Action potential contour contributes to species differences in repolarization response to β-adrenergic stimulation.

Aim: Repolarization response to β-adrenergic (β-AR) stimulation differs between guinea-pig and canine myocytes and, within the latter, between myocardial layers. Correlative analysis suggests that this may be due to differences in action potential (AP) contour. Here we tested whether AP contour may set the response of current and of repolarization to β-AR stimulation (10 nM isoproterenol, ISO).

Ca-activated Cl current is antiarrhythmic by reducing both spatial and temporal heterogeneity of cardiac repolarization.

The role of Ca-activated Cl current (I) in cardiac arrhythmias is still controversial. It can generate delayed afterdepolarizations in Ca-overloaded cells while in other studies incidence of early afterdepolarization (EAD) was reduced by I. Therefore our goal was to examine the role of I in spatial and temporal heterogeneity of cardiac repolarization and EAD formation.

The myosin activator omecamtiv mecarbil: a promising new inotropic agent.

Heart failure became a leading cause of mortality in the past few decades with a progressively increasing prevalence. Its current therapy is restricted largely to the suppression of the sympathetic activity and the renin-angiotensin system in combination with diuretics. This restrictive strategy is due to the potential long-term adverse effects of inotropic agents despite their effective influence on cardiac function when employed for short durations.

Sarcolemmal Ca(2+)-entry through L-type Ca(2+) channels controls the profile of Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) current in canine ventricular myocytes.

Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) current (ICl(Ca)) mediated by TMEM16A and/or Bestrophin-3 may contribute to cardiac arrhythmias. The true profile of ICl(Ca) during an actual ventricular action potential (AP), however, is poorly understood. We aimed to study the profile of ICl(Ca) systematically under physiological conditions (normal Ca(2+) cycling and AP voltage-clamp) as well as in conditions designed to change [Ca(2+)]i.

Concept of relative variability of cardiac action potential duration and its test under various experimental conditions.

Beat-to-beat variability of action potential duration (short-term variability, SV) is an intrinsic property of mammalian myocardium. Since the majority of agents and interventions affecting SV may modify also action potential duration (APD), we propose here the concept of relative SV (RSV), where changes in SV are normalized to changes in APD and these data are compared to the control SV-APD relationship obtained by lengthening or shortening of action potentials by inward and outward current injections. Based on this concept the influence of the several experimental conditions like stimulation frequency, temperature, pH, redox-state and osmolarity were examined on RSV in canine ventricular myocytes using sharp microelectrodes.

Oxidative shift in tissue redox potential increases beat-to-beat variability of action potential duration.

Profound changes in tissue redox potential occur in the heart under conditions of oxidative stress frequently associated with cardiac arrhythmias. Since beat-to-beat variability (short term variability, SV) of action potential duration (APD) is a good indicator of arrhythmia incidence, the aim of this work was to study the influence of redox changes on SV in isolated canine ventricular cardiomyocytes using a conventional microelectrode technique. The redox potential was shifted toward a reduced state using a reductive cocktail (containing dithiothreitol, glutathione, and ascorbic acid) while oxidative changes were initiated by superfusion with H2O2.

Cytosolic calcium changes affect the incidence of early afterdepolarizations in canine ventricular myocytes.

This study was designed to investigate the influence of cytosolic Ca(2+) levels ([Ca(2+)]i) on action potential duration (APD) and on the incidence of early afterdepolarizations (EADs) in canine ventricular cardiomyocytes. Action potentials (AP) of isolated cells were recorded using conventional sharp microelectrodes, and the concomitant [Ca(2+)]i was monitored with the fluorescent dye Fura-2. EADs were evoked at a 0.

9-Anthracene carboxylic acid is more suitable than DIDS for characterization of calcium-activated chloride current during canine ventricular action potential.

Understanding the role of ionic currents in shaping the cardiac action potential (AP) has great importance as channel malfunctions can lead to sudden cardiac death by inducing arrhythmias. Therefore, researchers frequently use inhibitors to selectively block a certain ion channel like 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) and 9-anthracene carboxylic acid (9-AC) for calcium-activated chloride current (ICl(Ca)). This study aims to explore which blocker is preferable to study ICl(Ca).

Contribution of ion currents to beat-to-beat variability of action potential duration in canine ventricular myocytes.

Although beat-to-beat variability (short-term variability, SV) of action potential duration (APD) is considered as a predictor of imminent cardiac arrhythmias, the underlying mechanisms are still not clear. In the present study, therefore, we aimed to determine the role of the major cardiac ion currents, APD, stimulation frequency, and changes in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) on the magnitude of SV. Action potentials were recorded from isolated canine ventricular cardiomyocytes using conventional microelectrode techniques.

Efficacy of selective NCX inhibition by ORM-10103 during simulated ischemia/reperfusion.

In this study we evaluated the effects of selective Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) inhibition by ORM-10103 on the [Ca2+]i transient (CaT), action potential (AP), and cell viability in isolated canine ventricular cardiomyocytes exposed to a simulated ischemia/reperfusion protocol performed either alone (modeling moderate low-flow ischemia) or with simultaneous strophantidine challenge (modeling more severe low-flow ischemia). CaTs were monitored using a Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, APs were recorded by intracellular microelectrodes, and anaerobic shifts in cellular metabolism were verified via monitoring native NADH fluorescence. Simulated ischemia increased the NADH fluorescence, reduced the amplitudes of the AP and CaT and induced membrane depolarization.

Asynchronous activation of calcium and potassium currents by isoproterenol in canine ventricular myocytes.

Adrenergic activation of L-type Ca(2+) and various K(+) currents is a crucial mechanism of cardiac adaptation; however, it may carry a substantial proarrhythmic risk as well. The aim of the present work was to study the timing of activation of Ca(2+) and K(+) currents in isolated canine ventricular cells in response to exposure to isoproterenol (ISO). Whole cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique in either conventional voltage clamp or action potential voltage clamp modes were used to monitor I(Ca), I(Ks), and I(Kr), while action potentials were recorded using sharp microelectrodes.

Tetrodotoxin blockade on canine cardiac L-type Ca²⁺ channels depends on pH and redox potential.

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is believed to be one of the most selective inhibitors of voltage-gated fast Na⁺ channels in excitable tissues. Recently, however, TTX has been shown to block L-type Ca²⁺ current (I(Ca)) in canine cardiac cells. In the present study, the TTX-sensitivity of I(Ca) was studied in isolated canine ventricular myocytes as a function of (1) channel phosphorylation, (2) extracellular pH and (3) the redox potential of the bathing medium using the whole cell voltage clamp technique.

Effects of pioglitazone on cardiac ion currents and action potential morphology in canine ventricular myocytes.

Despite its widespread therapeutical use there is little information on the cellular cardiac effects of the antidiabetic drug pioglitazone in larger mammals. In the present study, therefore, the concentration-dependent effects of pioglitazone on ion currents and action potential configuration were studied in isolated canine ventricular myocytes using standard microelectrode, conventional whole cell patch clamp, and action potential voltage clamp techniques. Pioglitazone decreased the maximum velocity of depolarization and the amplitude of phase-1 repolarization at concentrations ≥3 μM.

Effects of tacrolimus on action potential configuration and transmembrane ion currents in canine ventricular cells.

Tacrolimus is a commonly used immunosuppressive agent which causes cardiovascular complications, e.g., hypertension and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.