title: The pacemaker current: from basics to the clinics.
abstract: Activation of the pacemaker ("funny," I(f)) current during diastole is the main process underlying generation of the diastolic depolarization and spontaneous activity of cardiac pacemaker cells. I(f) modulation by autonomic transmitters is responsible for the chronotropic regulation of heart rate. Given its role in pacemaking, I(f) has been a major target of investigation aimed to exploit its rate-controlling function in a clinical perspective. In this short review, we describe some of the most recent clinically relevant applications of the concept of I(f)-based pacemaking.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Physiology and Neurobiology, Department of Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbuti
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baruscotti
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: DiFrancesco
mesh_terms: D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000503:physiopathology; D003971:Diastole; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000503:physiopathology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D007473:Ion Channels