Protective effect of piperine on electrophysiology abnormalities of left atrial myocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide in rabbits

Aims

Piperine had protective effects on oxidative stress damage of ventricular myocytes by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). In this study we aimed to explore the protective effect of piperine on abnormalities of the cardiac action potential (AP) and several ion currents induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in single rabbit left atrial myocyte.

Main methods

Conventional microelectrodes were used to record action potential duration (APD), resting membrane potential (RMP) and some ion currents (I_Ca,L,I_to,I_K1 and I_kur,ect.), before and after H₂O₂ administration with or without piperine.

Key findings

The piperine (7 μmol/L) had no significant effect on APD, I_Ca,L,I_to,I_K1 and I_kur and their channel dynamics. In the presence of 50 μmol/L H₂O₂, APD₅₀ and APD₉₀ shortened (P < 0.01), amplitude of RMP decreased (P < 0.05), the peak of I_Ca,L reduced significantly (P < 0.05). Piperine (7 μmol/L) significantly alleviated the inhibiting effect of H₂O₂ on APD and I_Ca,L (P < 0.01) and protected the changes of I_Ca,L dynamics induced by H₂O₂. The peak current of I_to was reduced significantly (P < 0.05); Piperine (7 μmol/L) significantly alleviated the inhibiting effect of H₂O₂ on I_to (P < 0.01). In addition, piperine protected the changes of I_to dynamics induced by H₂O_2. The peak current of I_K1 and I_KUr was significantly reduced (P < 0.05); Piperine (7 μmol/L) alleviated the inhibiting effect of H₂O₂ on I_K1 and I_KUr significantly (P < 0.01). In addition, piperine protected the changes of I_KUr dynamics induced by H₂O₂.

Significance

These results suggest that piperine effectively protects atrial myocytes from oxidative stress injury in atrial electrophysiology.