Selectivity of felodipine for depolarized ventricular myocytes: a study at the single-cell level

We studied the effects of felodipine (a second-generation dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel blocker) on excitation-contraction coupling (E-C coupling) in single isolated guinea-pig ventricular myocytes, using the whole-cell perforated patch-clamp technique or the Ca indicator, indo-1. Felodipine inhibited both L-type Ca2+ channel currents (ICa) and cell contractions in a concentration-dependent manner (10 pM to 100 nM) when we used a holding potential of -80 mV or -40 mV. The potency of felodipine was sharply dependent on a holding potential. Namely, use of a more depolarized holding potential markedly increased the potency of felodipine for inhibition of ICa and cell contraction. Next we current-clamped cells and obtained the resting membrane potential of -82 +/- 8 mV. When cells were current-injected at 0.1 Hz, exposure to 10 nM felodipine slightly but significantly diminished the amplitude of cell contractions (7.2 +/- 1.6 to 6.7 +/- 1.7 microns, P < 0.05) within 10 min. When cells were field stimulated, exposure of cells to 10 nM felodipine also slightly diminished the amplitude of cell shortening (5.1 +/- 2.0 to 4.6 +/- 1.9 microns, P < 0.05) and [Ca2+]i transients. We observed clear voltage-dependent blockade of E-C coupling by felodipine in ventricular myocytes. Thus, therapeutic concentrations (1-10 nM) of felodipine could inhibit E-C coupling in depolarized ventricular myocytes, which might simulate an ischemic or failing heart.