Effects of pantethine on action potential of canine papillary muscle during hypoxic perfusion

Pantethine, which is known to be converted to coenzyme A, has been reported to have antiarrhythmic action on experimental cardiac arrhythmias. Using standard microelectrode techniques, the electrophysiological effects of pantethine under hypoxic (95% N2 + 5% CO2) perfusion were studied. Hypoxia decreased resting membrane potential, action potential amplitude and maximum velocity of phase 0 and shortened action potential duration and effective refractory period. Application of pantethine 5 X 10(-3) Gm/ml under hypoxic perfusion prolonged action potential duration and effective refractory period significantly. Prolongation of action potential duration by pantethine might be caused by an increase in intracellular ATP. The findings in this study could be an explanation of the possible antiarrhythmic effects of pantethine.