Effects of glycyrrhetinic acid on sodium ion channel currents of rats' ventricular myocardial cells / 中国中西医结合杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) on the sodium ion channel currents (I(Na)) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells, and to explore its anti-arrhythmic mechanisms at the ion channel level.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Single ventricular myocardial cells was isolated from SD rats. The whole cell patch clamp was used to record the effects of GA on I(Na) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>GA could inhibit I(Na) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells dose-dependently. GA at 1, 5, and 10 micromol/L decreased I(Na) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells from (-4.26 +/- 0.15) nA to (-3.54 +/- 0.10) nA, (-2.19 +/- 0.09) nA, and (-1.25 +/- 0.08) nA, respectively. GA at 1, 5, and 10 micromol/L inhibited I(Na) by 16.08% +/- 2.3%, 50.82% +/- 3.56%, and 75.98% +/- 5.12%, showing statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). GA at 10 micromol/L shifted I(Na) current-voltage curve more positively, but the activation potential and the peak potential were not changed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GA inhibited the I(Na) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells dose-dependently, which was possibly associated with its antiarrhythmia effects.</p>