Bupivacaine is an effective potassium channel blocker in heart.
The local anesthetic agent bupivacaine increases action potential duration in isolated frog atrial myocytes, and blocks two potassium conductances, IK and IK1. The effective concentrations, particularly for IK, are similar to those which depress the sodium conductance. Potassium channel block may thus contribute to bupivacaine's reported cardiotoxicity.
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D011892:Rana catesbeiana
D007473:Ion Channels; D011188:Potassium; D002045:Bupivacaine