title: Mechanisms of automaticity in subsidiary pacemakers from cat right atrium.
abstract: Intracellular recordings were made from eustachian ridge of cat right atrium to determine mechanisms responsible for subsidiary pacemaker automaticity. Pacemaker action potentials exhibited two phases of diastolic depolarization: an initial steeper slope (D1) followed by a more gradual slope (D2). Cesium (1 mM) decreased D1 (-45.6%) to a significantly greater extent than D2 (-33.6%) and increased spontaneous cycle length (SCL) (+37.7%). Tetrodotoxin (10(-6) M) had no effect on maximum rate of rise of upstroke, although it increased SLC (+23.9%). Verapamil (0.4-1.0 microM) progressively increased SCL by decreasing late diastolic slope, resulting in oscillatory potentials and eventual quiescence. Both norepinephrine (2 x 10(-9) M) and Bay K 8644 (10(-7) M) elicited a significantly greater increase in D2 than in D1, resulting in a decrease in SCL. Ryanodine (10(-6) M) caused a small but significant initial decrease (-3.7%) followed by a progressive increase in SCL (+172%). Ryanodine decreased D2 without changing D1, increased maximum rate of rise and overshoot potential, and abolished tension. In the presence of ryanodine, Bay K 8644 progressively increased D1 amplitude, resulting in a cyclic pattern of dysrhythmic activity. In the presence of ryanodine, cesium significantly decreased D1 (-39.3%), shifted the late diastolic potential more negative, and increased SCL (+25.7%). These results indicated that multiple mechanisms participate in subsidiary pacemaker automaticity. They include 1) a cesium-sensitive component that contributes to a greater extent during the initial phase of diastolic depolarization, 2) a component mediated via calcium released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum that contributes primarily during the latter half of diastolic depolarization, and 3) possibly a direct contribution by the slow inward calcium current.
authors: Department of Physiology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, Illinois 60153.
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Rubenstein
authors: S L
authors: SL
authors: Lipsius
mesh_terms: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D016275:Atrial Function; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002415:Cats; D002586:Cesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012433:Ryanodine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D012849:Sinoatrial Node / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012433:Ryanodine; D002586:Cesium; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine