抗心律失常药RP62 71 9对哺乳动物心室肌K~ 电流的抑制

使用全细胞膜片箝技术 ,研究RP6 2 719对内向整流钾电流 (IK1)、瞬时外向钾电流 (Ito)和延迟外向整流钾电流 (IK)的作用 ,并探讨其抗心律失常作用的机制。实验结果表明 ,在指令电压为 - 10 0mV时 ,RP6 2 719可显著抑制豚鼠心室肌细胞IK1,半数抑制浓度 (IC50 )为 5 0± 1 0 μmol/L。RP6 2 71910 μmol/L在 40mV时对犬心室肌细胞Ito抑制率为 84 0± 4 4% ,IC50 为 1 2± 0 5 1μmol/L。在 40mV时 ,5 0 μmol/LRP6 2 719还可使豚鼠心室肌细胞IKstep减少 5 0 0± 8 3% ,IKtail减少 5 6 0± 4 9% ,IC50 分别为 4 2± 0 8μmol/L和 3 3± 0 75 μmol/L。提示RP6 2 719抗心律失常的离子机制与其对IK1、Ito及IK 的抑制有关     

西洛他唑对人心房肌细胞瞬间外向钾电流的影响

目的:观察西洛他唑对人心房肌细胞瞬间外向钾电流(Ito1)的影响,探讨该药抗心律失常作用的机制.方法:二步酶解法分离人单个右心房肌细胞,应用全细胞膜片钳技术记录人心房肌细胞Ito1.结果:在保持电位-50 mV和去极化脉冲为 50 mV条件下,30 μmol/L西洛他唑显著降低Ito1,使Ito1幅值由加药前(8.16±0.70)pA/pF降至(4.84±0.60)pA/pF(P<0.01).西洛他唑在1～50 μmol/L范围内呈浓度依赖性的抑制Ito1,1 μmol/L时即产生作用,50 μmol/L时达最大效应(降低51.09%±3.00%),IC50为(13.18±2.60)μmol/L.此外,该药对Ito1的电压依赖性激活和失活曲线以及恢复曲线均无显著影响.结论:本实验结果表明西洛他唑浓度依赖性地阻滞人心房肌细胞的Ito1.     

多不饱和脂肪酸对成年雪貂心肌钾通道的作用

本研究是在成年雪貂的心肌上研究多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）对电压门控钾通道的效应。我们观察到,n-3 PUFA能抑制短时性外向钾电流（Ito)和延迟整流钾电流（IK),而对内向整流钾电流（IK1）则没有明显影响。二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）对Ito和Ik能产生浓度依赖性的抑制作用,其IC50分别为7.5和20μmol/L,但不影响IK1。二十碳五烯酸（EPA）对这三种钾通道的作用与DHA相似。花生四烯酸（5或10μmol/L)先引起IK的抑制,然后引起IK,AA的激活;用环氧合酶抑制剂消炎痛可以阻断花生四烯酸激活IK,AA的作用。不具有抗心律失常作用的单不饱和脂肪酸和饱和脂肪酸都不明显影响这些钾通道的活性。上述实验结果证明,n-3 PUFA能抑制心肌细胞的Ito和IK,但和我们以前报道的PUFA对心肌钠电流和钙电流的作用相比,其对Ito和IK抑制作用的效能较低。n-3 PUFA的抗心律失常效应可能与它们抑制心肌钠、钙、钾通道的作用有关。     

激活δ阿片受体可抑制大鼠心室肌细胞L-型钙电流和瞬时外向钾电流

本研究采用全细胞膜片钳技术观察了SNCl62(一种选择性δ阿片受体激动剂)对人鼠心室肌细胞L型钙电流(L-type Ca2 current,ICa-L)和瞬时外向钾电流(transient outward K current,Ito)的影响.结果显示,SNCl62明显抑制大鼠心室肌细胞,Ica L和Ica L,对Ica L.和k的最大抑制率分别为(46.13±4.12)%和(36.53±10.57)%.1x10-4mol/L SNCl62使,Ica L的甲均电流密度从(8.98±0.40)pA/pF下降到(4.84±0.44)pA/pF(P<0.01,n=5),Ito的平均电流密度从(18.69±2.42)pA/pF降低到(11.73±1.67)pA/pF(P<0.01,n=5).单独应用naltrindole(一种选择性δ阿片受体拮抗剂)对大鼠心室肌细胞Ica L和Ito无显著作用,但预先应用naltrindole可以消除SNCl62对Ica L和Ito的抑制作用.结果表明,通过δ阿片受体,SNCl62(1x10-6～1x10-4mol/L)浓度依赖性地抑制人鼠心室肌细胞Ica L和Ito这可能是激动δ阿片受体产生抗心律失常效应的重要机制.     

1-磷酸鞘氨醇对心肌细胞钾离子通道的作用

目的：研究1-磷酸鞘氨醇（S1P）对豚鼠心室肌细胞延迟整流钾电流（IK）、内向整流钾电流（IK1）的作用。方法：实验用胶原酶酶解法急性分离豚鼠心室肌细胞,利用全细胞膜片钳的方法记录心室肌细胞的延迟整流钾电流（IK）、内向整流钾电流（IK1）。结果：①应用S1P（1．1μmol／L）后IK从（1．24±0．26）nA降至（0．95±0．23）以（P〈0．01,n=6）,而S1P（2．2μmol／L）组IK从（1．43±0．31）nA下降到（1．02±0．28）nA,统计学有显著性差异（P〈0．01,H=6）.而S1P（1．1μmol／L）＋苏拉明（Summin）（200μmol／L）组与对照相比,IK峰值从（1．29±0．26）nA下降（1．26±0．37）nA,统计学无显著性差异（P〉0．05,n=6）．②应用S1P（1．1μmol／L,2．2μmol／L）后与对照组比较,S1P（1．1μmol／L,2．2μmol／L）分别使内向整流钾电流（IK1）峰值从（-8．94±2．01）nA和（-8．81±1．55）nA下降到（18．86±1．59）nA和（-8．55±1．39）nA,统计学无显著性差异（P〉0．05,n=6）.结论：S1P可降低豚鼠心室肌细胞延迟整流钾电流（IK）的幅值,同时S1P对豚鼠心室肌细胞内向整流钾通道（IK1）没有作用。     

银杏酮酯对模拟缺血豚鼠心室肌细胞I_K的影响

目的:观察银杏酮酯(GBE50)对模拟缺血豚鼠心室肌细胞延迟整流钾电流(IK)的影响,探讨GBE50抗心肌缺血的机制。方法:采用标准膜片钳全细胞记录方法观察GBE50对正常及模拟缺血豚鼠心室肌细胞IK的影响。结果:在细胞外液中分别加入25,50,100mg/L GBE50灌流,仅100mg/L GBE50对正常心室肌细胞IK有影响(P0.05),使IK电流密度减小,I-V曲线下移;模拟缺血液灌流20minIK减小,I-V曲线下移,在模拟缺血液中分别加入25,50,100mg/L GBE50后,仅25mg/L无效,50,100mg/LGBE50灌流20min后IK稍减小,I-V曲线稍有下移,与缺血前相比无显著性差异(P0.05)。结论:100mg/LGBE50可减少正常豚鼠心室肌细胞IK;在模拟缺血条件下豚鼠心室肌细胞IK受到明显的抑制,GBE50可明显逆转缺血所致IK的抑制效应,这可能是GBE50产生心肌保护作用的重要机制之一。     

血小板活化因子对豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位和钾通道的影响

应用全细胞膜片钳技术研究了血小板活化因子(platelet activatingfactor,PAF)对豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位和钾电流的影响.结果发现,当电极内液ATP浓度为5 mmol/L(模拟正常条件)时,1 μmol/L PAF使APD90由对照的225.8±23.3 ms延长至352.8±29.8ms(n=5,P＜0.05);使IK尾电流在指令电压 30 mV由对照的173.5±16.7 pA降至152.1±11.5 pA(P＜0.05,n=4);使Ikl在指令电压为-120 mV时由对照组的-6.1±1.3 nA降至-5.6±1.1 nA(P＜0.05,n=5);但PAF在生理膜电位范围(-90mV～ 20mV)对IK1没有影响.当电极内液ATP浓度为0mmol/L时,IK·ATP开放(模拟缺血条件),1 μmol/LPAF却显著缩短APD90,由对照的153±24.6 ms缩短至88.2±19.4 ms(n=5,P＜0.01).而用1 μmol/L格列本脲(IK·ATP的特异阻断剂)预处理后,恢复了PAF可显著延长动作电位时程的作用.结果提示,PAF可能扩大缺血心肌和正常心肌细胞动作电位时程的不均一性,是缺血/再灌注性心律失常发生的重要原因.     

心房与心室肌细胞兴奋性不同的离子机理研究(英文)

心肌细胞兴奋性是维持正常的心脏活动的一个重要生理因素。本研究旨在使用全细胞膜片技术探讨豚鼠心房和心室肌细胞不同兴奋性的离子机理。结果显示,心室肌细胞兴奋性比心房肌细胞低。虽然豚鼠心室肌细胞的电压门控快Na+电流(INa)密度较低,但与其兴奋性较低并不相关,因为其在阀电位附近的可用度比率比心房肌细胞高。经典内向整流钾电流(IK1)在心室肌细胞比在心房肌细胞更大,这可能是心室肌细胞兴奋性较低的部分原因。此外,去极化引起的有内向整流特性的瞬时外向钾电流(Itoir)在心室肌细胞较大,并可能是其兴奋性较低的主要原因。在心室肌细胞,5μmol/L Ba2+显著抑制Itoir,增强细胞兴奋性,并使INa激活的阈电位更负,其作用独立于对INa的影响。本研究结果证明,除经典的IK1外,Itoir在豚鼠心房肌和心室肌细胞的兴奋性差异形成和心肌兴奋性维持中起着主要作用。然而,Itoir增加是否会通过降低兴奋性以保护心脏,还需要进一步研究。     

乳酸左氧氟沙星对豚鼠心肌细胞电生理的影响

目的了解乳酸左氧氟沙星(LVFX)对豚鼠心室肌细胞电生理的影响.方法经腹腔注射不同剂量的LVFX,记录并分析注药后5～360 min豚鼠Ⅱ导联心电图的QT间期,以及校正的QT间期(QTc).采用全细胞膜片钳技术,记录不同浓度LVFX对体外单个心室肌细胞的延迟整流钾电流(IK)的作用.结果①LVFX给药量为200 mg/kg时,心电图QT间期延长19.38%±3.15%(P＜0.05);在50 mg/kg和100 mg/kg等较低剂量时,QT间期延长不明显(P＞0.05).②LVFX抑制IK电流,且抑制作用呈现电压依赖性和浓度依赖性.结论LVFX可能通过抑制心肌细胞IK电流引起心脏QT间期延长,临床应谨慎使用.     

焦亚硫酸钠对大鼠海马CA1区神经元钾电流的影响

目的:探讨焦亚硫酸钠(SMB)、二氧化硫(SO2)及其体内衍生物(亚硫酸盐和亚硫酸氢盐)对中枢神经元钾通道的影响及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPx)相应的保护作用.方法:采用全细胞膜片钳技术研究了SMB对大鼠海马CA1区神经元瞬间外向钾电流(IA)和延迟整流钾电流(IK)的影响.结果:①焦亚硫酸钠可增大全细胞IA和IK,且具剂量依赖性和电压依赖性,使IA和IK增大50%的剂量分别为15.8 μmol/L和11.5μmol/L;②10 μmol/L的SMB均可显著影响IA和IK的激活过程,给药前后IA的半数激活电压分别为(-12.6±1.6)mV和(-7.0±1.3)mV(n=8,P＜0.01),IK的半数激活电压分别为(10.8±0.9)mV和(21.6±0.7)mV(n=8,P＜0.01),但不改变其斜率因子;③10μmol/L的SMB还非常显著地影响IA的失活过程,给药前后其半数失活电压分别为(-97.0±1.1)mV和(-84.4±3.3)mV(n=8,P＜0.01),但也不改变其斜率因子;④抗氧化酶SOD(1×106U/L)、CAT(2×106U/L)及GPx(105U/L)均可使SMB(10μmol/L)增大的IA和IK部分恢复.结论:SMB可显著增大IA和IK,抑制IA和IK的激活过程及IA的失活过程,从而导致胞内K 的外流增加,使胞内K 浓度降低,从而对中枢神经元功能产生不利影响.     

Existence of a transient outward K(+) current in guinea pig cardiac myocytes

A novel transient outward K(+) current that exhibits inward-going rectification (I(to.ir)) was identified in guinea pig atrial and ventricular myocytes. I(to.ir) was insensitive to 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) but was blocked by 200 micromol/l Ba(2+) or removal of external K(+). The zero current potential shifted 51-53 mV/decade change in external K(+). I(to.ir) density was twofold greater in ventricular than in atrial myocytes, and biexponential inactivation occurs in both types of myocytes. At -20 mV, the fast inactivation time constants were 7.7 +/- 1.8 and 6.1 +/- 1.2 ms and the slow inactivation time constants were 85.1 +/- 14.8 and 77.3 +/- 10.4 ms in ventricular and atrial cells, respectively. The midpoints for steady-state inactivation were -36.4 +/- 0.3 and -51.6 +/- 0.4 mV, and recovery from inactivation was rapid near the resting potential (time constants = 7.9 +/- 1.9 and 8.8 +/- 2.1 ms, respectively). I(to.ir) was detected in Na(+)-containing and Na(+)-free solutions and was not blocked by 20 nmol/l saxitoxin. Action potential clamp revealed that I(to.ir) contributed an outward current that activated rapidly on depolarization and inactivated by early phase 2 in both tissues. Although it is well known that 4-AP-sensitive transient outward current is absent in guinea pig, this Ba(2+)-sensitive and 4-AP-insensitive K(+) current has been overlooked.     

Protein tyrosine kinase-dependent modulation of voltage-dependent potassium channels by genistein in rat cardiac ventricular myocytes

Effects of the isoflavone protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor genistein on voltage-dependent K(+) currents, i.e., transient outward K(+) current (I(to)), sustained K(+) current (I(ss)), and inward rectifier K(+) current (I(K1)) were studied in rat cardiac ventricular myocytes. It was found that I(to) was reversibly inhibited by genistein in a concentration-dependent manner (IC(50)=28.1 microM), while I(ss) was suppressed by genistein with IC(50) of 18.5 microM. In addition, I(K1) (at -50 mV) was significantly decreased by 36.3+/-4.4% with 25 microM genistein. The inhibition of I(to), I(ss), and I(K1) by genistein was significantly reversed by the application of the protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor sodium orthovanadate (1 mM). However, I(to), I(ss), and I(K1) were not affected by the non-isoflavone PTK inhibitor tyrphostin A23 (100 microM) and PP2 (1 microM). These results indicate that activation of I(to), I(ss), and I(K1) channels is modulated by genistein-sensitive PTKs in rat ventricular myocytes.     

Transient outward current carried by inwardly rectifying K+ channels in guinea pig ventricular myocytes dialyzed with low-K+ solution

There have been periodic reports of nonclassic (4-aminopyridine insensitive) transient outward K+ current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes, with the most recent one describing a novel voltage-gated inwardly rectifying type. In the present study, we have investigated a transient outward current that overlaps inward Ca2+ current (I(Ca,L)) in myocytes dialyzed with 10 mM K+ solution and superfused with Tyrode's solution. Although depolarizations from holding potential (Vhp) -40 to 0 mV elicited relatively small inward I(Ca,L) in these myocytes, removal of external K+ or addition of 0.2 mM Ba2+ more than doubled the amplitude of the current. The basis of the enhancement of I(Ca,L) was the suppression of a large transient outward K+ current. Similar enhancement was observed when Vhp was moved to -80 mV and test depolarizations were preceded by short prepulses to -40 mV. Investigation of the time and voltage properties of the outward K+ transient indicated that it was inwardly rectifying and unlikely to be carried by voltage-gated channels. The outward transient was attenuated in myocytes dialyzed with high-Mg2+ solution, accelerated in myocytes dialyzed with 100 microM spermine solution, and abolished with time in myocytes dialyzed with ATP-free solution. These and other findings suggest that the outward transient is a component of classic "time-independent" inwardly rectifying K+ current.     

三羟异黄酮对豚鼠心室肌细胞L-型钙通道电流的影响

本实验用全细胞膜片钳技术观察三羟异黄酮(genistein,GST)对豚鼠心室肌细胞L-钙通道电流(ICa、L)的影响。结果如下:(1)GST(10、50、100 μmol/L)可浓度依赖性地降低ICa,L(n=6,P<0.01)。GST的非活性结构类似物daidzein(100μmol/L),在同一浓度范围对ICa,L没有影响(n=5,P>0.05)。(2)GST使I-V曲线上移,但对ICa,L的电压依赖特征和最大激活电压无明显影响。(3)GST对ICa,L的激活动力学特性也无影响,但可使钙电流稳态失活曲线左移。V0.5从对照的-28.6±0.6 mV变为-32.8±1.1mV,κ值从对照的5.8±0.5 mV升至6.5±0.9 mV(n=6,P<0.05)。(4)GST明显使复活曲线右移,从而使ICa,L从失活状态下恢复明显减慢(n=7,P<0.01)。(5)酪氨酸磷酸酶抑制剂正钒酸钠(1 mmol/L)显著对抗GST引起的ICa,L抑制效应(n=6,P<0.01)。根据以上结果得出的结论是:GST抑制ICa,L加速钙通道失活和钙通道在失活状态下恢复减慢;GST对ICa,L的这种抑制作用与蛋白酪氨酸激酶(PTK)抑制有关。     

急性低温/再复温对大鼠心室肌膜电位和钾电流的影响

本文旨在研究急性低温/再复温对大鼠心室肌膜电位和钾电流的影响.膜电位和膜电流分别在全细胞膜片钳的电压钳和电流钳模式下记录.当细胞外灌流液从25℃降低到4℃后,一过性外向电流(transient outward current, Ito)完全消失,膜电位为 60mV时的稳态外向K 电流(sustained outward K current, Iss)和膜电位为-120mV时的内向整流K 电流(inward rectifier K current, IK1)分别降低(48.5±14.1)%和(35.7±18.2)%,同时,膜电位绝对值降低.当细胞外灌流液从4℃再升高到36℃后,膜电位出现一过性超级化,然后恢复到静息电位水平;在58个细胞中,有36个细胞伴随复温出现ATP-敏感性K (ATP-sensitive K , KATP)通道的激活.再复温引起的上述变化可以被Na /K -ATP酶抑制剂哇巴因(100μmol/L)所抑制.再复温引起的KATP通道激活也能被蛋白激酶A抑制剂H-89(100μmol/L)所抑制.在细胞膜电位被钳制在0mV时,当细胞外灌流液温度从25℃降低到4℃后,细胞的体积没有发生明显改变,但当再复温引起KATP通道激活后,细胞很快发生皱缩,同时细胞内部出现许多折光较强的斑点.上述结果表明急性低温/再复温对大鼠心室肌膜电位和K 电流有明显影响,并提示KATP通道激活可能与心肌低温/再复温损伤有关.     

小剂量辣椒素对豚鼠心室肌细胞L-型钙电流的影响

应用全细胞膜片钳技术研究低浓度辣椒素(capsaicin,CAP)对单个豚鼠心室肌细胞L-型钙电流的影响及其作用机制.CAP(1～25 nmol/L)可浓度依赖性增加电压依赖性的ICa-L的峰值并下移I-V曲线.CAPl,10,25 nmol/L使ICa-L最大峰值分别由-9.67±0.7pA/pF增至-10.21±0.8pA/pF(P＞0.05),-11.37±0.8pA/pF和-12.84±0.9pA/pF(P＜0.05).CAP25nmol/L可明显使稳态激活曲线左移,激活中点电压(V0.5)由-20.76±2.0mV变至-26.71±3.0mV(P＜0.05),表明低浓度CAP改变了钙通道激活的电压依赖性.CAP25nmol/L对电压依赖性稳态失活曲线和ICa-L从失活状态下复活过程无明显影响.辣椒素受体(VR1)阻断剂钌红(RR,10μmol/L)可阻断低浓度辣椒素的效应.以上结果表明,低浓度辣椒素使钙通道稳态激活曲线左移,增加ICa-L,这一效应可能由VRl介导.     

Channels involved in transient currents unmasked by removal of extracellular calcium in cardiac cells

In cardiac cells that lack macroscopic transient outward K(+) currents (I(to)), the removal of extracellular Ca(2+) can unmask "I(to)-like" currents. With the use of pig ventricular myocytes and the whole cell patch-clamp technique, we examined the possibility that cation efflux via L-type Ca(2+) channels underlies these currents. Removal of extracellular Ca(2+) and extracellular Mg(2+) induced time-independent currents at all potentials and time-dependent currents at potentials greater than -50 mV. Either K(+) or Cs(+) could carry the time-dependent currents, with reversal potential of +8 mV with internal K(+) and +34 mV with Cs(+). Activation and inactivation were voltage dependent [Boltzmann distributions with potential of half-maximal value (V(1/2)) = -24 mV and slope = -9 mV for activation; V(1/2) = -58 mV and slope = 13 mV for inactivation]. The time-dependent currents were resistant to 4-aminopyridine and to DIDS but blocked by nifedipine at high concentrations (IC(50) = 2 microM) as well as by verapamil and diltiazem. They could be increased by BAY K-8644 or by isoproterenol. We conclude that the I(to)-like currents are due to monovalent cation flow through L-type Ca(2+) channels, which in pig myocytes show low sensitivity to nifedipine.     

神经肽Y对心室肌细胞离子通道的影响

采用全细胞膜片钳技术观察神经肽Y(neuropeptide Y,NPY)对心室肌细胞离子通道的影响。结果如下：(1)NPY浓度在1．0～100nmol/L范围内剂量依赖性抑制大鼠心室肌细胞I_(Ca-L),IC_(50)值为1．86nmol/L。NPY对I_(Ca-L)的I-V曲线的最大峰值电位、激活和失活电位均无显著影响。NPY对去甲肾上腺素(norepinephrine,NE)增加的I_(Ca-L)有显著抑制作用。(2)NPY对人鼠心室肌细胞I_(Na/Ca)有显著抑制作用。10nmol/L NPY使前向I__(Na/Ca)由(0．27±0．11)pA/pF减小为(0．06±0．01)pA/pF;反向I__(Na/Ca)由(0．45±0．12)pA/pF降为(0．27±0．09)pA/pF(P＜0．05,n=4)。(3)NPY对大鼠心室肌细胞I_(to)有显著增强作用。10 nmol/L NPY使I_(to)由(12．5±0．70)pA/pF增加至(14．7±0．59)pA/pF(P＜0．05,n=4)。(4)10nmol/L NPY对大鼠心室肌细胞I_(Na)没有显著影响。(5)10nmol/L NPY对豚鼠心室肌细胞I_K无明显影响。研究结果证实,NPY抑制大鼠心室肌细胞I_(Ca-L)和I_(Na/Ca),增强I_(to)对I_Na和豚鼠心审肌细胞I_K没有显著作用,表明NPY对上述主要离子通道的效应与NE的效应相拮抗。     

氧自由基致豚鼠心室肌细胞跨膜电位变化的离子电流基础

目的：旨在提示氧自由基参与缺血／再灌注性心委失常发生的离子电流基础。方法：采用膜片钳全细胞式记录技术,观察Ｈ２Ｏ２（１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）对豚鼠心室肌细胞跨膜电位和相关离子电流的影响。结果：Ｈ２Ｏ２使豚鼠心肌单细胞的静息电位（ＲＰ）降低,动作电位时程（ＡＳＤ）显著缩短,对动作电位幅度（ＡＰＡ）和超射（ＯＳ）及钠电流的峰值（ＩＮａ）均无明显影响;明显抑制内向整流钾电流（ＩＫ１）,尤其在超极化时;增强延迟外     

Selective modulation of L-type calcium current by magnesium lithospermate B in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes

Magnesium lithospermate B (MLB) is the main water-soluble principle of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (also called as 'Danshen' in the traditional Chinese medicine) for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. MLB was found to possess a variety of pharmacological actions. However, it is unclear whether and how MLB affects the cardiac ion channels. In the present study, the effects of MLB on the voltage-activated ionic currents were investigated in single ventricular myocytes of adult guinea pigs. MLB reversibly inhibited L-type Ca(2+) current (I(Ca,L)). The inhibition was use-dependent and voltage-dependent (the IC(50) value of MLB was 30 microM and 393 microM, respectively, at the holding potential of -50 mV and -100 mV). In the presence of 100 microM MLB, both the activation and steady-state inactivation curves of I(Ca,L) were markedly shifted to hyperpolarizing membrane potentials, whereas the time course of recovery of I(Ca,L) from inactivation was not altered. MLB up to 300 microM had no significant effect on the fast-inactivating Na(+) current (I(Na)), delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(K)) and inward rectifier K(+) current (I(K1)). The results suggest that the voltage-dependent Ca(2+) antagonistic effect of MLB work in concert with its antioxidant action for attenuating heart ischemic injury.