title: Electrical and ionic mechanisms of early reperfusion arrhythmias in sheep cardiac Purkinje's fibers.
abstract: The mechanisms of induction of early reperfusion arrhythmias were studied in sheep cardiac Purkinje's fibers superfused in vitro. Transmembrane potentials, intracellular sodium activity (aiNa), and contractile force were recorded. Stoppage of the flow of Tyrode's solution (ischemia) for 1 hour initially decreased slightly aiNa (-0.57 mmol -7.2%), increased the action potential amplitude (+6.1%) and duration (+7.8%), and decreased diastolic depolarization slope (-45.2%). As the ischemia continued, aiNa increased progressively (to 12.53 mmol, +56.2%), whereas force peaked (+395%) after about 30 minutes and then began to decrease. By the end of ischemia, there was a decrease in action potential amplitude (-14.9%) and duration (-39.6%), whereas diastolic depolarization slope reincreased again almost to control value (-7%). When the flow of Tyrode's solution was resumed (reperfusion), force markedly increased (+211.1%) and oscillatory potentials initiated arrhythmias (extrasystoles and repetitive fast discharge) in 64% of tests. Force and aiNa decreased relatively rapidly. The arrhythmias initiated after 58.4 +/- 1.8 seconds of reperfusion and lasted 101.5 +/- 3.2 seconds. When [Na]o was increased by +19.2%, reperfusion arrhythmias occurred after only 30 minutes of ischemia. Thus, in Purkinje's fibers superfused in vitro, early reperfusion arrhythmias are induced by oscillatory potentials caused by calcium overload, which is enhanced by the increase in aiNa during ischemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, State University of New York, Brooklyn 11203.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abete
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bernabei
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: di Gennaro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rengo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carbonin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vassalle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011690:Purkinje Fibers / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012756:Sheep; D012964:Sodium / Q000502:physiology*; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium