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.     

Interaction of diltiazem with single L-type calcium channels in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes.

The effects of diltiazem on cardiac L-type calcium channels were studied at the single channel level, using Ba2+ ions as the charge carrier. Patch clamp experiments were performed on enzymatically isolated guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. It was shown in cell-attached configuration on multichannel patches that diltiazem, when applied to the bath, can approach the calcium channel under the pipette after diffusion through the membrane phase. The time constant of the onset of the effect was 60 s. The rate of recovery seemed to be of the same order. Diltiazem had most prominent effect on calcium channel open state probability by reducing the frequency of openings, and by increasing the frequency of records without channel opening (nulls). The effect on mean open time was found to be insignificant at 1 kHz resolution. Diltiazem had no effect on the amplitude of unitary currents. These data are consistent with the assumption that diltiazem interacts mainly with the inactivated state (although interaction with the closed states was not ruled out), and does not bind to the open state of the calcium channel.     

Bunazosin, an alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, blocks calcium current in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes.

1. Effect of bunazosin, an alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, upon the slow inward Ca2+ current (ICa) was studied in single ventricular myocytes of the guinea-pig using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique. 2. Bunazosin (10-100 microM) decreased ICa in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 of 60 microM during depolarization to + 10 mV from the holding potential of -40 mV. 3. As for the inactivation process of ICa, the steady-state inactivation (f infinity) curve was shifted toward more negative potentials from -12 mV to -17 mV and -21 mV at f infinity = 0.5, by 30 microM and 70 microM bunazosin. 4. Inhibition of ICa by the compound (10 microM) was also dependent on stimulation frequency, with greater block induced at 2 Hz (50%) than at 0.33 Hz (13%). 5. It is concluded that bunazosin possesses a direct Ca2+ channel-blocking (class 4) action in a rate-dependent fashion.     

肾上腺髓质素对豚鼠心室肌细胞L-型钙通道的调制

应用全细胞膜片钳技术研究了肾上腺髓质素 (ADM )对豚鼠心室肌细胞L 型钙电流 (ICa ,L)的影响及其信号传导机制。结果发现 :ADM ( 1～ 10 0nmol/L)浓度依赖性抑制ICa,L(P <0 0 5 ) ,并可被ADM特异受体阻断剂ADM2 2 52 ( 10 0nmol/L)完全阻断。用蛋白激酶A特异拮抗剂H 89( 10 μmol/L)预处理 ,对ADM抑制ICa ,L的作用无影响。但用蛋白激酶C (PKC)特异性拮抗剂PKC19 36 预处理 ,可完全阻断ADM的抑制效应 ;而PKC特异性激动剂PMA则可以模仿ADM的抑制效应 (P <0 0 5 )。上述结果提示 :ADM作用于特异性ADM受体可浓度依赖性地抑制豚鼠心室肌细胞ICa ,L,而此作用可能是PKC介导的。     

Properties of L-type calcium channel gating current in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

Nonlinear capacitative current (charge movement) was compared to the Ca current (ICa) in single guinea pig ventricular myocytes. It was concluded that the charge movement seen with depolarizing test steps from -50 mV is dominated by L-type Ca channel gating current, because of the following observations. (a) Ca channel inactivation and the immobilization of the gating current had similar voltage and time dependencies. The degree of channel inactivation was directly proportional to the amount of charge immobilization, unlike what has been reported for Na channels. (b) The degree of Ca channel activation was closely correlated with the amount of charge moved at all test potentials between -40 and +60 mV. (c) D600 was found to reduce the gating current in a voltage- and use-dependent manner. D600 was also found to induce "extra" charge movement at negative potentials. (d) Nitrendipine reduced the gating current in a voltage-dependent manner (KD = 200 nM at -40 mV). However, nitrendipine did not increase charge movement at negative test potentials. Although contamination of the Ca channel gating current from other sources cannot be fully excluded, it was not evident in the data and would appear to be small. However, it was noted that the amount of Ca channel gating charge was quite large compared with the magnitude of the Ca current. Indeed, the gating current was found to be a significant contaminant (19 +/- 7%) of the Ca tail currents in these cells. In addition, it was found that Ca channel rundown did not diminish the gating current. These results suggest that Ca channels can be "inactivated" by means that do not affect the voltage sensor.     

L-type calcium current in right ventricular outflow tract myocytes of rabbit heart

The mechanism of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia originating from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) is not clear. Many clinical reports have suggested a mechanism of triggered activity. However, there are few studies investigating this because of the technical difficulties associated with examining this theory. The L-type calcium current (I _Ca-L), an important inward current of the action potential (AP), plays an important role in arrhythmogenesis. The aim of this study was to explore differences in the APs of right ventricular (RV) and RVOT cardiomyocytes, and differences in electrophysiological characteristics of the ICa-L in these myocytes. Rabbit RVOT and RV myocytes were isolated and their AP and I _Ca-L were investigated using the patch-clamp technique. RVOT cardiomyocytes had a wider range of AP duration (APD) than RV cardiomyocytes, with some markedly prolonged APDs and markedly shortened APDs. The markedly shortened APDs in RVOT myocytes were abolished by treatment with 4-AP, an inhibitor of the transient outward potassium current, but the markedly prolonged APDs remained, with some myocytes with a long AP plateau not repolarizing to resting potential. In addition, early afterdepolarization (EAD) and second plateau responses were seen in RVOT myocytes but not in RV myocytes. RVOT myocytes had a higher current density for I _Ca-L than RV myocytes (RVOT (13.16±0.87) pA pF⁻¹, RV (8.59±1.97) pA pF⁻¹; P<0.05). The I _Ca-L and the prolonged APD were reduced, and the EAD and second plateau response disappeared, after treatment with nifedipine (10 μmol L⁻¹), which blocks the I _Ca-L. In conclusion, there was a wider range of APDs in RVOT myocytes than in RV myocytes, which is one of the basic factors involved in arrhythmogenesis. The higher current density for I _Ca-L is one of the factors causing prolongation of the APD in RVOT myocytes. The combination of EAD with prolonged APD may be one of the mechanisms of RVOT-VT generation.     

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。     

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.     

The control of calcium current reactivation by catecholamines and acetylcholine in single guinea-pig ventricular myocytes

The time course of reactivation of the calcium current in isolated single cardiac cells is complex. The rising phase is sigmoid and there is an overshoot. Catecholamines increase the initial rate of reactivation but reduce or abolish the overshoot. This combination of effects results in a 'crossover', so that the net effect of adrenaline depends on the pulse interval used. Acetylcholine not only reduces the current amplitude, it also substantially slows recovery. At short intervals the effect of acetylcholine is therefore very large. Agents that increase intracellular cyclic AMP levels affect the amplitude of the current but do not have a large effect on the reactivation time course. It is suggested that the autonomic transmitters exert their effects by controlling the local calcium concentration near the inner surface of the channels. This is supported by the fact that there are natural variations in reactivation time course between different cells and that these are correlated with their calcium loading, as judged by other electrophysiological criteria, such as the speed of calcium current inactivation and the presence of the calcium-dependent slow inward current.     

Phosphoinositide 3-kinasegamma (PI3Kgamma) controls L-type calcium current (ICa,L) through its positive modulation of type-3 phosphodiesterase (PDE3)

The modulation of L-type calcium current (ICa,L) is mainly due to mediators acting through activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) and different protein kinases; among them, phosphoinositide 3-kinasegamma (PI3Kgamma) has been recently discovered to play an important role in the regulation of cardiac contractility and beta-adrenergic signal transduction. Recent reports have demonstrated that, in the heart, different subtypes of beta-adrenergic receptors are coupled to both Gi and/or Gs proteins. While beta1-adrenergic receptors (beta1-AR) couple only to Gs and evoke a strong ICa,L, beta2-adrenergic receptors (beta2-AR) can activate both Gs and Gi proteins and trigger only a limited ICa,L. Here we demonstrate that (i) PI3Kgamma-/- ventricular myocytes are characterized by an higher basal ICa,L density, even if the responsiveness of adenylyl cyclase to Forskolin is comparable to that observed in PI3Kgamma+/+ cardiomyocytes; (ii) both in basal conditions and after beta-AR stimulation, the activity of phosphodiesterase (PDE) type 3 depends on PI3Kgamma; (iii) in PI3Kgamma-/- cardiac myocytes, specific stimulation of beta2-AR is followed by a increase in ICa,L stronger than in wild-type controls. Taken together, our results suggest that the higher values of ICa,L observed both in basal conditions and after beta-AR stimulation in PI3Kgamma-/- ventricular myocytes are mainly due to a positive modulation of PDE3 activity exerted by PI3Kgamma. As observed in PI3Kgamma-/- neonatal cardiomyocytes, cells lacking PI3Kgamma are more sensitive to stimulation of beta2-adrenergic receptors.     

Developmental differences in L-type calcium current of human atrial myocytes

We investigated differences in L-type Ca2+ current (ICa) between infant (INF, 1-12 mo old), young adult (YAD, 14-18 yr old), and older adult (AD) myocytes from biopsies of right atrial appendages. Basal ICa was smaller in INF myocytes (1.2 +/- 0.1 pA/pF, n = 29, 6 +/- 1 mo old, 11 patients) than in YAD (2.5 +/- 0.2 pA/pF, n = 20, 16 +/- 1 yr old, 5 patients) or AD (2.6 +/- 0.3 pA/pF, n = 19, 66 +/- 3 yr old, 9 patients) myocytes (P < 0.05). Maximal ICa produced by isoproterenol (Iso) was similar in INF, YAD, and AD cells: 8.4 +/- 1.1, 9.6 +/- 1.0, and 9.2 +/- 1.3 pA/pF, respectively. Efficacy (Emax) was larger in INF (607 +/- 50%) than for YAD (371 +/- 29%) or AD (455 +/- 12%) myocytes. Potency (EC50) was 8- to 10-fold higher in AD (0.82 +/- 0.09 nM) or YAD (0.41 +/- 0.14 nM) than in INF (7.6 +/- 3.5 nM) myocytes. Protein levels were similar for Gialpha2 but much greater for Gialpha3 in INF than in AD or YAD atrial tissue. When Gialpha3 activity was inhibited by inclusion of a Gialpha3 COOH-terminal decapeptide in the pipette, basal ICa and the response to 10 nM Iso were increased in INF, but not in YAD, cells. We propose that basal ICa and the response to low-dose beta-adrenergic stimulation are inhibited in INF (but not YAD or AD) cells as a result of constitutive inhibitory effects of Gialpha3.     

Voltage-dependent modulation of L-type calcium currents by intracellular magnesium in rat ventricular myocytes

Effects of changing cytosolic free Mg(2+) concentration on L-type Ca(2+) (I(Ca)) and Ba(2+) currents (I(Ba)) were investigated in rat ventricular myocytes voltage-clamped with pipettes containing 0.2 or 1.8mM [Mg(2+)] ([Mg(2+)](p)) buffered with 30mM citrate and 10mM ATP. Increasing [Mg(2+)](p) from 0.2 to 1.8mM reduced current amplitude and accelerated its decay under a variety of experimental conditions. To investigate the mechanism for these effects, steady-state and instantaneous current-voltage relationships were studied with two-pulse and tail current (I(T)) protocols, respectively. Increasing [Mg(2+)](p) shifted the V(M) for half inactivation by -20mV but dramatically decreased I(Ca) amplitude at all potentials tested, consistent with a change in gating kinetics that decreases channel availability. This conclusion was supported by analysis of I(T) amplitude, but these latter experiments also suggested that, in the millimolar concentration range, [Mg(2+)](p) might also inhibit permeation through open Ca(2+) channels at positive V(M).     

Changes of action potential and L-type calcium channel current of Sprague-Dawley rat ventricular myocytes by different amlodipine isomers

To investigate the effects of S- and R-amlodipine (Aml) on action potential (AP) and L-type calcium channel current (ICa-L), the whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used on rat ventricular myocytes to record AP, ICa-L, peak currents, steady-state activation currents, steady-state inactivation currents, and recovery currents from inactivation with S-Aml and R-Aml at various concentrations. Increasing concentrations of S-Aml gradually shortened AP durations (APDs). At concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 micromol/L, S-Aml blocked 1.5% +/- 0.2%, 25.4% +/- 5.3%, 65.2% +/- 7.3%, 78.4% +/- 8.1%, and 94.2% +/- 5.0% of ICa-L, respectively (p < 0.05), and the half-inhibited concentration was 0.62 +/- 0.12 micromol/L. Current-voltage curves were shifted upward; steady-state activation and inactivation curves were shifted to the left. At these concentrations of S-Aml, the half-activation voltages were -16.01 +/- 1.65, -17.61 +/- 1.60, -20.17 +/- 1.46, -21.87 +/- 1.69, and -24.09 +/- 1.87 mV, respectively, and the slope factors were increased (p < 0.05). The half-inactivation voltages were -27.16 +/- 4.48, -28.69 +/- 4.52, -31.19 +/- 4.17, -32.63 +/- 4.34, and -35.16 +/- 4.46 mV, respectively, and the slope factors were increased (p < 0.05). The recovery times from inactivation of S-Aml were prolonged (p < 0.05). In contrast, R-Aml had no effect on AP and ICa-L (p > 0.05) at the concentrations tested. Thus, only S-Aml has calcium channel blockade activity, whereas R-Aml has none of the pharmacologic actions associated with calcium channel blockers.     

External anions and volume-sensitive anion current in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of anion replacement on volume-sensitive anion current in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. Myocytes in the conventional whole-cell voltage-clamp configuration were superfused and dialysed with Na(+)-, K(+)-, and Ca(2+)-free solution, and exposed to external 75 mM Cl- solution of one-half normal osmolality. Prolonged exposures to hyposmotic solution promoted the development of outwardly-rectifying currents that were inactivated at high positive potentials and reversed in a Cl(-)-dependent manner (50 mV per decade pipette Cl- concentration). Replacement of external Cl- by iodide and aspartate affected the reversal potential (E(rev)) and slope conductance of the volume-sensitive current. Relative permeabilities calculated from changes in E(rev) were 1.49 +/- 0.09, 1.00, and 0.29 +/- 0.04 for iodide, Cl-, and aspartate, respectively; relative slope conductances between E(rev) and E(rev) + 40 mV were 1.21 +/- 0.09, 1.00, and 0.43 +/- 0.07, respectively. Replacement of Cl- also affected the time dependence of the volume-sensitive current; replacement by iodide reversibly enhanced the decay of outward current at positive potentials, whereas replacement by aspartate reduced it. These results are compared with earlier findings on noncardiac time- and voltage-dependent anion current activated by hyposmotic solution.     

beta2-Adrenergic receptor agonists stimulate L-type calcium current independent of PKA in newborn rabbit ventricular myocytes

Selective stimulation of beta(2)-adrenergic receptors (ARs) in newborn rabbit ventricular myocardium invokes a positive inotropic effect that is lost during postnatal maturation. The underlying mechanisms for this age-related stimulatory response remain unresolved. We examined the effects of beta(2)-AR stimulation on L-type Ca(2+) current (I(Ca,L)) during postnatal development. I(Ca,L) was measured (37 degrees C; either Ca(2+) or Ba(2+) as the charge carrier) using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique in newborn (1 to 5 days old) and adult rabbit ventricular myocytes. Ca(2+) transients were measured concomitantly by dialyzing the cell with indo-1. Activation of beta(2)-ARs (with either 100 nM zinterol or 1 microM isoproterenol in the presence of the beta(1)-AR antagonist, CGP20712A) stimulated I(Ca,L) twofold in newborns but not in adults. The beta(2)-AR-mediated increase in Ca(2+) transient amplitude in newborns was due exclusively to the augmentation of I(Ca,L). Zinterol increased the rate of inactivation of I(Ca,L) and increased the Ca(2+) flux integral. The beta(2)-AR inverse agonist, ICI-118551 (500 nM), but not the beta(1)-AR antagonist, CGP20712A (500 nM), blocked the response to zinterol. Unexpectedly, the PKA blockers, H-89 (10 microM), PKI 6-22 amide (10 microM), and Rp-cAMP (100 microM), all failed to prevent the response to zinterol but completely blocked responses to selective beta(1)-AR stimulation of I(Ca,L) in newborns. Our results demonstrate that in addition to the conventional beta(1)-AR/cAMP/PKA pathway, newborn rabbit myocardium exhibits a novel beta(2)-AR-mediated, PKA-insensitive pathway that stimulates I(Ca,L). This striking developmental difference plays a major role in the age-related differences in inotropic responses to beta(2)-AR agonists.     

Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP independent stimulation of ventricular calcium current by peroxynitrite donors in guinea pig myocytes

We investigated the potential involvement of peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) in the modulation of calcium current (I(Ca)) in guinea pig ventricular myocytes with the whole-cell patch clamp technique and with cyclic AMP (cAMP) measurements. Because of the short half-life of ONOO(-) at physiological pH, we induced an increase in its intracellular levels by using donors of the precursors, nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion (O(2) (-)). High concentrations of NO donors, SpermineNONOate (sp/NO, 300 microM) or SNAP (300 microM) increased basal I(Ca) (50.3 +/- 4.6%, n = 7 and 46.2 +/- 5.0%, n = 13). The superoxide anion donor Pyrogallol (100 microM) also stimulated basal I(Ca) (44.6 +/- 2.8%, n = 11). At lower concentration sp/NO (10 nM) and Pyrogallol (1 microM), although separately ineffective on I(Ca), enhanced the current if applied together (33.5 +/- 0.7%, n = 7). The simultaneous donor of O(2) (-) and NO, SIN-1 (500 microM), also stimulated basal I(Ca) (22.8 +/- 2.1%, n = 13). In the presence of saturating cyclic GMP (cGMP, 50 microM) in the patch pipette or of extracellular dibutyryl cGMP (dbcGMP, 100 microM), I(Ca) was still increased by SIN-1 (32.0 +/- 6.1%, n = 4 and 30.0 +/- 5.4%, n = 8). Both Manganese(III)tetrakis(4-benzoic acid) porphyrin chloride (MnTBAP, 100 microM) a ONOO(-) scavenger, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (150 U/ml) reversed the stimulatory effect of SIN-1 on I(Ca) (respectively -0.6 +/- 4.1%, n = 4 and 3.6 +/- 4.3%, n = 4). Intracellular cAMP level was unaltered by SIN-1, while it was enhanced by blocking the NO-cGMP pathway with the NO synthase inhibitor L-NMMA. These results suggest that peroxynitrite donors increase cardiac calcium current without the involvement of cAMP and cGMP.     

银杏苦内酯B对缺血豚鼠心室肌动作电位、L-型钙电流和延迟整流钾电流的作用

目的:研究银杏苦内酯B对正常和缺血心室肌细胞动作电位(action potential,AP),L-型钙电流(L-type calcium current,ICa-L)、延迟整流钾电流(Delayed Rectifier Currennt,IK)的影响.方法:用常规细胞内微电极方法记录豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位,用全细胞膜片钳技术记录游离心室肌细胞离子流.结果:①在生理条件下,银杏苦内酯B可缩短心室肌细胞动作电位时程 (action potential duration,APD),但对AP其他参数无影响,银杏苦内酯B可增大IK,呈浓度依赖性,但对ICa-L无显著作用;②在缺血条件下,APD50、APD90明显缩短,RP、APA减小,Vmax减慢,而银杏苦内酯B则可延缓和减轻缺血所引起上述参数的变化;3.在缺血条件下,IK和ICa-L均受到抑制,但加入银杏苦内酯B后可逆转缺血所造成这两种离子流的减小.结论:银杏苦内酯B可对抗心肌缺血所引起的心肌电生理的变化,提示银杏苦内酯B可预防心律失常的发生.     

Effect of tetramethyl pyrazine on L-type calcium channel in rat ventricular myocytes

To elucidate possible ionic mechanisms of antimyocardial ischemia and antiarrythmia of tetramethyl pyrazine (TP), we studied L-type Ca2+ currents (I(Ca.L)) in adult rat ventricular myocytes using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The results showed: (i) under physiological conditions, 0.25 mmol/L TP decreased amplitude of I(Ca.L) to 60.6% and this inhibition was increased with increasing concentration of TP. ID50 was 0.20 mmol/L. (ii) The Ca2+-antagonistic effect of TP was voltage-dependent. A marked negative shift of the steady-state inactivation curve was observed with long (10 s) conditioning prepulses, but not with short (350 ms) ones. (iii) The time course of inhibition during TP treatment was increased with an increase in drug concentration, and recovery from TP-induced inactivation of I(Ca.L) was slower than in control cases. (iv) Tonic block and use-dependent block with TP treatment, which was induced by increasing the frequency of stimulation, occurred. We suggest that TP inhibits the I(Ca.L) mainly by binding to inactivated Ca2+ channels. The high affinity of TP for the inactivated state of I(Ca.L) may play an important role in developing therapies for pathological conditions.