Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Delayed rectifier outward current and repolarization in human atrial myocytes

Z Wang1, B Fermini, S Nattel

  • 1Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute, Quebec, Canada.

Circulation Research
|August 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

The delayed rectifier current (IK) is present in most human atrial cells and significantly impacts their electrical activity and action potential shape. This challenges previous assumptions that the transient outward current (Ito) is the primary repolarizing current.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Ectopic expression of S28A-mutated Histone H3 modulates longevity, stress resistance and cardiac function in Drosophila.

Scientific reports·2018
Same author

The human ether-a'-go-go related gene (hERG) K+ channel blockade by the investigative selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor CONA-437: limited dependence on S6 aromatic residues.

Journal of physiology and pharmacology : an official journal of the Polish Physiological Society·2014
Same author

Minimum Information about a Cardiac Electrophysiology Experiment (MICEE): standardised reporting for model reproducibility, interoperability, and data sharing.

Progress in biophysics and molecular biology·2011
Same author

The Treatment of PVCs and Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death: New findings from the CAST study.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2011
Same author

Atrial tachycardia induces remodelling of muscarinic receptors and their coupled potassium currents in canine left atrial and pulmonary vein cardiomyocytes.

British journal of pharmacology·2007
Same author

Beta-blockers as antiarrhythmic agents.

Handbook of experimental pharmacology·2006

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Ion Channel Research

Background:

  • Previous research identified the transient outward current (Ito) as the primary repolarizing current in human atria.
  • However, interventions affecting the delayed rectifier current (IK) influence human atrial electrophysiology and arrhythmias, suggesting a potential role for IK.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and functional significance of the delayed rectifier current (IK) in human atrial myocytes.
  • To explore the contribution of IK to action potential repolarization and its variability.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-cell patch-clamp technique applied to isolated human atrial myocytes.
  • Recording of action potentials and ionic currents.
  • Analysis of current kinetics, voltage dependence, and reversal potentials.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • A delayed outward current (IK) was detected in the majority of human atrial myocytes.
  • IK exhibited characteristics consistent with delayed rectifier currents in other cardiac tissues.
  • Three distinct cell types were identified based on the relative magnitudes of Ito and IK, correlating with differences in action potential morphology.

Conclusions:

  • The delayed rectifier current (IK) is present in a significant proportion of human atrial myocytes.
  • IK plays a crucial role in atrial myocyte repolarization.
  • Variability in human atrial action potential morphology may be attributed to differing contributions of Ito and IK.