Dose-dependent electrophysiological effects of the myosin activator omecamtiv mecarbil in canine ventricular cardiomyocytes.

Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) is a myosin activator agent recently developed for treatment of heart failure. Although its action on extending systolic ejection time and increasing left ventricular ejection fraction is well documented, no data is available regarding its possible side-effects on cardiac ion channels. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effects of OM on action potential morphology and the underlying ion currents in isolated canine ventricular myocytes using sharp microelectrodes, conventional patch clamp, and action potential voltage clamp techniques. OM displayed a concentration-dependent action on action potential configuration: 1 µM OM had no effect, while action potential duration and phase-1 repolarization were reduced and the plateau potential was depressed progressively at higher concentrations (10 - 100 µM; P < 0.05 compared to control). Accordingly, OM (10 µM) decreased the density of the transient outward K+ current (Ito), the L-type Ca2+ current (ICa) and the rapid delayed rectifier K+ current (IKr), but failed to modify the inward rectifier K+ current (IK1). It is concluded, that although the therapeutic concentrations of OM are not likely to influence cardiac ion currents significantly, alterations of the major cardiac ion currents can be anticipated at concentrations above those clinically tolerated.

Benthic microalgae community response to flooding in a tropical salt flat / Resposta da comunidade de microalgas bentônicas à inundação em uma planície hipersalina tropical

Abstract This research evaluated the effect of flooding on the microphytobenthos community structure in a microbial mat from a tropical salt flat. Field samples were collected during four consecutive days: on the first three days the salt flat was dry, on the fourth day it was flooded by rain. In order to evaluate the community maintained in flood conditions, samples from this area were collected and kept in the laboratory for 10 days with sea water. The results of total abundance of microphytobenthos varied from 4.2 × 108 to 2.9 × 109 organisms L–1, total density increased one order of magnitude under the effect of water for both situations of precipitation in the salt flat and in experimental conditions, an increase due to the high abundance of Microcoleus spp. Shannon index (H’) was higher during the desiccation period. Our data suggest that changes in the abundance of organisms were due to the effect of water. The dominance of the most abundant taxa remained the same under conditions of desiccation and influence of water, and there is probably a consortium of microorganisms in the microbial mat that helps to maintain these dominances.

Resumo Esse trabalho avaliou os efeitos da inundação na estrutura da comunidade microfitobentônica de um tapete microbiano em uma planície hipersalina tropical. As amostragens foram realizadas no campo durante quatro dias consecutivos: nos três primeiros dias o local estava seco e no quarto dia foi inundando com chuva. Para avaliar a comunidade mantida em condições de inundação, foram coletadas amostras dessa região, sendo mantidas em laboratório por 10 dias com água do mar. Os resultados mostraram que a abundância total do microfitobentos variou de 4.2 × 108 a 2.9 × 109 organismos L–1, a densidade aumentou em uma ordem de grandeza com a influência da água, tanto na planície hipersalina como nas condições experimentais, um aumento que foi devido às maiores abundâncias de Microcoleus spp. O índice de Shannon (H’) foi mais elevado durante o período de dessecação. Nossos dados sugerem que as mudanças na abundância dos organismos foram devidas ao efeito da água, a dominância dos táxons mais abundantes permaneceu a mesma durante as condições de dessecação e inundação, e possivelmente existe um consórcio entre os microrganismos do tapete microbiano no qual eles ajudam a manter essa dominância.

Benthic microalgae community response to flooding in a tropical salt flat.

This research evaluated the effect of flooding on the microphytobenthos community structure in a microbial mat from a tropical salt flat. Field samples were collected during four consecutive days: on the first three days the salt flat was dry, on the fourth day it was flooded by rain. In order to evaluate the community maintained in flood conditions, samples from this area were collected and kept in the laboratory for 10 days with sea water. The results of total abundance of microphytobenthos varied from 4.2 × 108 to 2.9 × 109 organisms L-1, total density increased one order of magnitude under the effect of water for both situations of precipitation in the salt flat and in experimental conditions, an increase due to the high abundance of Microcoleus spp. Shannon index (H') was higher during the desiccation period. Our data suggest that changes in the abundance of organisms were due to the effect of water. The dominance of the most abundant taxa remained the same under conditions of desiccation and influence of water, and there is probably a consortium of microorganisms in the microbial mat that helps to maintain these dominances.