the increase in contractile force produced by sympathetic nerve stimulation. These data refute earlier suggestions that regulation of Ca2+ channels by the sympathetic nervous system involves or requires a direct G-protein pathway.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗
PubMed1991

Ca2+ current is regulated by cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase in mammalian cardiac myocytes.

Regulation of cardiac contraction by neurotransmitters and hormones is often correlated with regulation of the L-type Ca2(+)-channel current (ICa) through the opposite actions of two second messengers, cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP. While cyclic AMP stimulation of ICa is mediated by the activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, inhibition of ICa by cyclic GMP in frog heart is largely mediated by activation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. The present patch-clamp study reveals that, in rat ventricular cells, cyclic GMP can also regulate ICa via activation of endogenous cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (cGMP-PK). Indeed, the effect of cyclic GMP on ICa was mimicked by intracellular perfusion with the proteolytic active fragment of purified cGMP-PK. Moreover, cGMP-PK immunoreactivity was detected in pure rat ventricular myocytes by using a specific polyclonal antibody. These results demonstrate a dual mechanism for the inhibitory action of cyclic GMP in heart, as well as a physiological role for cGMP-PK in the control of mammalian heart function.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1991

Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases and Ca2+ current regulation in cardiac cells.

At least four different isoforms of phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are responsible for the hydrolysis of cAMP in cardiac cells. However, their distribution, localization and functional coupling to physiological effectors (such as ion channels, contractile proteins, etc.) vary significantly among various animal species and cardiac tissues. Because the activity of cardiac Ca2+ channels is strongly regulated by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation, Ca(2+)-channel current (ICa) measured in isolated cardiac myocytes may be used as a probe for studying cAMP metabolism. When the activity of adenylyl cyclase is bypassed by intracellular perfusion with submaximal concentrations of cAMP, effects of specific PDE inhibitors on ICa amplitude are mainly determined by their effects on PDE activity. This approach can be used to evaluate in vivo the functional coupling of various PDE isozymes to Ca2+ channels and their differential participation in the hormonal regulation of ICa and cardiac function. Combined with in vitro biochemical studies, such an experimental approach has permitted the discovery of hormonal inhibition of PDE activity in cardiac myocytes.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1990

Glucagon stimulates the cardiac Ca2+ current by activation of adenylyl cyclase and inhibition of phosphodiesterase.

Glucagon exerts positive inotropic and chronotropic effects in the heart. Like its glycogenolytic effect in liver cells, the cardiac effects of glucagon are often correlated with adenylyl cyclase stimulation. Therefore, cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of L-type Ca2+ channels might be involved in the inotropic effect of glucagon. There have been no reports, however, of the effects of glucagon on the cardiac Ca2+ current (ICa). Also, the physiological effects of glucagon could involve mechanisms other than stimulation of adenylyl cyclase. Here we show that glucagon enhances ICa in frog and rat ventricular myocytes. The effect of glucagon in rats resulted from a stimulation of adenylyl cyclase. In frogs, however, the effect of glucagon on ICa was smaller and occurred at a concentration tenfold lower than in rats, and adenylyl cyclase was not modified. In addition, cAMP potentiated the effect of glucagon on ICa in frog ventricle, which correlated with the observed inhibition by glucagon of low-Km cAMP phosphodiesterase activity. Therefore, this is an example of a hormone that affects cardiac function in a similar way to a variety of synthetic cardiotonic compounds, such as milrinone and Ro-20-1724. Inhibition of phosphodiesterase activity by glucagon may be essential in animals in which glucagon increases cardiac contractility but does not effectively stimulate adenylyl cyclase.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1990

Regulation of calcium current by low-Km cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases in cardiac cells.

The voltage-gated Ca2+ current (ICa) in cardiac myocytes is regulated by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation. Although the regulation of ICa via mechanisms involving modulation of cAMP synthesis is well understood, the regulation of cAMP degradation has been less thoroughly investigated. The goal of the present study was to investigate the participation of different subclasses of cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) in regulating cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of Ca2+ channels in frog ventricular myocytes. Cardiomyocytes were isolated enzymatically and mechanically and were patch-clamped using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. The effects of various low-Km cAMP PDE inhibitors on ICa were examined. None of the inhibitors tested [milrinone, indolidan, 1-methyl 3-isobutyl xanthine (MIX), rolipram, or Ro 20-1724] were able to elevate ICa in the absence of elevated cAMP, although they all increased ICa in the presence of submaximal levels of cAMP. This result suggests that these compounds do not act directly on Ca2+ channels but rather modulate cAMP degradation. Half-maximal effects were observed with 1.4 microM milrinone and 3.4 microM MIX. Milrinone was effective when applied from either the extracellular or intracellular surface, whereas MIX was effective only when applied from the extracellular solution. In the presence of internal cGMP, which stimulates the cGMP-stimulated PDE, the low-Km cAMP PDE inhibitors had no effect on ICa, whereas high concentrations of MIX, which inhibit the cGMP-stimulated PDE, increased ICa. This would support the hypothesis that cGMP-stimulated PDE either has a much stronger capacity to hydrolyze cAMP or is more efficiently coupled to Ca2+ channels than the low-Km cAMP PDEs.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1990

High affinity forskolin inhibition of L-type Ca2+ current in cardiac cells.

The diterpene forskolin is widely known for its ability to directly activate adenylyl cyclase and consequently increase intracellular cAMP. In cardiac cells, one result is a cAMP-mediated increase in the L-type Ca2(+)-channel current (ICa). However, forskolin was also shown recently to affect a number of ionic channels in noncardiac cells by mechanisms that do not involve activation of adenylyl cyclase. The present study reveals such an effect of forskolin on cardiac Ca2+ channels. Indeed, under appropriate conditions, forskolin was found to cause an inhibition of ICa. Although the stimulation of adenylyl cyclase and ICa requires micromolar concentrations of forskolin, the inhibitory effect of forskolin was observed in the nanomolar range of concentrations, i.e., 2-3 orders of magnitude lower. This high affinity forskolin inhibition of ICa was observed when ICa was previously enhanced via a cAMP-dependent pathway, but not when ICa was at its basal level or when the current was elevated by the dihydropyridine Bay K 8644. The inhibitory effect occurred at a site of action remote from adenylyl cyclase, because forskolin similarly inhibited ICa that had been previously elevated by isoprenaline (a beta-adrenergic agonist) or directly by intracellular perfusion with cAMP. Under these conditions, forskolin was inhibitory when applied to either side of the cell membrane, but only in its lipid-soluble form. The inhibitory effect of forskolin appeared to be independent of membrane potential and was not accompanied by a change in the time constants of ICa activation and inactivation. This may indicate that forskolin mainly reduces the number of functional Ca2+ channels without changing the gating of individual channels. However, the reduction in ICa amplitude was not equally distributed among the different exponential components that constitute ICa, which suggests that forskolin also modifies the resting state of the channels. This novel high affinity forskolin inhibition of ICa may take place at some step in the pathway between cAMP and Ca2+ channel phosphorylation and/or at Ca2+ channels only after they have been phosphorylated.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗
PubMed1989

Cyclic GMP regulates the Ca-channel current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

The effect of intracellular perfusion with cyclic GMP (cGMP) on Ca current (Ica) was investigated in Cs-loaded isolated cells from guinea pig ventricle using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique and a perfused patch pipette. cGMP (5 microM) strongly reduced Ica which had been elevated by intracellular perfusion with 50 microM of either cyclic AMP (cAMP) or its hydrolysis-resistant analog 8-Bromo-cAMP. In addition, cGMP prevented the stimulation of Ica by IBMX, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. The membrane permeant cGMP analog 8-Bromo-cGMP (100 microM), when applied outside the cell, also antagonized the stimulatory effect of IBMX on Ica. It is concluded that cGMP inhibits Ica in guinea pig ventricular cells by a mechanism different from the activation of a cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase recently found in frog ventricular cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Interactive effects of isoprenaline, forskolin and acetylcholine on Ca2+ current in frog ventricular myocytes.

1. Calcium currents (ICa) were measured in single cells isolated from frog ventricle using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique and a perfused pipette. The dose-dependent stimulatory effects of isoprenaline (Iso, 0.1-100 microM) and forskolin (Fo. 0.1-50 microM) on ICa were determined in the presence and absence of acetylcholine (ACh, 10 microM) and/or threshold concentrations of Fo (0.2 microM) and Iso (0.05 microM), respectively. EC50 (i.e. concentration of Iso or Fo at which the response was 50% of the maximum) and Emax (i.e. maximal stimulation of Ica expressed as percentage increase in ICa with respect to control) were measured under each condition. 2. ACh increased EC50 for the stimulatory action of Iso on ICa from 0.84 to 3.72 microM while it reduced Emax from 658 to 185%. Thus, ACh mainly reduced the efficacy of Iso to stimulate ICa. 3. ACh increased EC50 for the stimulatory action of Fo on ICa from 2.06 to 10.26 microM but only slightly reduced Emax from 893 to 778%. Thus, ACh mainly reduced the potency of Fo to stimulate ICa. 4. Intracellular perfusion with 100 microM of hydrolysis-resistant GTP analogues, GTP-gamma-S [guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)] and Gpp (NH)p (5'-guanylylimido-diphosphate), had no effect on basal ICa but reduced by greater than 50% the stimulatory effect of 2 microM-Iso on ICa. 5. In the presence of Gpp(NH)p or GTP-gamma-S, Fo (3 microM) reversibly increased ICa by 490%, as compared to a 717% increase in control (GTP) intracellular solution. Although ACh could still inhibit Fo-stimulated ICa, the degree of inhibition was significantly smaller than in the presence of GTP. 6. Extracellular perfusion with low concentrations of a combination of Iso (33 nM) and Fo (330 nM) enhanced ICa to a much greater extent than did either agent alone at 3 times higher concentrations. Thus, low concentrations of Iso and Fo appear to increase ICa in a synergistic fashion. 7. ICa stimulated by a combination of Iso and Fo appeared to be more resistant to inhibition by ACh than when stimulated by either alone. It was the efficacy, rather than the potency, of ACh to inhibit ICa that was reduced upon dual stimulation of ICa. 8. In the presence of 0.2 microM-Fo, EC50 and Emax for the effects of Iso on ICa were 0.27 microM and 619%, respectively. By comparison with the effects of Iso alone, Fo reduced EC50 approximately 3 times with no significant change in maximal stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1988

Inactivation, reactivation and pacing dependence of calcium current in frog cardiocytes: correlation with current density.

1. Ca2+ currents were measured in single cells isolated from frog ventricle using the whole-cell patch clamp technique and a perfused pipette. K+ currents were blocked with intracellular (120 mM) and extracellular (20 mM) Cs+. 2. A single type of Ca2+ current (ICa) was found in these cells. The current activated at voltages positive to -30 mV, exhibited a symmetrical current-voltage relationship with a peak at 0 mV, and was slowly inactivating with Ba2+ as charge carrier. 3. Large variations in ICa amplitude were observed from cell to cell (ICa at 0 mV = 293.1 +/- 283.3 pA; N = 152). These variations were not due simply to differences in cell membrane area, which was estimated by cell membrane capacitance (Cm), because the density of Ca2+ current (dICa = ICa/Cm) also varied significantly from cell to cell (1.3-28 pA/pF at 0 mV; mean +/- S.D. = 4.49 +/- 3.96; N = 152). 4. The inactivation curve of ICa was a complex function of membrane potential. 200 ms pre-pulses to voltages between -60 and +20 mV progressively inactivated ICa elicited by a subsequent test pulse with half-maximal inactivation occurring for pre-pulses to approximately -40 mV. With pre-pulses positive to +20 mV, ICa elicited by the test pulse became progressively larger. The degree of inactivation induced by a 200 ms depolarization to potentials more positive than +20 mV varied significantly from cell to cell, while no such variations were observed in the negative range of membrane potentials. 5. The time course of reactivation (i.e. removal from inactivation) of ICa at -80 mV often exhibited an overshoot. The amplitude of the overshoot varied between 100% (i.e. no overshoot) and approximately 180% in eighty-one cells. 6. The degree of inactivation at positive potentials (+100 mV) and the amplitude of the overshoot were strongly correlated with the Ca2+ current density. The overshoot was more pronounced, the reactivation was faster, and the inactivation at positive potentials was less in cells with lower ICa density. 7. Increasing the stimulation frequency from 0.125 to 2 Hz induced a positive staircase of ICa in cells with ICa density less than 2 pA/pF and a negative staircase in cells with ICa density greater than 3 pA/pF. 8. Perfusing the patch pipette with 5 mM-BAPTA instead of EGTA reduced the amplitude of the overshoot and slightly slowed the inactivation kinetics. Replacing extracellular Ca2+ ions by Ba2+ ions completely suppressed the overshoot.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1988

Atrial natriuretic factor regulates the calcium current in frog isolated cardiac cells.

The effect of external application of synthetic atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on calcium current (ICa) was studied in single cells isolated from frog ventricle using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Rat atriopeptin III (APIII) and 3-28 ANF rat (rANF) had negligible effects on basal ICa at concentrations up to 200 nM. However, when ICa was increased by isoprenaline, both peptides had significant inhibitory effects. rANF (3 nM) decreased isoprenaline-elevated ICa by an average of 33% after 3-5 minutes. APIII was slightly less effective than rANF. The effects of rANF and APIII were dose-dependent in a complex manner: one stimulatory and two different inhibitory effects were observed, one being responsible for an irreversible rundown of ICa. The effects of ANF were not blocked by atropine and desensitization of the cells to isoprenaline did not play a significant role in the response to ANF. When ICa was elevated by intracellular perfusion with cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, added to the patch electrode solution or using a perfused pipette, rANF or APIII had less inhibitory effect, and no rundown of ICa was observed. It is proposed that adenylate cyclase may be one of several mechanisms by which ANF regulates ICa.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

A patch-clamp study of the effects of cicletanine on whole-cell calcium current in ventricular myocytes.

The effects of extracellular application of cicletanine on the voltage-sensitive calcium current (ICa) was studied in isolated cells from frog ventricle. Myocytes were isolated by enzymatic dissociation and ICa was measured using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique modified to permit intracellular perfusion with various substances. Cicletanine (10 to 100 microM) had no effect on control ICa. However, when ICa was enhanced by superfusion of the cell with saturating doses of beta-adrenergic agonist (isoprenaline, 2 microM) or by intracellular perfusion with maximal doses of cAMP (20 microM), cicletanine exerted a dual effect on ICa. At 10 microM, cicletanine generally induced a transient or sustained stimulation of ICa (5 to 40%), while 100 microM of the drug generally reduced ICa. The effects of cicletanine were reversible and not voltage-dependent. These results suggest that cicletanine affects ICa by acting on a mechanism occurring after cAMP synthesis, by enhancing cAMP concentration (e.g. through an inhibition of cAMP phosphodiesterase) or facilitating cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of the Ca channels.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate regulates the calcium current in single cells from frog ventricle.

1. The effect of intracellular perfusion with cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP on Ca2+ current (ICa) was studied in single cells isolated from frog ventricle using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique and a perfused pipette. 2. Intracellular perfusion with cyclic GMP (0.1-20 microM) had no effect on the basal ICa. However, when ICa was increased by isoprenaline or by intracellular perfusion with cyclic AMP, perfusion with cyclic GMP (20 microM) reduced ICa by an average of 67%. The effect of cyclic GMP on ICa elevated by cyclic AMP was reversible. A half-maximal effect of cyclic GMP was observed at 0.6 microM. Cyclic GMP had no significant effect on the shape of the ICa current-voltage relationship. 3. The effect of cyclic GMP was specific to the 3',5' form; 2',3'-cyclic GMP had no effect. 4. The effect of cyclic GMP was apparently not mediated by stimulation of cyclic-GMP-dependent protein kinase because 8-bromo-cyclic GMP, a very potent activator of the protein kinase, was without effect. 5. Cyclic GMP had no effect on ICa elevated by the non-hydrolysable 8-bromo-cyclic AMP. The effect of cyclic GMP on cyclic-AMP-elevated ICa was partially blocked by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, methylisobutylxanthine. Thus, it was hypothesized that the effect of cyclic GMP was mediated by hydrolysis of cyclic AMP as a result of a stimulation of a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase by cyclic GMP. 6. The dose-response curve for cyclic AMP on ICa was well fitted by the Michaelis equation with a K50 (i.e. concentration of cyclic AMP at which response is 50% of the maximum) of 0.7 microM and a maximal 11-fold stimulation of ICa. Cyclic GMP shifted the curve one log unit to the right and decreased the maximal stimulation to 8.6-fold. Thus, the effect of cyclic GMP appeared uncompetitive. 7. The products of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP hydrolysis, 5'-AMP and 5'-GMP, had no effect on ICa. Furthermore, strong buffering of intracellular pH did not reduce the effect of cyclic GMP. 8. It is proposed that cyclic-GMP-stimulation of a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase may be one of several mechanisms by which acetylcholine regulates ICa.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1987

Effect of forskolin and acetylcholine on calcium current in single isolated cardiac myocytes.

The effect of extracellular and intracellular application of forskolin on the voltage-sensitive calcium current, ICa, was studied in myocytes isolated from frog ventricle. Myocytes were isolated by enzymatic dissociation, and ICa was measured using the whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp technique modified to permit intracellular perfusion of various substances. Intracellular perfusion with forskolin (0.1 to 10 microM) had a negligible effect on ICa: ICa was increased 15 +/- 13% (mean +/- SE; N = 5). In contrast, superfusion of the cell with forskolin increased ICa significantly. The EC50 for the forskolin effect was 0.4 microM. A maximal 4.5-fold increase in ICa occurred with 3 microM forskolin. This is somewhat less than the maximal response to isoprenaline seen in this same series of experiments. The effects of forskolin, isoprenaline, and intracellular cAMP were not additive. In contrast, the effects of isoprenaline or intracellular cAMP and calcium channel agonists, such as Sandoz (+)202-791, were additive. This supports the hypothesis that the positive inotropic effects of forskolin are at least partly mediated by an increase in intracellular cAMP and a stimulation of ICa. The effects of forskolin were antagonized by acetylcholine (1 microM) or intracellular perfusion with cGMP. Acetylcholine on the average decreased forskolin-stimulated ICa 57 +/- 11% (N = 17). The relevance of these results to the suggestion that acetylcholine acts by mechanisms other than inhibition of adenylate cyclase is discussed.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1986

Some limitations of the cell-attached patch clamp technique: a two-electrode analysis.

With two independent patch electrodes sealed to small clusters of electrically coupled chick embryo cardiac cells, we have measured four parameters: true seal and patch resistance, channel conductance, and membrane potential. One electrode was in the cell-attached mode, and recorded current flowing in parallel through the membrane patch and seal. The second electrode, sealed on a different cell in the cluster, was in the whole cell recording configuration, and served to record or control the membrane potential of the cluster. We fit the four measured parameters to a simple electrical model to reveal errors not usually recognized in the patch-clamp technique. Among these are the following: (1) The apparent seal resistance, determined by changing the potential in a patch electrode, may be a poor estimate of true seal resistance, since it includes the parallel combination of seal- and patch-resistance. (2) Patch resistance may be influenced by the electrode filling solution, and is often much lower than is usually assumed. (3) With a small cell preparation that has an input resistance in the gigaohm range, measurements of single-channel conductance using a cell-attached patch electrode may be inaccurate because cell membrane potential does not remain constant as electrode potential is varied.

Animals↗