title: Physiological role of Ca(2+)-activated and voltage-dependent K+ currents in rabbit coronary myocytes.
abstract: The properties and function of Ca(2+)-activated K+ (KCa) and voltage-dependent K+ (IK) currents of rabbit coronary myocytes were studied under whole cell voltage-clamp conditions (22 degrees C). Inhibition of KCa by tetraethylammonium chloride (1-10 mM) or charybdotoxin (50-100 nM) suppressed noisy outward rectifying current elicited by 5-s voltage steps or ramp at potentials > 0 mV, reduced the hump of the biphasic ramp current-voltage relation, and shifted by less than +5 mV the potential at which no net steady-state current is recorded (Enet; index of resting membrane potential). Inhibition of steady-state inward Ca2+ currents [ICa(L)] by nifedipine (1 microM) displaced Enet by -11 mV. Analysis of steady-state voltage dependence of IK supported the existence of a "window" current between -50 and 0 mV. 4-Aminopyridine (2 mM) blocked a noninactivating component of IK evoked between -30 and -40 mV, abolished the hump current during ramps, and shifted Enet by more than +15 mV; hump current persisted during 2-min ramp depolarizations and peaked near the maximum overlap of the steady-state activation and inactivation curves of IK (about -22 mV). A threefold rise in extracellular Ca2+ concentration (1.8-5.4 mM) enhanced time-dependent outward K+ current (6.7-fold at +40 mV) and shifted Enet by -30 mV. It is concluded that, under steady-state conditions, IK and ICa(L) play a major role in regulating resting membrane potential at a physiological level of intracellular Ca2+ concentration, with a minor contribution from KCa. However, elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration enhances KCa and hyperpolarizes the myocyte to limit Ca2+ entry through ICa(L).
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface General Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leblanc
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D018999:Charybdotoxin; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D018999:Charybdotoxin; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D002118:Calcium