Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

Electrocardiogram Recordings in Anesthetized Mice using Lead II
Published on: June 20, 2020
Knock-out of the potassium channel TASK-1 leads to a prolonged QT interval and a disturbed QRS complex
Niels Decher1, Konstantin Wemhöner, Susanne Rinné
1Institut für Physiologie, Vegetative Physiologie, Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany. decher@staff.uni-marburg.de
Background/Aims:
The aim of the study was to characterize the whole cell current of the two-pore domain potassium channel TASK-1 (K2P3) in mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes (I(TASK-1)) and to analyze the cardiac phenotype of the TASK-1(-/-) mice.
Methods And Results:
We have quantified the ventricular I(TASK-1) current using the blocker A293 and TASK-1(-/-) mice. Surface electrocardiogram recordings of TASK-1(-/-) mice showed a prolonged QTc interval and a broadened QRS complex. The differences in electrocardiograms between wild type and TASK-1(-/-) mice disappeared during sympathetic stimulation of the animals. Quantitative RT-PCR, patch clamp recordings and measurements of hemodynamic performance of TASK-1(-/-) mice revealed no major compensatory changes in ion channel transcription. Action potential recordings of TASK-1(-/-) mouse cardiomyocytes indicated that I(TASK-1) modulates action potential duration. Our in vivo electrophysiological studies showed that isoflurane, which activates TASK-1, slowed heart rate and atrioventricular conduction of wild-type but not of TASK-1(-/-) mice.
Conclusion:
The results of an invasive electrophysiological catheter protocol in combination with the observed QRS time prolongation in the surface electrocardiogram point towards a regulatory role of TASK-1 in the cardiac conduction system.
Related Concept Videos
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers
Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...
Cardiac Action Potential
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
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels
Sensory organs,...

