title: Background current in sino-atrial node cells of the rabbit heart.
abstract: 1. The Ca2+ current, K+ current, hyperpolarization-activated current, Na(+)-K+ pump current and the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange current were all blocked by appropriate blockers and the remaining time-independent currents were investigated in single pacemaker cells of the rabbit sino-atrial node using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. 2. Exchanging the bathing solution from Tris-hydroxymethyl-aminomethane hydrochloride (Tris) Na+ free to 150 mM-Na+ induced an inward current and the slope conductance of the current-voltage relationship increased from 0.45 +/- 0.18 to 0.87 +/- 0.33 nS (n = 71) at -50 mV. The remaining conductance in Tris Na(+)-free solution was essentially the same when Tris was substituted with tetraethylammonium (TEA) or N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMG). The current density of the Na(+)-dependent inward current obtained by subtracting the current in Tris Na(+)-free from that in 150 mM-Na+ solution was 0.73 +/- 0.21 pA/pF (n = 71) at -50 mV. We called this current the Na(+)-dependent background current. 3. The membrane conductance was reduced by lowering the temperature of the external solution from 36 to 23 degrees C. In Tris Na(+)-free solution, the temperature-sensitive component was outward at all potentials, whereas it showed a reversal potential at around -20 mV in 150 mM-Na+ solution. This reversal potential was interpreted as a sum of the Cs+ efflux and Na+ influx, by comparing the Na(+)-dependent inward currents obtained at 36 degrees C and those at 23 degrees C. 4. Divalent cations (2 mM-Ni2+, 1 mM-Ba2+ or 2 mM-Ca2+) reduced only the outward current in the Tris Na(+)-free solution, while in the 150 mM-Na+ solution, they reduced both the inward and outward components of the current which had a reversal potential of around -10 mV. 5. Amiloride depressed the membrane conductance in 150 mM-Na+, Cs+ or Rb+ external solution, though only at negative membrane potentials, which suggests amiloride has a voltage-dependent effect on the background current. 6. Removal of Cl- from the external solution or the addition of a Cl- channel blocker (4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid disodium salt, DNDS) failed to affect the membrane conductance. 7. When the monovalent cation-dependent inward current was measured by subtracting the current in the Tris solution from those recorded in the various monovalent cation solutions, the current amplitude decreased in the order: Rb+ greater than K+ greater than Cs+ greater than Na+ greater than Li+, which suggests a poor cation selectivity of this current system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Heart Institute of Japan, Tokyo Women's Medical College.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Irisawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kasanuki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hosoda
mesh_terms: D000584:Amiloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009532:Nickel / Q000494:pharmacology; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D012849:Sinoatrial Node / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D015222:Sodium Channels; D001464:Barium; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D000584:Amiloride; D009532:Nickel; D009543:Nifedipine