title: Conformational state-dependent effects of halothane on cardiac Na+ current.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Na+ channel is voltage gated and characterized by three distinct states: closed, open, and inactivated. To identify the effects of halothane on the cardiac Na+ current (I(Na)) at various membrane potentials, the effects of 1.2 mM halothane at different holding potentials (V(H)) on I(Na) were examined in single, enzymatically isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The I(Na) was recorded using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. Currents were generated from resting V(H)s of -110, -80, or -65 mV. State-dependent block was characterized by monitoring frequency dependence, tonic block, and removal of inactivation by veratridine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Halothane produced significant (P < 0.05) V(H)-dependent depressions of peak I(Na) (mean +/- SEM): 24.4 +/- 4.1% (V(H) = -110 mV), 42.1 +/- 3.4% (V(H) = -80 mV), and 75.2 +/- 1.5% (V(H) = -65 mV). Recovery from inactivation was significantly increased when cells were held at -80 mV (control, tau = 6.0 +/- 0.3 ms; halothane, tau = 7.1 +/- 0.4 ms), but not at -110 mV. When using a V(H) of -80 mV, halothane exhibited a use-dependent block, with block of I(Na) increasing from 8.6 +/- 1.4% to 30.7 +/- 3.5% at test pulse rates of 2 and 11 Hz, respectively. Use-dependent inhibition was not apparent at V(H) of -110 mV. When inactivation of I(Na) was removed by exposure to 100 microM veratridine, no significant difference was observed in the depressant effect of halothane at both V(H)s: 26.6 +/- 4.5% (V(H) = -80 mV) and 26.4 +/- 5.6% (V(H) = -110 mV).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings indicate that the depressant action of halothane on cardiac I(Na) depends on the conformational state of the channel. As more channels are in the inactivated state, the more potent is the effect of halothane. Removal of channel inactivation by veratridine abolished the dependence of the halothane effect on V(H), but depression of the current was still evident. These results indicate a complex interaction between halothane and the various conformational states of the Na+ channel.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Weigt
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Rehmert
authors.forename: Z J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Bosnjak
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Kwok
mesh_terms: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D015222:Sodium Channels; D006221:Halothane