Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
Ambulatory ECG Recording in Mice
Published on: May 27, 2010
[The effects of urea on ECG and the sodium currents of ventricular myocyte in mice]
Xue-xin Zhang1, Shu-gang Xi, Chun-yan Zhao
1Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
Aim:
To observe the effects of urea on ECG and sodium currents of ventricular myocyte in mice.
Methods:
ECG and patch clamp techniques were used in the experiments, to record ECG of mice and sodium currents of ventricular myocyte in mice.
Results:
Urea could lead mice heart rate evidently slow down (P < 0.01) with concentration dependent. The heart rate were (556 +/- 29, 469 +/- 37, 378 +/- 48) b minT in low, middle, high groups respectively before using urea and (612 +/- 27, 615 +/- 23, 619 +/- 26) x min(-1) after. The conduction block arrhythmia was happened in middle and high groups. The sodium currents of ventricular myocyte in mice was inhibited by urea(P < 0.05). The sodium currents amplitude value were reduced to (7.32 +/- 0.68, 5.69 +/- 0.64, 4.58 +/- 0.57) nA after using urea in each group and were (8.76 +/- 0.91, 8.87 +/- 1.01, 8.77 +/- 0.96) nA before, submit concentration dependent.
Conclusion:
Urea can inhibit the sodium currents of ventricular myocyte in mice to make it happen conduction block arrhythmia.
Insights
Urea significantly slows heart rate and causes conduction block arrhythmia in mice by inhibiting ventricular myocyte sodium currents in a concentration-dependent manner.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Electrophysiology
- Pharmacology
Context:
- Urea is a metabolic byproduct with known physiological effects.
- Cardiac function relies on precise electrical signaling, particularly sodium ion channels.
- Understanding urea's impact on cardiac electrophysiology is crucial for assessing its potential toxicity.
Purpose:
- To investigate the electrophysiological effects of urea on mouse ventricular myocytes.
- To determine urea's influence on electrocardiograms (ECG) and cardiac sodium currents.
Summary:
- Experiments utilized ECG and patch-clamp techniques in mice.
- Urea demonstrated a concentration-dependent reduction in heart rate and inhibition of sodium currents in ventricular myocytes.
- Conduction block arrhythmia was observed at higher urea concentrations.
Impact:
- Urea's inhibition of sodium currents can lead to significant cardiac electrophysiological disturbances.
- Findings highlight a potential mechanism for urea-induced cardiotoxicity.
- This research provides insights into the arrhythmogenic potential of urea.
