Halothane Inhibits Contraction and Action Potential Duration to a Greater Extent in Subendocardial than Subepicardial Myocytes from the Rat Left Ventricle

2001 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 1213-1219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber Rithalia ◽  
Clare N. Gibson ◽  
Philip M. Hopkins ◽  
Simon M. Harrison

Background Halothane inhibits the 4-aminopyridine-sensitive transient outward K(+) current (I(to)) which in many species, including humans, plays an important role in determining action potential duration. As I(to) is greater in the ventricular subepicardium than subendocardium, halothane may have differential effects on action potential duration and, therefore, contraction in cells isolated from these two regions. Methods Myocytes were isolated from the subendocardium and subepicardium of the rat left ventricle. Myocytes from each region were electrically stimulated at 1 Hz to measure contractions and action potentials and exposed to 0.6 mm halothane (approximately 2 x minimum alveolar concentration(50) for the rat) for 1 min. The time from the peak of the action potential to repolarization at 0 and -50 mV was measured to assess the effects of halothane on action potential duration. Results Halothane inhibited contraction to a significantly (P = 0.002) greater extent in subendocardial myocytes than in subepicardial myocytes: the amplitude of contraction during control conditions was 3.6 +/- 0.4 microm and 3.2 +/- 0.7 microm in subendocardial and subepicardial cells, respectively, and this was reduced to 1.1 +/- 0.2 microm (29 +/- 2% of control, P < 0.0001, n = 10) and 1.4 +/- 0.3 microm (46 +/- 3% of control, P = 0.007, n = 7), respectively, after a 1-min exposure to 0.6 mm halothane. Control action potential duration (at -50 mV) was 67 +/- 10 and 28 +/- 4 ms in subendocardial and subepicardial myocytes, respectively, and these values were reduced to 39 +/- 6 ms (58 +/- 3% of control, P < 0.001) and 20 +/- 3 ms (73 +/- 5% of control, P = 0.009) by halothane, respectively. Conclusions Action potential duration was reduced to a greater extent in subendocardial than subepicardial myocytes, which would contribute to the greater negative inotropic effect of halothane in the subendocardium. Furthermore, the transmural difference in action potential duration was reduced by halothane, which could contribute to its arrhythmogenic properties.

1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (4) ◽  
pp. H1393-H1400 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. O. McMorn ◽  
S. M. Harrison ◽  
W. J. Zang ◽  
X. J. Yu ◽  
M. R. Boyett

Acetylcholine (ACh) decreased the contraction of rat ventricular cells within 20 s. ACh (3.1 x 10(-8) M) produced a half-maximal effect and 10(-6) M ACh produced a maximal effect (a 23.8 +/- 5.4% decrease; mean +/- SE, n = 11). During a 3-min exposure to ACh, the inotropic effect faded. Parallel changes were observed in action potential duration: ACh caused an immediate shortening of the action potential, but then the effect faded with time. The changes in action potential duration were the cause of the changes in contraction, because ACh had no effect on contraction when the contractions were triggered by voltage-clamp pulses of constant duration. The changes in action potential duration were the result of the activation of a K+ current (iK,ACh) by ACh. During an exposure to ACh, this current faded as a result of desensitization. iK,ACh was 6.3 times smaller in ventricular than in atrial cells. This may explain why the negative inotropic effect of ACh on atrial cells was greater: 1.0 x 10(-8) M ACh produced a half-maximal effect on atrial cells, and 10(-6) M ACh produced a near maximal effect (a 74.5 +/- 9.5% decrease; n = 4).


1996 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 1166-1176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wyun Kon Park ◽  
Joseph J. Pancrazio ◽  
Chang Kook Suh ◽  
Carl III Lynch

Background The effects of anesthetic concentrations of sevoflurane were studied in isolated myocardial tissue to delineate the mechanisms by which cardiac function is altered. Methods Isometric force of isolated guinea pig ventricular papillary muscle was studied at 37 degrees C in normal and 26 mM K+ Tyrode's solution at various stimulation rates. Normal and slow action potentials were evaluated using conventional microelectrodes. Effects of sevoflurane on sarcoplasmic reticulum function in situ were also evaluated by its effect on rapid cooling contractures, which are known to activate Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and on concentrations of rat papillary muscle. Finally, Ca2+ and K+ currents of isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes were examined using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Results Sevoflurane equivalent to 1.4% and 2.8% depressed guinea pig myocardial contractions to approximately 85 and approximately 65% of control, respectively, although the maximum rate of force development at 2 or 3 Hz and force in rat myocardium after rest showed less depression. In the partially depolarized, beta-adrenergically stimulated myocardium, sevoflurane selectively depressed late peak force without changing early peak force, whereas it virtually abolished rapid cooling contractures. Sevoflurane did not alter the peak amplitude or maximum depolarization rate of normal and slow action potentials, but action potential duration was significantly prolonged. In isolated guinea pig myocytes at room temperature, 0.7 mM sevoflurane (equivalent to 3.4%) depressed peak Ca2+ current by approximately 25% and increased the apparent rate of inactivation. The delayed outward K+ current was markedly depressed, but the inwardly rectifying K+ current was only slightly affected by 0.35 mM sevoflurane. Conclusions These results suggest that the direct myocardial depressant effects of sevoflurane are similar to those previously described for isoflurane. The rapid initial release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum is not markedly decreased, although certain release pathway, specifically those induced by rapid cooling, appear to be depressed. Contractile depression may be partly related to the depression of Ca2+ influx through the cardiac membrane. The major electrophysiologic effect of sevoflurane seems to be a depression of the delayed outward K+ current, which appears to underlie the increased action potential duration.


1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (6) ◽  
pp. H2321-H2328 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Zhang ◽  
T. Sawanobori ◽  
H. Adaniya ◽  
Y. Hirano ◽  
M. Hiraoka

Effects of extracellular magnesium (Mg2+) on action potential duration (APD) and underlying membrane currents in guinea pig ventricular myocytes were studied by using the whole cell patch-clamp method. Increasing external Mg2+ concentration [Mg2+]o) from 0.5 to 3 mM produced a prolongation of APD at 90% repolarization (APD90), whereas 5 and 10 mM Mg2+ shortened it. [Mg2+]o, at 3 mM or higher, suppressed the delayed outward K+ current and the inward rectifier K+ current. Increases in [Mg2+]o depressed the peak amplitude and delayed the decay time course of the Ca2+ current (ICa), the latter effect is probably due to the decrease in Ca(2+)-induced inactivation. Thus 3 mM Mg2+ suppressed the peak ICa but increased the late ICa amplitude at the end of a 200-ms depolarization pulse, whereas 10 mM Mg2+ suppressed both components. Application of 10 mM Mg2+ shifted the voltage-dependent activation and inactivation by approximately 10 mV to more positive voltage due to screening the membrane surface charges. Application of manganese (1-5 mM) also caused dual effects on APD90, similar to those of Mg2+, and suppressed the peak ICa with slowed decay. These results suggest that the dual effects of Mg2+ on APD in guinea pig ventricular myocytes can be, at least in part, explained by its action on ICa with slowed decay time course in addition to suppressive effects on K+ currents.


1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (11) ◽  
pp. 1651-1660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwo-Jyh Chang ◽  
Ming-Jai Su ◽  
Pei-Hong Lee ◽  
Shoei-Sheng Lee ◽  
Karin Chiung-Sheue Liu

The mechanisms of the positive inotropic action of a new synthetic tetrahydroisoquinoline compound, SL-1, were investigated in isolated rat cardiac tissues and ventricular myocytes. SL-1 produced a rapidly developing, concentration-dependent positive inotropic response in both atrial and ventricular muscles and a negative chronotropic effect in spontaneously beating right atria. The positive inotropic effect was not prevented by pretreatment with reserpine (3 mg/kg) or the α-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (1 μM), but was suppressed by either the β-adrenoceptor antagonist atenolol (3 μM) or the K+ channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4AP, 1 mM). In the whole-cell recording study, SL-1 increased the plateau level and prolonged the action potential duration in a concentration-dependent manner and decreased the maximum upstroke velocity [Formula: see text] and amplitude of the action potential in isolated rat ventricular myocytes stimulated at 1.0 Hz. On the other hand, SL-1 had little effect on the resting membrane potential, although it caused a slight decrease at higher concentrations. Voltage clamp experiments revealed that the increase of action potential plateau and prolongation of action potential duration were associated with an increase of Ca2+ inward current (ICa) via the activation of β-adrenoceptors and a prominent inhibition of 4AP-sensitive transient outward K+ current (Ito) with an IC50 of 3.9 μM. Currents through the inward rectifier K+ channel (IKl) were also reduced. The inhibition of Ito is characterized by a reduction in peak amplitude and a marked acceleration of current decay but without changes on the voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation. In addition to the inhibition of K+ currents, SL-1 also inhibited the Na+ inward current (INa) with an IC50 of 5.4 μM, which was correlated with the decrease of [Formula: see text]. We conclude that the positive inotropic effect of SL-1 may be due to an increase in Ca2+ current mediated via partial activation of β-adrenoceptors and an inhibition of K+ outward currents and the subsequent prolongation of action potentials.Key words: SL-1, tetrahydroisoquinoline, inotropic and chronotropic action, action potential, Na+, Ca2+, and K+ currents.


1990 ◽  
Vol 258 (3) ◽  
pp. H793-H805 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. S. Fein ◽  
B. E. Zola ◽  
A. Malhotra ◽  
S. Cho ◽  
S. M. Factor ◽  
...  

Left ventricular papillary muscle function, transmembrane action potentials, myosin adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) and isoenzyme distribution, and myocardial pathology were studied in hypertensive (H), diabetic (D), hypertensive-diabetic (HD), and control (C) rats. There was approximately 50% relative left ventricular hypertrophy in H and HD rats. Relative lung and liver weights were greater in HD rats. Peak velocity of shortening tended to decrease progressively in H, D, and HD rats. The duration of contraction and relaxation was markedly prolonged in Ds and HDs. The length-developed tension relation was blunted in HDs. The negative inotropic effect of verapamil was similar in all groups. Resting membrane potential and amplitude were decreased in D and HD rats. Action potential duration was increased in H, D, and especially HD rats. The shortening of action potential duration with increased stimulus frequency was greater in H, D, and especially HD rats than in Cs. Left ventricular myosin ATPase and V1 isoenzyme content decreased progressively in H, D, and HD rats. Right ventricular V1 isoenzyme content was not affected in H rats but was markedly decreased in D and HD rats. Left (and right) ventricular pathology was unchanged in rats with diabetes but was increased in rats with hypertension. These data suggest that the combination of myocardial pathology (due to hypertension) and cellular dysfunction (caused mainly by diabetes) may result in cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure in the HD rat.


1995 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 673-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Oyelese ◽  
D. L. Eng ◽  
G. B. Richerson ◽  
J. D. Kocsis

1. The effects of axotomy on the electrophysiologic properties of adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were studied to understand the changes in excitability induced by traumatic nerve injury. Nerve injury was induced in vivo by sciatic nerve ligation with distal nerve transection. Two to four weeks after nerve ligation, a time when a neuroma forms, lumbar (L4 and L5) DRG neurons were removed and placed in short-term tissue culture. Whole cell patch-clamp recordings were made 5–24 h after plating. 2. DRG neurons were grouped into large (43–65 microns)-, medium (34–42 microns)-, and small (20–32 microns)- sized classes. Large neurons had short duration action potentials with approximately 60% having inflections on the falling phase of their action potentials. In contrast, action potentials of medium and small neurons were longer in duration and approximately 68% had inflections. 3. Pressure microejection of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA, 100 microM) or muscimol (100 microM) onto voltage-clamped DRG neurons elicited a rapidly desensitizing inward current that was blocked by 200 microM bicuculline. To measure the peak conductance induced by GABA or muscimol, neurons were voltage-clamped at a holding potential of -60 mV, and pulses to -80 mV and -100 mV were applied at a rate of 2.5 or 5 Hz during drug application. Slope conductances were calculated from plots of whole cell current measured at each of these potentials. 4. GABA-induced currents and conductances of control DRG neurons increased progressively with cell diameter. The mean GABA conductance was 36 +/- 10 nS (mean +/- SE) in small neurons, 124 +/- 21 nS in medium neurons, and 527 +/- 65 nS in large neurons. 5. After axotomy, medium neurons had significantly larger GABA-induced conductances compared with medium control neurons (390 +/- 50 vs. 124 +/- 21; P < 0.001). The increase in GABA conductance of medium neurons was associated with a decrease in duration of action potentials. In contrast, small neurons had no change in GABA conductance or action potential duration after ligation. The GABA conductance of large control neurons was highly variable, and ligation resulted in an increase that was significant only for neurons > 50 microns. The mean action potential duration in large neurons was not significantly changed, but neurons with inflections on the falling phase of the action potential were less common after ligation. There was no difference in resting potential or input resistance between control and ligated groups, except that the resting potential was less negative in small cells after axotomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


2009 ◽  
Vol 459 (4) ◽  
pp. 607-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Wagner ◽  
Elena Rudakova ◽  
Vera Schütz ◽  
Magdalena Frank ◽  
Heimo Ehmke ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.C Hsieh ◽  
C.H Li ◽  
J.C Lin ◽  
C.J Weng ◽  
Y.S Chien ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) by prolonging action potential duration (APD) and steepening the APD restitution (APDR). The calcium sensitizer levosimendan, a medication for heart failure treatment, has been reported to shorten APD by enhancing ATP-sensitive K current and affect the APDR. Purpose We hypothesized that levosimendan might shorten the already prolonged APD particularly at long pacing cycle length (PCL), thus decreases the maximal slope of APDR, and prevent VA during TH. Methods Langendorff-perfused isolated rabbit hearts were subjected to 15-min TH (30°C) followed by 30-min treatment with levosimendan (0.5 μM, n=9) or vehicle (n=8). Using an optical mapping system, APD was evaluated by S1 pacing and APDR curve was plotted using APD70 versus diastolic interval. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) inducibility was evaluated by burst pacing for 30 s at the shortest PCL that achieved 1:1 ventricular capture. Results The APD was shortened from 259±8 ms at TH to 241±18 ms after levosimendan infusion at long PCL of 400 ms (p=0.024). However, at short PCL of 280 ms, the APD was not changed before (194±19) and after (188±23) levosimendan during TH (p=0.61). Levosimendan decreases the maximal slope of APDR curve from 1.99±0.65 at TH to 1.41±0.32 after adding levosimendan (p=0.034). The VF inducibility was decreased by levosimendan from 39±30% at 30°C to 14±12% with levosimendan (p=0.023). In control hearts, the maximal slope of APDR (p=0.75) and VF inducibility (p=0.12) were not changed by vehicle during TH. Conclusion Levosimendan might protect the hearts against VA during TH by shortening APD at long PCL and flattening the APDR. Enhancing ATP-sensitive K current with levosimendan during TH might be a novel approach to prevent VA during TH. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


2017 ◽  
Vol 312 (6) ◽  
pp. H1248-H1259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mladen Barbic ◽  
Angel Moreno ◽  
Tim D. Harris ◽  
Matthew W. Kay

Here, we describe new detachable floating glass micropipette electrode devices that provide targeted action potential recordings in active moving organs without requiring constant mechanical constraint or pharmacological inhibition of tissue motion. The technology is based on the concept of a glass micropipette electrode that is held firmly during cell targeting and intracellular insertion, after which a 100-µg glass microelectrode, a “microdevice,” is gently released to remain within the moving organ. The microdevices provide long-term recordings of action potentials, even during millimeter-scale movement of tissue in which the device is embedded. We demonstrate two different glass micropipette electrode holding and detachment designs appropriate for the heart (sharp glass microdevices for cardiac myocytes in rats, guinea pigs, and humans) and the brain (patch glass microdevices for neurons in rats). We explain how microdevices enable measurements of multiple cells within a moving organ that are typically difficult with other technologies. Using sharp microdevices, action potential duration was monitored continuously for 15 min in unconstrained perfused hearts during global ischemia-reperfusion, providing beat-to-beat measurements of changes in action potential duration. Action potentials from neurons in the hippocampus of anesthetized rats were measured with patch microdevices, which provided stable base potentials during long-term recordings. Our results demonstrate that detachable microdevices are an elegant and robust tool to record electrical activity with high temporal resolution and cellular level localization without disturbing the physiological working conditions of the organ. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Cellular action potential measurements within tissue using glass micropipette electrodes usually require tissue immobilization, potentially influencing the physiological relevance of the measurement. Here, we addressed this limitation with novel 100-µg detachable glass microelectrodes that can be precisely positioned to provide long-term measurements of action potential duration during unconstrained tissue movement.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document