title: The effect of extracellular potassium on the intracellular potassium ion activity and transmembrane potentials of beating canine cardiac Purkinje fibers.
abstract: We used open tip microelectrodes containing a K+-sensitive liquid ion exchanger to determine directly the intracellular K+ activity in beating canine cardiac Purkinje fibers. For preparations superfused with Tyrode's solution in which the K+ concentration was 4.0 mM, intracellular K+ activity (ak) was 130.0+/-2.3 mM (mean+/-SE) at 37 degrees C. The calculated K+ equilibrium potential (EK) was -100.6+/-0.5 mV. Maximum diastolic potential (ED) and resting transmembrane potential (EM) were measured with conventional microelectrodes filled with 3 M KCl and were -90.6+/-0.3 and -84.4+/-0.4 mV, respectively. When [K+]o was decreased to 2.0 mM or increased to 6.0, 10.0, and 16.0 mM, ak remained the same. At [K+]o=2.0, ED was -97.3+/-0.4 and Em -86.0+/-0.7 mV; at [K+]o=16.0, ED fell to -53.8+/-0.4 mV and Em to the same value. Over this range of values for [K+]o, EK changed from -119.0+/-0.3 to -63.6+/-0.2 mV. These values for EK are consistent with those previously estimated indirectly by other techniques.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011690:Purkinje Fibers / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium