Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
09:37
Permanent Ligation of the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery in Mice: A Model of Post-myocardial Infarction Remodelling and Heart Failure
Published on: December 2, 2014
K(ATP) channel current increases in postinfarction remodeled cardiomyocytes
R Surber1, C Bollensdorff, S Betge
1Department Internal Medicine I, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, 07740, Jena, Germany.
Pflugers Archiv : European Journal of Physiology
|March 7, 2006
Summary
Adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP) channels) in remodeled heart cells show decreased ATP sensitivity after myocardial infarction. This adaptation may improve tolerance to ischemia by stabilizing cell membranes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Cellular Electrophysiology
- Molecular Cardiology
Background:
- Adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP) channels) link cellular metabolism to electrophysiological properties.
- Understanding K(ATP) channel function in remodeled myocardium is crucial for cardiovascular disease research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate K(ATP) channel characteristics in normal and remodeled rat cardiomyocytes following myocardial infarction.
- To determine how K(ATP) channel function is altered in hypertrophied myocytes.
Main Methods:
- Patch-clamp technique (whole-cell and inside-out configurations) was used to measure K(ATP) channel currents.
- Myocardial infarction was induced in rats, and remodeled myocytes were isolated 3 months post-infarction.
- Kir6.2 protein levels and ATP sensitivity of K(ATP) channels were assessed.
Main Results:
- Remodeled myocytes exhibited significantly lower ATP sensitivity of K(ATP) channels compared to control cells.
- Maximum K(ATP) current density increased in small remodeled myocytes but remained unchanged in large ones.
- Kir6.2 protein levels were similar between control and remodeled hearts.
Conclusions:
- Remodeled cardiomyocytes demonstrate altered K(ATP) channel function, characterized by reduced ATP sensitivity.
- These functional changes suggest an enhanced tolerance to ischemic conditions in remodeled heart cells.
- Stabilization of resting potential and decreased excitability may contribute to improved ischemia tolerance.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Pathophysiology of Cardiac Performance
Typical heart performance is influenced by heart rate, rhythm, myocardial contraction, and metabolism or blood flow. The cardiac muscle exhibits distinct electrophysiological features, including pacemaker activity and calcium channel control, which play a vital role in the heart's response to various drugs. The autonomic nervous system, comprising the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches, regulates heart rate. Sympathetic activation increases heart rate, while parasympathetic activation...
01:30Cardiac Action Potential
Cardiac action potentials are essential for proper heart function, enabling the rhythmic contractions needed for adequate blood circulation. Nodal cells and Purkinje fibers, specialized for electrical conduction, generate these action potentials.
The cardiac action potential process involves a series of phases characterized by the movement of ions across the cardiac cell membranes, leading to the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac myocytes.
Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials
The cardiac action potential process involves a series of phases characterized by the movement of ions across the cardiac cell membranes, leading to the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac myocytes.
Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials