title: Alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation enhances the delayed rectifier K+ current of guinea pig ventricular cells through the activation of protein kinase C.
abstract: The effect of alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation on the delayed rectifier K+ current (IK) was examined in isolated guinea pig ventricular cells by use of the patch-clamp method. IK was evoked by a 3-second depolarizing pulse from a holding potential of -30 mV in a Na(+)- and K(+)-free solution containing 3 microM nifedipine. Phenylephrine (30 microM) in the presence of propranolol (1 microM) produced an increase in IK. In five cells, phenylephrine increased the tail current of IK by 23 +/- 5%. This effect of phenylephrine was blocked by prazosin (0.3 microM), a selective alpha 1-blocker. Phenylephrine produced only a small effect on the voltage and time dependence of IK. Pretreatment with 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7, 10 microM) abolished the phenylephrine-induced increase in IK. In addition, pretreatment with a maximally effective concentration of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (100 nM) abolished the phenylephrine-induced increase in IK. In conclusion, alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation increases IK in guinea pig cardiomyocytes. This alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated response may be related to an activation of protein kinase C. The increase in IK may explain a shortening of action potential duration observed after alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation in guinea pig cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tohse
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakaya
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanno
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D010656:Phenylephrine; D011433:Propranolol; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D011188:Potassium; D011224:Prazosin