5-Hydroxydecanoate inhibits ATP-sensitive K+ channel currents in guinea-pig single ventricular myocytes

We investigated the effect of 5-hydroxydecanoate, a novel antiarrhythmic agent, on the electrical activity of guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. The outward K+ current increased by lowering the intracellular ATP concentration (0.5 mM) was efficiently blocked by 5-hydroxydecanoate when recording in the whole cell configuration with the application of voltage ramps. The increase in the time-independent outward K+ current induced by reducing intracellular ATP to 0 mM was also blocked by 5-hydroxydecanoate (10 or 100 microM) and by tolbutamide (1 mM). Using the single channel recording technique, we found that 5-hydroxydecanoate blocked ATP-sensitive K+ channels when its channel open probability was increased by 1 mM ATP together with 1 mM ADP or by an intracellular pH of 6.6. These conditions are well documented to reflect metabolic changes in the early stages of myocardial ischemic attack. These results suggest that 5-hydroxydecanoate could inhibit ATP-sensitive K+ channels, resulting in an antiarrhythmic effect specifically on ischemic hearts.