Effects of barium and 5-hydroxydecanoate on the electrophysiologic response to acute regional ischemia and reperfusion in rat hearts.

The aim of this work was to investigate the role of the inward rectifying (K1) and the sarcolemmal ATP-sensitive K+ (K-ATP) channels in the electrical response to regional ischemia and the subsequent development of ventricular tachyarrhythmias on reflow (RA). Surface electrograms (ECG) and the transmembrane potential from subepicardial left ventricular cells were recorded in spontaneously beating rat hearts perfused with buffer alone (controls) or exposed to 100 microM BaCl2 or 100 microM 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) to block either K1 or K-ATP channels respectively. After 20 min of equilibration and 10 min of control recordings, the left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded for 10 min.

4-Aminopyridine: effects on electrical activity during ischemia and reperfusion in perfused rat hearts.

We investigated the effects of 2 and 4 mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP,--blocker of the transient outward current I(to) on the electrophysiological response to regional ischemia and reperfusion. Spontaneously beating rat hearts were subjected to coronary occlusion (10 min) followed by reperfusion. The surface electrogram and the membrane potential from subepicardial left ventricular cells were recorded throughout.