Membrane actions of ethanol on rabbit sino-atrial node studied by voltage clamp method

Electrophysiological effects of ethanol on rabbit sino-atrial node were studied by means of the double-microelectrode voltage clamp method. In spontaneously beating preparations, ethanol (above 1%) decreased the maximum rate of depolarization of the action potential. Furthermore, 3% ethanol produced a significant decrease in the action potential amplitude, the action potential duration at 50% repolarization and the rate of the diastolic depolarization. Of the current systems, voltage clamp studies showed that ethanol reduced the slow inward current, the time-dependent potassium outward current and the hyperpolarization activated inward current. These observations indicate that ethanol does not have an effect on a single current system, but directly modifies the spontaneous discharge of sino-atrial node pacemaker cells due to a reduction of the time-dependent current systems.