Mechanisms of beta-adrenoceptor mediated increase in delayed rectifier potassium current

Experiments were carried out in single ventricular cells of the guinea-pig heart. Isoproterenol, forskolin, intracellularly applied cyclic AMP and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine increased the delayed rectifier potassium current (IK). The effect of isoproterenol was abolished by intracellularly applied guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio-triphosphate). These results indicate that isoproterenol stimulates beta-adrenoceptors to activate adenylate cyclase by mediation through the stimulatory GTP-binding protein, and causes an increase in intracellular cyclic AMP levels. Then IK is probably increased by phosphorylation of the IK-channel protein by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.