The Effect of Nifedipine on the Monophasic Action Potential and Refractoriness of the Right Ventricle of the Dog Heart in Situ after β-Adrenergic Receptor Blockade

2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan P. Amlie ◽  
Helge Refsum ◽  
Knud Landmark
2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (4) ◽  
pp. H1105-H1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan D. Wickenden ◽  
Roger Kaprielian ◽  
Xiao-Mang You ◽  
Peter H. Backx

Previous studies have established that reductions in repolarizing currents occur in heart disease and can contribute to life-threatening arrhythmias in myocardium. In this study, we investigated whether the thyroid hormone analog 3,5-diiodothyropropionic acid (DITPA) could restore repolarizing transient outward K+ current ( I to) density and gene expression in rat myocardium after myocardial infarction (MI). Our findings show that I to density was reduced after MI (14.0 ± 1.0 vs. 10.2 ± 0.9 pA/pF, sham vs. post-MI at +40 mV). mRNA levels of Kv4.2 and Kv4.3genes were decreased but Kv1.4 mRNA levels were increased post-MI. Corresponding changes in Kv4.2 and Kv1.4 protein were also observed. Chronic treatment of post-MI rats with 10 mg/kg DITPA restored I to density (to 15.2 ± 1.1 pA/pF at +40 mV) as well as Kv4.2 and Kv1.4 expression to levels observed in sham-operated controls. Other membrane currents (Na+, L-type Ca2+, sustained, and inward rectifier K+ currents) were unaffected by DITPA treatment. Associated with the changes in I toexpression, action potential durations (current-clamp recordings in isolated single right ventricular myocytes and monophasic action potential recordings from the right free wall in situ) were prolonged after MI and restored with DITPA treatment. Our results demonstrate that DITPA restores I to density in the setting of MI, which may be useful in preventing complications associated with I to downregulation.


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