Melatonin inhibits arrhythmias induced by increased late sodium currents in ventricular myocytes / 药学学报

Melatonin (Mel) has been shown to have cardioprotective effects, but its action on ion channels is unclear. In this experiment, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Mel on late sodium currents (INa.L) in mouse ventricular myocytes and the anti-arrhythmic effect at the organ level as well as its mechanism. The whole-cell patch clamp technique was applied to record the ionic currents and action potential (AP) in mouse ventricular myocytes while the electrocardiogram (ECG) and monophasic action potential (MAP) were recorded simultaneously in mouse hearts using a multichannel acquisition and analysis system. The results demonstrated that the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of Mel on transient sodium current (INa.T) and specific INa.L opener 2 nmol·L-1 sea anemone toxins II (ATX II) increased INa.L were 686.615 and 7.37 μmol·L-1, respectively. Mel did not affect L-type calcium current (ICa.L), transient outward current (Ito), and AP. In addition, 16 μmol·L-1 Mel shortened ATX II-prolonged action potential duration (APD), suppressed ATX II-induced early afterdepolarizations (EADs), and significantly reduced the incidence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) in Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts. In conclusion, Mel exerted its antiarrhythmic effects principally by blocking INa.L, thus providing a significant theoretical basis for new clinical applications of Mel. Animal welfare and experimental process are in accordance with the regulations of the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Wuhan University of Science and Technology (2023130).

Involvement of veratridine-induced increase of reverse Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange current in intracellular Ca(2+) overload and extension of action potential duration in rabbit ventricular myocytes / 生理学报

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of veratridine (VER) on persistent sodium current (I(Na.P)), Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange current (I(NCX)), calcium transients and the action potential (AP) in rabbit ventricular myocytes, and to explore the mechanism in intracellular calcium overload and myocardial contraction enhancement by using whole-cell patch clamp recording technique, visual motion edge detection system, intracellular calcium measurement system and multi-channel physiological signal acquisition and processing system. The results showed that I(Na.P) and reverse I(NCX) in ventricular myocytes were obviously increased after giving 10, 20 μmol/L VER, with the current density of I(Na.P) increasing from (-0.22 ± 0.12) to (-0.61 ± 0.13) and (-2.15 ± 0.14) pA/pF (P < 0.01, n = 10) at -20 mV, and that of reverse I(NCX) increasing from (1.62 ± 0.12) to (2.19 ± 0.09) and (2.58 ± 0.11) pA/pF (P < 0.05, n = 10) at +50 mV. After adding 4 μmol/L tetrodotoxin (TTX), current density of I(Na.P) and reverse I(NCX) returned to (-0.07 ± 0.14) and (1.69 ± 0.15) pA/pF (P < 0.05, n = 10). Another specific blocker of I(Na.P), ranolazine (RAN), could obviously inhibit VER-increased I(Na.P) and reverse I(NCX). After giving 2.5 μmol/L VER, the maximal contraction rate of ventricular myocytes increased from (-0.91 ± 0.29) to (-1.53 ± 0.29) μm/s (P < 0.01, n = 7), the amplitude of contraction increased from (0.10 ± 0.04) to (0.16 ± 0.04) μm (P < 0.05, n = 7), and the baseline of calcium transients (diastolic calcium concentration) increased from (1.21 ± 0.08) to (1.37 ± 0.12) (P < 0.05, n = 7). After adding 2 μmol/L TTX, the maximal contraction rate and amplitude of ventricular myocytes decreased to (-0.86 ± 0.24) μm/s and (0.09 ± 0.03) μm (P < 0.01, n = 7) respectively. And the baseline of calcium transients reduced to (1.17 ± 0.09) (P < 0.05, n = 7). VER (20 μmol/L) could extend action potential duration at 50% repolarization (APD(50)) and at 90% repolarization (APD(90)) in ventricular myocytes from (123.18 ± 23.70) to (271.90 ± 32.81) and from (146.94 ± 24.15) to (429.79 ± 32.04) ms (P < 0.01, n = 6) respectively. Early afterdepolarizations (EADs) appeared in 3 out of the 6 cases. After adding 4 μmol/L TTX, APD(50) and APD(90) were reduced to (99.07 ± 22.81) and (163.84 ± 26.06) ms (P < 0.01, n = 6) respectively, and EADs disappeared accordingly in 3 cases. It could be suggested that: (1) As a specific agonist of the I(Na.P), VER could result in I(Na.P) increase and intracellular Na(+) overload, and subsequently intracellular Ca(2+) overload with the increase of reverse I(NCX). (2) The VER-increased I(Na.P) could further extend the action potential duration (APD) and induce EADs. (3) TTX could restrain the abnormal VER-induced changes of the above-mentioned indexes, indicating that these abnormal changes were caused by the increase of I(Na.P). Based on this study, it is concluded that as the I(Na.P) agonist, VER can enhance reverse I(NCX) by increasing I(Na.P), leading to intracellular Ca(2+) overload and APD abnormal extension.

Low extracellular pH increases the persistent sodium current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes / 生理学报

Whole-cell and cell-attached patch-clamp techniques were used to record the changes of persistent sodium current (I(Na.P)) in ventricular myocytes of guinea pig to investigate the effect of low extracellular pH on I(Na.P) and its mechanism. The results showed that low extracellular pH (7.0, 6.8 and 6.5) obviously increased the amplitude of whole-cell I(Na.P) in a [H(+)] concentration-dependent manner. Under the condition of extracellular pH 6.5, I(Na.P) was markedly augmented from control (pH 7.4) value of (0.347+/-0.067) pA/pF to (0.817+/- 0.137) pA/pF (P<0.01, n=6), whereas the reducing agent dithiothreitiol (DTT, 1 mmol/L) reversed the increased IN(Na.P) from (0.817+/-0.137) pA/pF to (0.233+/-0.078) pA/pF (P<0.01 vs pH 6.5, n=6). Decreasing extracellular pH to 6.5 also increased the persistent sodium channel activity in cell-attached patches. The mean open probability and mean open time were increased from control value of 0.021+/-0.007 and (0.899+/-0.074) ms to 0.205+/-0.023 and (1.593+/-0.158) ms, respectively (both P<0.01, n=6), and such enhancement was reversed by application of 1 mmol/L DTT [to 0.019+/-0.005 and (0.868+/-0.190) ms, both P<0.01 vs pH 6.5, n=6]. Furthermore, protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide (BIM, 5 micromol/L) reduced the enhanced mean open probability and mean open time at pH 6.5 from 0.214+/-0.024 and (1.634+/-0.137) ms to 0.025+/-0.006 and (0.914+/-0.070) ms, respectively (both P<0.01 vs pH 6.5, n=6). The results demonstrate that low extracellular pH markedly increases I(Na.P) in guinea pig ventricular myocytes, in which activation of PKC may be involved.

Calcium-dependent chloride channels in plasma membrane of oocytes from toad, Bufo bufo gargarizans / 生理学报

In this paper, membrane current properties of the fully-grown oocytes from toad, Bufo bufo gargarizans, were studied by using two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique. Axion of adult female toad was destroyed, and then ovarian lobes containing oocytes in stage I to VI were removed and incubated in Ca(2+)-free ND96 solution with collagenase (1.5 mg/ml) for 1 h. Subsequently, the oocytes were washed in Ca(2+)-free ND96 solution for 10 min to completely remove the follicular layer. For the experiments only the oocytes in stage V and VI were selected and used during 1 to 5 d. The membrane was depolarized from a holding potential of -80 mV to +60 mV in 10 mV step. It was found that a sustained outward current was elicited by depolarization. Potassium channel blockers (tetraethylammonium chloride, TEA, 10 mmol/L and 4-aminopyridine, 4-AP, 10 mmol/L) reduced the outward current to (23.4+/-0.72)% of the maximum. However, further addition of chloride channel blocker (5-nitro-2, 3-phenypropylamino benzoate, NPPB, 30 micromol/L) could almost completely block the outward current to (2.1+/-0.08)% of the maximum. In the presence of TEA and 4-AP, removal of extracellular Ca(2+) or adding verapamil (40 micromol/L), could also reduce the outward current to (2.2+/-0.04) % and (3.1+/-0.15) % of the maximum, respectively. It is concluded that calcium-dependent chloride channels exist in plasma membrane of Bufo bufo gargarizans oocytes, besides potassium channels.

The effect of hypoxia-early reoxygenation on persistent sodium current in single ventricular myocytes of guinea pig / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effect of hypoxia/early reoxygenation on persistent sodium current (I(Na.P)) in single ventricular myocytes of guinea pig and discuss its role and significance during this pathological condition.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The whole cell patch clamp technology was used to record this current and study its change under the condition of hypoxia/reoxygenation model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) With 0.5 Hz, 1 Hz and 2 Hz pulse frequency, the current density gap between the first and the eighth pulse of I(Na.P) was (0.021 +/- 0.014) pA/ pF, (0.097 +/- 0.014) pA/pF and (0.133 +/- 0.024) pA/pF (P < 0.01) respectively. (2) Depolarization with membrane holding potential of -150 - -80 mV respectively, I(Na.P) density attenuated gradually. (3) The amplitude of I(Na.P) was increased consistently with the prolongation of hypoxia time during hypoxia. (4) I(Na.P) was (0.500 +/- 0.125) pA/pF, (1.294 +/- 0.321) pA/pF and (0.988 +/- 0.189) pA/pF (P < 0.01, vs normoxia, respectively) during normoxia, hypoxia after 15 min and reoxygenation after 5 min, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results indicate that I(Na.P) has great significance in arrhythmogenesis and calcium-overload, which causes the following postischemia and post hypoxia myocardial damage.</p>

Nitric oxide increases persistent sodium current of ventricular myocytes in guinea pig during normoxia and hypoxia / 生理学报

Whole cell patch-clamp technique was used to record the changes of persistent sodium current (I(Na.P)) and the effect of administered agents in ventricular myocytes of guinea pig to investigate the essence of I(Na.P) and mechanism of increased I(Na.P) of ventricular myocytes during hypoxia. The results showed: (1) Pro-NO L-arginine(L-Arg) and donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) increased I(Na.P) in a concentration-dependent manner in normoxia. (2) I(Na.P) increased gradually with the prolongation of hypoxia time. After 15 min of hypoxia, administration of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a NO synthase inhibitor, could not significantly recover the increased I(Na.P) [(1.344+/-0.320) vs (1.301+/-0.317) pA/pF, P>0.05, n=5]; (3) During hypoxia the perfusion solution with L-NAME decreased the increased I(Na.P), and the difference was significant compared with pure hypoxia [(0.914+/-0.263), n=5 vs (1.344+/-0.320) pA/pF, P<0.05, n=6], whereas the amplitude of I(Na.P) was still larger than that in normoxia [(0.914+/-0.263) vs (0.497+/-0.149) pA/pF, P<0.05, n=5]; (4) Reducing agent dithiothreitiol (DTT) not only recovered the increased I(Na.P) by L-Arg and administered SNP after hypoxia [(1.449+/-0.522) vs (0.414+/-0.067) pA/pF, P<0.01, n=6, and (1.786+/-0.636) vs (0.436+/-0.141) pA/pF, P<0.01, n=5, respectively], but also decreased the I(Na.P) in normoxia [(0.442+/-0.056) vs (0.396+/-0.057) pA/pF, P<0.01, n=6]. Our results suggest that hypoxia increases I(Na.P) of ventricular myocytes, which is induced by raised NO oxidating sodium channel protein in myocardial membrane during hypoxia. The activity of I(Na.P) in normoxia is related to the oxidation state of the channel protein.