title: The electrogenic Na+/HCO3- cotransport modulates resting membrane potential and action potential duration in cat ventricular myocytes.
abstract: Perforated whole-cell configuration of patch clamp was used to determine the contribution of the electrogenic Na+/HCO3- cotransport (NBC) on the shape of the action potential in cat ventricular myocytes. Switching from Hepes to HCO3- buffer at constant extracellular pH (pH(o)) hyperpolarized resting membrane potential (RMP) by 2.67 +/- 0.42 mV (n = 9, P < 0.05). The duration of action potential measured at 50% of repolarization time (APD50) was 35.8 +/- 6.8% shorter in the presence of HCO3- than in its absence (n = 9, P < 0.05). The anion blocker SITS prevented and reversed the HCO3- -induced hyperpolarization and shortening of APD. In addition, no HCO3- -induced hyperpolarization and APD shortening was observed in the absence of extracellular Na+. Quasi-steady-state currents were evoked by 8 s duration voltage-clamped ramps ranging from -130 to +30 mV. A novel component of SITS-sensitive current was observed in the presence of HCO3-. The HCO3- -sensitive current reversed at -87 +/- 5 mV (n = 7), a value close to the expected reversal potential of an electrogenic Na+/HCO3- cotransport with a HCO3-:Na+ stoichiometry ratio of 2: 1. The above results allow us to conclude that the cardiac electrogenic Na+/HCO3- cotransport has a relevant influence on RMP and APD of cat ventricular cells.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, 60 y 120, La Plata 1900, Argentina.
authors.forename: María C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Villa-Abrille
authors.forename: Martín G Vila
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Petroff
authors.forename: Ernesto A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Aiello
mesh_terms: D012856:4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D027982:Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters / Q000502:physiology*; D016276:Ventricular Function
chemical_list: D027982:Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters; D012856:4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid