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Ionic currents contributing to the action potential in single ventricular myocytes of the guinea pig studied with action potential clamp

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Abstract

With the action potential clamp procedure we studied the contribution of various ionic currents to the action potential in single ventricular myocytes. Action potentials were elicited by a current pulse through the suction pipette and recorded by a computer. A representative action potential was then repetitively replayed to the same cell under voltage-clamp conditions. Successive pharmacological blocks of ionic currents allowed for the first time the measurement of the contribution of the L-type calcium current (I Ca) and the [Ca2+]i-activated currents as well as the potassium current to the action potential. Experiments using caffeine as a tool to increase calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum supported the idea that I NaCa contributes to the plateau during the second half of the action potential and even lasts into diastole, whereas strong elevation of the intracellular [Ca]i during the action potential additionally activated the non-specific cation channel.

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  1. II. Physiologisches Institut, Universität des Saarlandes, D-6650, Homburg/Saar, Federal Republic of Germany

    T. Doerr, R. Denger, A. Doerr & W. Trautwein

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  1. T. Doerr
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  2. R. Denger
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  3. A. Doerr
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  4. W. Trautwein
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Doerr, T., Denger, R., Doerr, A. et al. Ionic currents contributing to the action potential in single ventricular myocytes of the guinea pig studied with action potential clamp. Pflügers Arch 416, 230–237 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392058

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392058

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