title: Electrophysiological effects of protopine in cardiac myocytes: inhibition of multiple cation channel currents.
abstract: Protopine (Pro) from Corydalis tubers has been shown to have multiple actions on cardiovascular system, including anti-arrhythmic, anti-hypertensive and negative inotropic effects. Although it was thought that Pro exerts its actions through blocking Ca(2+) currents, the electrophysiological profile of Pro is unclear. The aim of this study is to elucidate the ionic mechanisms of Pro effects in the heart. In single isolated ventricular myocytes from guinea-pig, extracellular application of Pro markedly and reversibly abbreviates action potential duration, and decreases the rate of upstroke (dV/dt)(max), amplitude and overshoot of action potential in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, it produces a slight, but significant hyperpolarization of the resting membrane potential. Pro at 25, 50 and 100 microM reduces L-type Ca(2+) current (I(Ca,L)) amplitude to 89.1, 61.9 and 45.8% of control, respectively, and significantly slows the decay kinetics of I(Ca,L) at higher concentration. The steady state inactivation of I(Ca,L) is shifted negatively by 5.9 - 7.0 mV (at 50 - 100 microM Pro), whereas the voltage-dependent activation of I(Ca,L) remains unchanged. In contrast, Pro at 100 microM has no evident effects on T-type Ca(2+) current (I(Ca,T)). In the presence of Pro, both the inward rectifier (I(K1)) and delayed rectifier (I(K)) potassium currents are variably inhibited, depending on Pro concentrations. Sodium current (I(Na)), recorded in low [Na(+)](o) (40 mM) solution, is more potently suppressed by Pro. At 25 microM, Pro significantly attenuated I(Na) at most of the test voltages (-60 approximately +40 mV, with a 53% reduction at -30 mV. Thus, Pro is not a selective Ca(2+) channel antagonist. Rather, it acts as a promiscuous inhibitor of cation channel currents including I(Ca,L), I(K), I(K1) as well as I(Na). These findings may provide some mechanistic explanations for the therapeutic actions of Pro in the heart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical College, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, P.R. of China. Song1@grc.nia.nih.gov
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Z L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Z N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D053119:Benzophenanthridines; D001600:Berberine Alkaloids; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051668:Delayed Rectifier Potassium Channels; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D053119:Benzophenanthridines; D001600:Berberine Alkaloids; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D020747:Calcium Channels, T-Type; D051668:Delayed Rectifier Potassium Channels; D007473:Ion Channels; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; C009093:protopine