Electrophysiological effects of low pH in human atrial fibres

In the studies of the electrophysiological properties of human atrial fibres obtained at cardiac surgery, it has often been reported that the diastolic potential, the maximum upstroke velocity of the phase 0 depolarization (Vmax) and the amplitude of action potential are relatively low. The same findings were also obtained in our previous study when the tissue preparations were perfused with a Tyrode solution which, as usually described in literatures on cardiac cell studies had a NaHCO3 concentration of 12 mM and was aerated with a gas mixture of 95% O2-5% CO2 at 37 degrees C. Recently we found that the relatively poor electrical activities of the human atrial fibres were related to the low pH value (around 7.06) of the perfusate used. Raising the pH value of the perfusate either by increasing the NaHCO3 concentration or by reducing the CO2 in the bubbling gas mixture significantly improved the electrical activities of the fibres. There is evidence that the suppressive effect of low pH on the electrical activities is due to the hindering action of H+ on the transportation of other cations across the plasma membrane.