title: Study of the effects and mechanisms of berberine on slow-response action potentials.
abstract: The effects of berberine on slow-response action potentials (SAP) of guinea pig papillary muscles were studied. SAP was elicited by histamine in a high concentration of potassium solution (27 mmol). The results showed that berberine (24.5 mumol) was able to increase action potential amplitude, maximum rate of depolarization, action potential duration 50, action potential duration 100 (n = 16, p less than 0.01) and effective refractory period (n = 10, p less than 0.01) of SAP by 6.2%, 21.1%, 50.1%, 47.2% and 92.2%, respectively, but did not affect the resting membrane potential (RMP). To the above parameters, except APD 100, berberine was no longer to induce any significant change by pretreating with propranolol. The results suggested that the effects of berberine on slow-response action potentials were mainly related to the facilitating of slow calcium inward current, which might result from stimulating the beta-adrenoceptor.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Laboratory Xu Hui District Central Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Y Q
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001600:Berberine Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001600:Berberine Alkaloids; D015220:Calcium Channels; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D001599:Berberine