降钙素基因相关肽对不同程度冠脉狭窄时的心脏功能的影响

本实验观察了冠脉内注射降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ０．３μｇ／ｋｇ）对正常及不同程度冠脉狭窄犬的心功能的影响。结果表明正常犬冠脉内注射ＣＧＲＰ后,平均动脉压（ＭＡＰ）下降１．２ｋＰａ（Ｐ＜０．０５）,同时,心率（ＨＲ）、心输出量（ＣＯ）、左室收缩压峰值（ＬＶＳＰ）均不同程度增加;左室舒张末压（ＬＶＥＤＰ）轻度降低。在中度狭窄３０ｍｉｎ后,冠脉内注射ＣＧＲＰ对ＨＲ、ＭＡＰ无明显影响;而重度狭窄后注射ＣＧＲＰ,ＭＡＰ由狭窄时降低逐渐增高,ＨＲ由增快而变慢。ＣＯ、ＬＶＳＰ均显著增高,ＬＶＥＤＰ降低,此作用较冠脉狭窄前更为明显。提示ＣＧＲＰ扩张冠脉动脉,增加冠脉血流量和心排血量,增强心肌收缩力,对缺血心脏功能有保护作用。     

高氧预适应对大鼠心肌缺血损伤时抗氧化酶的影响

抗氧化酶具有减轻心肌缺血再灌注损伤的作用,在抗氧化酶中,比较重要的是超氧化物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）,谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（ＧｌｕｔａｔｈｉｏｎｅＰｅｒｏｘｉｄａｓｅ,ＧＳＨｐｘ）和过氧化氢酶（ＣＡＴ）。为了解高氧预适应（ＨｙｐｅｒｏｘｉｃＰｒｅｃｏｎｄｉｔｉｏｎｉｎｇ,ＨＯＰ）对大鼠心肌缺血损伤时抗氧化酶的影响,本实验将实验组大鼠放入高压氧舱内,每日吸８０－８５％氧气（１ａｔｍ,１５－２０％为氮气）６ｈ,连续７ｄ。利用Ｌａｎｇｅｎｄｏｒｆ装置做成心肌缺血再灌注模型。实验动物随机分为二个部分。第一部分可逆性心肌缺血（ＨＯＰＡ组与对照Ａ组）：缺血１０ｍｉｎ,再灌注６０ｍｉｎ。观察冠脉回流液中ＳＯＤ活力,检测心肌内抗氧化酶活力（ＳＯＤ,ＧＳＨｐｘ,ＣＡＴ）。第二部分不可逆性心肌缺血（ＨＯＰＢ组与对照Ｂ组）：缺血６０ｍｉｎ,再灌注６０ｍｉｎ。测定冠脉回流液中肌酸磷酸激酶（ＣＰＫ）含量,ＳＯＤ及心肌内抗氧化酶活力。结果表明：对于可逆性心肌缺血：ＳＯＤ,ＧＳＨｐｘ活力升高;对于不可逆性心肌缺血损伤：ＨＯＰ能减少ＣＰＫ释放,ＳＯＤ活力升高。     

降钙素基因相关肽对家兔离体窦房结电生理活动的影响

用常规微电极方法研究了降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）对家兔窦房结起搏细胞的电生理作用,并进一步探讨这种作用与钙电流的关系。结果：⑴低浓度ＣＧＲＰ（１ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ）对窦房结动作电位各参数无显著影响;中等浓度ＣＧＲＰ（１０ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ）可增加最大舒张期电位、动作电位幅度、０期最大除极化速率和４期自动除极速率,缩短窦性周期、动作电位复极化５０％和９０％时间,这些作用经２０ｍｉｎ达到高峰;高浓度ＣＧＲＰ（２     

铬对大鼠心电图及心肌细胞的电生理影响

应用心电图及细胞内微电极技术观察铬对心肌电生理的影响。大鼠腹腔内注射铬,９周后心电图显示各剂量组ＱＴ间期均缩短,细胞内微电极检查显示动作电位时程（ＡＰＤ５０、ＡＰＤ９０）于２周后随剂量增加而逐渐缩短,０．４ｍｇ组显著缩短,９周后各剂量组ＡＰＤ５０、ＡＰＤ９０均缩短。心率、静息电位（ＲＰ）与动作电位（ＡＰＡ）幅度及动作电位最大上升速率（Ｖｍａｘ）无变化。铬影响了心肌复极引起ＱＴ间期缩短,而ＡＰＤ５０、ＡＰＤ９０缩短可能是铬影响了钙内流及钾外流的结果。     

抗心律失常药UK－68798对家兔心脏房室结区不同细胞的电生理作用

在离体家兔ＡＶＮ区标本上,用微电极技术研究了Ⅲ类抗心律失常新药ＵＫ－６８７９８对ＡＮ,Ｎ,ＮＨ,Ｈ４种细胞的电生理效应。浓度５×１０－９至５×１０－６ｍｏｌ／Ｌ的ＵＫ－６８７９８对４种细胞的动作电位幅值（ＡＰＡ）、静息膜电位（ＲＰ）皆无影响。对ＡＶＮ的自搏率有剂量依赖性减慢作用,但不改变Ａ－Ｈ传导时间。在５×１０－８－５×１０－６ｍｏｌ／Ｌ剂量范围,此药使动作电位时程（ＡＰＤ５０）和（ＡＰＤ９０）发生剂量依赖性延长。４种细胞中以Ｎ细胞的ＡＰＤ５０和ＡＰＤ９０延长百分率最高。各种细胞ＡＰＤ９０延长百分率的排列次序为Ｎ＜ＡＮ＜Ｈ＜ＮＨ,当浓度为５×１０－６ｍｏｌ／Ｌ时的延长百分率分别为９５±２６％（Ｎ）,７５±２２％（ＡＮ）,６３±２６％（Ｈ）,４６±２６％（ＮＨ）。在ＵＫ－６８７９８的作用下,４种细胞的有效不应期（ＥＲＰ）也发生剂量依赖性延长,但不存在像ＡＰＤ延长百分率那样的差别。此外,４种细胞ＥＲＰ所相当的复极化膜电位未受药物影响,从而避免了由于兴奋性恢复的不均一性,使ＡＶＮ区成为折返性心律失常的发源地．     

蛋白激酶C对大鼠缺血海马突触体谷氨酸摄取的调控作用

采用大鼠海马脑片体外缺血模型,观察海马突触体内蛋白激酶Ｃ（ＰＫＣ）活性的变化,以及这种变化对突触体谷氨酸（ＧＬＵ）摄取的影响。结果显示：海马脑片体外“缺血”１０ｍｉｎ,其突触体内ＰＫＣ活性基本不变,而缺血３０ｍｉｎ,突触体内ＰＫＣ活性显著上升（Ｐ＜０．０１,ｎ＝６）;非Ｎ－甲基－Ｄ－天门冬氨酸（ＮＭＤＡ）受体拮抗剂ＤＮＱＸ有效地抑制ＰＫＣ活性的同时,可降低胞外ＧＬＵ的堆积,而ＮＭＤＡ受体阻断剂ＡＰ＿５无作用。进一步实验证明,ＰＫＣ激动剂ＰＤＢ浓度依赖性地抑制突触体对３Ｈ－ＧＬＵ的摄取（ＩＣ５０＝１３１±１０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）,此抑制作用可由ＰＫＣ抑制剂Ｈ－７（１００μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）抵消。提示脑缺血诱发ＧＬＵ堆积的作用机理可能是：脑缺血引发钙内流导致ＧＬＵ过量释放,ＧＬＵ又通过突触前非ＮＭＤＡ受体激活ＰＫＣ,抑制其自身摄取,正反馈性加重胞外ＧＬＵ的堆积。     

粉防己碱对大鼠心肌缺血再灌注时心肌ATP酶活性的影响

实验旨在观察在体大鼠短暂缺血后心肌膜ＡＴＰ酶活性的变化及粉防己碱（Ｔｅｔ）的作用。分离缺血１５ｍｉｎ、再灌注２ｈ后及在缺血再灌注前给Ｔｅｔ的大鼠心肌粗制质膜和内质网,测定质膜Ｎａ＋－Ｋ＋－ＡＴＰ酶和内质网Ｃａ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶活性。结果表明,心肌缺血１５ｍｉｎ后二酶活性均明显降低,分别为假结扎组的６３．６％和７２．６％（Ｐ＜０．０１）,再灌注后Ｎａ＋－Ｋ＋－ＡＴＰ酶活性有所恢复,再灌注３０ｍｉｎ时为假结扎组的７２．１％（Ｐ＜０．０１）,而Ｃａ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶活性则进一步下降,再灌注３０ｍｉｎ时为假结扎组的５０．４％（Ｐ＜０．０１）,再灌注后２ｈ二酶活性分别升高至假结扎组的８０．９％和６５．３％（Ｐ＜０．０１）。在缺血前２０ｍｉｎ分别给予Ｔｅｔ６４．２和９６．３μｍｏｌ／ｋｇ及硝苯啶（０．２３μｍｏｌ／ｋｇ）,能明显减少内质网Ｃａ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶活性的降低。结果提示心肌膜ＡＴＰ酶活性的降低可能参与了短暂心肌缺血所致再灌注损伤的发生机制,Ｔｅｔ可减少缺血和／或再灌注时内质网Ｃａ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶活性降低。     

降钙素基因相关肽对大鼠分离的心肌细胞内游离Ca~（2＋）含量的影响

用荧光染色法观察了合成的大鼠降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）对大鼠心肌细胞内游离Ｃａ￣（２＋）含量的影响。结果证明,ＣＧＲＰ能明显增加心肌细胞内Ｃａ￣（２＋）含量,小、中和大剂量（１０￣（－９）、１０￣（－８）、１０￣（－７）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）的ＣＧＲＰ使Ｃａ￣（２＋）含量分别增加至２７６．８８±６．３１、３６４．９９７±１２．７０、５７６．３９７±１５ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ与对照组（１３６．２８±７．２４ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ）相比差异非常显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）,且随着ＣＧＲＰ剂量的增加而作用明显加强,呈现剂量—效应关系。３０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ的维拉帕米对ＣＧＲＰ所致的细胞内Ｃａ￣（２＋）增加有抑制作用,对小、中、大剂量ＣＧＲＰ作用的抑制率分别为４８％、４４％和１８％。我们推测,ＣＧＲＰ可能直接作用于心肌细胞。低浓度ＣＧＲＰ的正性肌力作用主要是促进Ｃａ￣（２＋）经Ｃａ￣（２＋）通道内流,使心肌细胞内Ｃａ￣（２＋）含量增加的结果。在大剂量ＣＧＲＰ的正性肌力作用中Ｃａ￣（２＋）内流也起到一定作用。     

下丘脑穹窿周围区不同部位兴奋对心肌Po_2及ECG－ST的影响

电刺激下丘脑穹窿周围区（ＰＦＡ）的下丘脑背内侧核（ＤＭＨ）,下丘脑腹内侧核（ＶＭＨ）与下丘脑外侧区（ＬＨＡ）均可引起心肌Ｐ０＿２下降与血压升高,而以ＤＭＨ所致的心肌Ｐ０,下降最明显（Ｐ＜０．０１）。心得安可取消电刺激ＬＨＡ所致的心肌ＰＯ＿２下降,部分取消电刺激ＶＭＨ引起的心肌ＰＯ＿２下降,而不改变电刺激ＤＭＨ所致的心肌ＰＯ＿２下降（Ｐ＞０．０５）。ＤＭＨ、ＶＭＨ微量注射谷氨酸钠（０．１ｍｏｌ／Ｌ０．５μｌ）均可诱发升压反应和ＥＣＧ－ＳＴ压低,而ＬＨＡ微量注射谷氨酸却导致降压反应,对ＥＣＧ－ＳＴ无明显影响。上述结果提示ＤＭＨ为ＰＦＡ各区诱发心肌缺血缺氧的主要核团。兴奋ＤＭＨ、ＶＭＨ所致的心血管效应主要由胞体兴奋诱发,而电刺激ＬＨＡ所致的升压反应主要为兴奋过路纤维引起,该区胞体兴奋主要导致降压反应。     

磷酸肌酸对豚鼠心肌细胞缺氧复氧损伤膜电位的影响

本实验观察了缺氧复氧对豚鼠心肌细胞膜电位的影响及磷酸肌酸的保护作用。结果表明缺氧５－２０ｍｉｎ时ＲＰ、ＡＰＡ减小，Ｖｍａｘ减慢，ＡＰＤ１０、ＡＰＤ５０、ＡＰＤ９０缩短。复氧５－２０ｍｉｎ后，ＲＰ、ＡＰＡ和Ｖｍａｘ进一步减少，ＡＰＤ１０、ＡＰＤ５０、ＡＰＤ９０明显缩短。在灌流液中加入磷酸肌酸保持其浓度在１０－６ｍｏｌ时，ＲＰ、ＡＰＡ显著增加，Ｖｍａｘ增快，ＡＰＤ１０、ＡＰＤ５０、ＡＰＤ９０明显延长。复氧２０ｍｉｎ后膜电位各项参数趋向恢复正常。此结果提示，磷酸肌酸对缺氧复氧的心肌具有显著的保护作用。     

在体兔心左室肌缺血中心区与边缘区跨膜电位的比较

实验在30只兔身上进行。利用浮置微电极技术,在心脏的缺血中心区、边缘区和非缺血区共记录了630个细胞的动作电位,其中270个细胞在阻断冠脉条件下进行记录,360个细胞在冠脉灌流条件下,造成心肌不同程度缺血后进行记录。同时,用棉线电极记录了各区心外膜电图ST段的变化。 阻断冠脉引起静息电位(RP)减小、动作电位振幅(APA)和零期最大除极速度(dv/dt)明显降低以及复极50％时程(APD_(50))和衰极90％时程(APD_(90))的显著缩短。缺血边缘区上述各指标的变化与ST 段抬高的程度均显著轻于缺血中心区。改变冠脉灌流血量造成心肌不同程度缺血的结果表明,当灌流血量为 50％时,在中心区所记录的静息电位和动作电位均与阻断冠脉后的边缘区相似;而灌流量为 0％时,在同一区所记录的静息电位和动作电位则与阻断冠脉后的中心区相似。另外,0％ 灌流时的ST 段抬高程度也显著高于灌流量为50％时的表现。这些结果提示,在兔急性心肌缺血早期,从缺血中心区和边缘区可记录到各具特征的动作电位,似有助于说明在缺血区有边缘区的存在。     

家兔急性缺血早期心室肌细胞跨膜电位的变化及迷走神经的保护作用

以在体家兔的心脏为对象,应用浮置微电极技术研究了急性缺血早期心室肌细胞跨膜电位的变化及迷走神经的保护作用。 冠状动脉的一个分支阻断后 1—5min,静息电位(RP)、动作电位振幅(APA)和 0相最大上升速率(dv/dt)_(max)均减小(P<0.01)。动作电位时程APD_(30)、APD_(50)和APD_(90)均缩短(P<0.01)。反映 2相平台时程的 APD_(30)和 APD_(50)缩短较总时程 APD_(90)的缩短更明显。 在自然心率的条件下,左颈迷走神经电刺激,可使急性缺血的心肌电位的变化有所恢复:RP、APA、(dv/dt)_(max)均增加,APD_(30)、APD_(50)、APD_(90)延长(P_均<0.01)。刺激迷走神经时缺血的心室肌细胞跨膜电位有所恢复,对防止缺血早期的室性心律失常可能具有重要作用。     

Cardiac electrophysiological modulation by NS-7, a novel neuroprotective drug,of guinea pig ventricular muscles

Effects of NS-7 (1 to 100 microM), a novel neuroprotective drug, on the action potentials in guinea pig ventricular muscles were investigated at different stimulation frequencies, different extracellular Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca](o)) and in the presence of inhibitors for selective delayed rectifier K(+) channels. A conventional microelectrode technique was carried out. NS-7 caused inhibitory actions on the action potential configuration in a concentration-dependent manner. NS-7 at less concentrations than 30 microM did not affect, but at 100 microM decreased the action potential amplitude (APA) and the maximum rate of depolarization (V(max)) by 11.1 +/- 2.3% (n = 14, P < 0.05) and by 24.3 +/- 2.6% (n = 14, P < 0.01), respectively. NS-7 at 100 microM also prolonged the 75 and 90% repolarizations of action potential duration (APD(75) and APD(90)) by 14.5 +/- 2.2% (n = 14, P < 0.05) and 20.2 +/- 2.4% (n = 14, P < 0.01), respectively, but it at any concentrations failed to affect the 50% repolarization of action potential duration (APD(50)). The resting potential was unaffected. These responses were almost reversible after 10-to 20-min washout. The stronger inhibition was caused at higher frequencies of stimulation. NS-7 prolonged the APD at lower [Ca](o) than 3.6 mM. In the presence of 5 microM E-4031 or 30 microM 293B, NS-7 increased further the APD. These results indicate that NS-7 at relatively higher concentrations produced inhibitory actions on the cardiac muscles, and that the APD prolongation and the V(max) inhibition induced by NS-7 are dependent on stimulation frequencies, but are independent of [Ca](o) levels, resulting in exhibition of its cardioprotective action.     

肌苷对缺氧心肌跨膜电位和收缩强度的影响

本工作在正常和缺氧情况下,观察肌苷对豚鼠心室乳头肌跨膜电位和收缩强度的影响。结果表明肌苷使正常心肌细胞动作电位时间(APD_(10)、APD_(50)延长。在缺氧心肌,肌苷使细胞静息电位增大,动作电位去极化幅度增高,零期最大去极化速度加快和动作电位时间延长。肌苷增加正常心肌收缩力,使缺氧心肌收缩的衰减显著缓和,亦即使收缩功能改善,且表现剂量-依从性。肌苷对心肌细胞跨膜电位的影响提示它很可能有抗心律失常作用,特别是在缺氧心脏。肌苷对离休乳头肌收缩的影响,证明其对心肌有直接的强心作用。     

白藜芦醇甙对大鼠心室乳头状肌动作电位的影响及其离子机制(英文)

有研究表明白藜芦醇甙(polydatin)具有抗缺血性心律失常作用,但其电生理学机制尚未明了。本研究旨在应用细胞内记录和全细胞膜片钳方法,探讨白藜芦醇甙对大鼠心室乳头状肌动作电位的影响及其离子机制。结果显示:(1)白藜芦醇甙(50和100μmol/L)可剂量依赖性地缩短正常乳头状肌动作电位复极化50%时间(APD50)和90%时间(APD90)(P<0.01)。白藜芦醇甙对正常乳头状肌静息电位(resting potential,RP)、动作电位幅值(amplitude of action potential,APA)、超射值(overshoot,OS)和0期最大上升速度(Vmax)无影响(P>0.05)。(2)对部分去极化的乳头状肌,白藜芦醇甙(50μmol/L)不但缩短APD50和APD90,而且还降低动作电位OS、APA和Vmax(P<0.05)。(3)ATP敏感钾通道阻断剂格列本脲(10μmol/L)可部分阻断白藜芦醇甙(50μmol/L)的电生理效应。(4)一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L-NAME(1 mmol/L)对白藜芦醇甙的上述效应无影响。(5)白藜芦醇甙(25、50、75、100μmol/L)可浓度依...     

Selective attenuation by adenosine of arrhythmogenic action of isoproterenol on ventricular myocytes

We examined whether adenosine equally attenuated the stimulatory effects of isoproterenol on arrhythmic activity and twitch shortening of guinea pig isolated ventricular myocytes. Transmembrane voltages and whole cell currents were recorded with patch electrodes, and cell twitch shortening was measured using a video-motion detector. Isoproterenol increased the action potential duration at 50% repolarization (APD50), L-type Ca2+ current [I(Ca(L))], and cell twitch shortening and induced delayed afterdepolarizations (DAD), transient inward current (I(Ti)), and aftercontractions. Adenosine attenuated the arrhythmogenic actions of isoproterenol more than it attenuated the effects of isoproterenol on APD50, I(Ca(L)), or twitch shortening. Adenosine (0.1-100 micromol/l) decreased the amplitude of DADs by 30 +/- 6% to 92 +/- 5% but attenuated isoproterenol-induced prolongation of the APD50 by only 14 +/- 4% to 59 +/- 4% and had no effect on the voltage of action potential plateau. Adenosine (30 micromol/l) inhibited I(Ti) by 91 +/- 4% but decreased isoproterenol-stimulated I(Ca(L)) by only 30 +/- 12%. Isoproterenol-induced aftercontractions were abolished by adenosine (10 micromol/l), whereas the amplitude of twitch shortening was not reduced. The effects of adenosine on twitch shortenings and aftercontractions were mimicked by the A1-adenosine receptor agonist CPA (N6-cyclopentyladenosine) and by ryanodine. In conclusion, adenosine antagonized the proarrhythmic effect of beta-adrenergic stimulation on ventricular myocytes without reducing cell twitch shortening.     

雌二醇对家兔窦房结自律细胞的电生理学效应

本文旨在探讨雌二醇（17β-estradiol）对家兔窦房结自律细胞的电生理学效应及其作用机制。应用经典的细胞内玻璃微电极技术观察不同浓度雌二醇（1,10,100μmol／L）对家兔窦房结自律细胞动作电位的影响。结果显示：（1）雌二醇浓度依赖性地延长窦房结自律细胞动作电位复极化50％时间（APD50）和动作电位复极化90％时间（APD50）,降低窦房结自律细胞动作电位0期最大除极速率（Vmax）、动作电位幅值（amplitude of action potential,APA）,降低窦房结自律细胞放电频率（rate of pacemaker firing,RPF）、舒张期（4相）自动去极化速率[velocity of diastolic（phase4）depolarization,VDD]：而雌二醇对窦房结自律细胞的最大舒张电位（maximal diastolic potential,MDP）无明显影响。（2）雌激素受体阻断剂他莫昔芬（10μmol／L）不能阻断雌二醇（10μmol／L）对窦房结自律细胞动作电位的抑制效应。（3）一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L—NAME（100μmol／L）可完全阻断雌二醇（10μmol／L）对窦房结自律细胞动作电位的抑制效应。结果提示,雌二醇对家兔窦房结自律细胞的电生理活动具有明显的抑制作用,此作用可能是通过非基因组机制发挥,与一氧化氮作用有关。     

在生理温度下降钙素基因相关肽对豚鼠心房肌复极过程的影响

实验应用常规微电极方法研究了在生理温度下 (36 5± 0 5℃ )降钙素基因相关肽 (calcitoningene relatedpeptide ,CGRP)对豚鼠心房肌细胞复极过程的影响及其与钾电流的关系。结果表明 :(1)CGRP(16nmol/L)可拮抗由钾通道阻断剂BaCl2 、4 AP引起的动作电位时间延长。 (2 )CGRP(16nmol/L)能够增加细胞外高钾 (18 5mmol/L)条件下心房肌慢反应动作电位的APA和Vmax,并缩短传导时间。 (3)CGRP(16nmol/L)能减弱甚至消除因并用CsCl (5mmol/L)和无钾灌流液诱发的触发活动。 (4)CGRP对动作电位复极过程的作用因温度条件而异。在生理温度下 ,CGRP(5、16和 5 0nmol/L)能够使动作电位平台抬高 ,缩短动作电位复极化 2 0 %、5 0 %和 90 %时程。其中 ,对动作电位复极化 2 0 %、5 0 %时程的作用呈剂量依赖性。而在室温下 (2 5 5± 2 1℃ ) ,CGRP使动作电位复极化 2 0 %、5 0 %和90 %时程延长。上述结果提示 ,CGRP对心房肌细胞具有多重电生理效应 ,其中生理温度下CGRP对钾电流的促进作用在动作电位的改变中占重要地位 ,今后有必要进一步研究CGRP对各种钾通道的作用     

Transmural action potential and ionic current remodeling in ventricles of failing canine hearts

Heart failure (HF) produces important alterations in currents underlying cardiac repolarization, but the transmural distribution of such changes is unknown. We therefore recorded action potentials and ionic currents in cells isolated from the endocardium, midmyocardium, and epicardium of the left ventricle from dogs with and without tachypacing-induced HF. HF greatly increased action potential duration (APD) but attenuated APD heterogeneity in the three regions. Early afterdepolarizations (EADs) were observed in all cell types of failing hearts but not in controls. Inward rectifier K(+) current (I(K1)) was homogeneously reduced by approximately 41% (at -60 mV) in the three cell types. Transient outward K(+) current (I(to1)) was decreased by 43-45% at +30 mV, and the slow component of the delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(Ks)) was significantly downregulated by 57%, 49%, and 58%, respectively, in epicardial, midmyocardial, and endocardial cells, whereas the rapid component of the delayed rectifier K(+) current was not altered. The results indicate that HF remodels electrophysiology in all layers of the left ventricle, and the downregulation of I(K1), I(to1), and I(Ks) increases APD and favors occurrence of EADs.     

Dynamic model for ventricular junctional conductance during the cardiac action potential

The ventricular action potential was applied to paired neonatal murine ventricular myocytes in the dual whole cell configuration. During peak action potential voltages >100 mV, junctional conductance (g(j)) declined by 50%. This transjunctional voltage (V(j))-dependent inactivation exhibited two time constants that became progressively faster with increasing V(j). G(j) returned to initial peak values during action potential repolarization and even exceeded peak g(j) values during the final 5% of repolarization. This facilitation of g(j) was observed <30 mV during linearly decreasing V(j) ramps. The same behavior was observed in ensemble averages of individual gap junction channels with unitary conductances of 100 pS or lower. Immunohistochemical fluorescent micrographs and immunoblots detect prominent amounts of connexin (Cx)43 and lesser amounts of Cx40 and Cx45 proteins in cultured ventricular myocytes. The time dependence of the g(j) curves and channel conductances are consistent with the properties of predominantly homomeric Cx43 gap junction channels. A mathematical model depicting two inactivation and two recovery phases accurately predicts the ventricular g(j) curves at different rates of stimulation and repolarization. Functional differences are apparent between ventricular myocytes and Cx43-transfected N2a cell gap junctions that may result from posttranslational modification. These observations suggest that gap junctions may play a role in the development of conduction block and the genesis and propagation of triggered arrhythmias under conditions of slowed conduction (<10 cm/s).