Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Modulation of the L-type calcium channel by catecholamines improves action potential parameters in single ventricular myocytes depolarized by high [K+]o Tyrode. Whether this modulation is important in offsetting the negative effects of hyperkalaemia in the whole heart is not known. We tested the effects of the calcium channel antagonist, verapamil, on restoration of cardiac performance by adrenergic stimulation in high [K+]o in anaesthetized rabbits and isolated perfused working rabbit hearts. Raised [K+]o decreased SBP, LVP and LVdP/dtmax in vivo ([K+]a 8.6 +/- 0.2 mM; n = 10) and aortic flow (AF) in the isolated heart (8 mM [K+]o Tyrode; n = 25). However, the negative effects of raised [K+]a were offset by isoprenaline (Iso, 1 microgram kg-1 min-1 i.v.) in vivo and by noradrenaline (NA, 80 nM) in the isolated heart. Verapamil (0.15 mg kg-1 i.v.; 15 nM isolated heart) markedly potentiated the negative inotropic effects of raised [K+]o in both preparations. Verapamil attenuated the effect of isoprenaline in vivo but in the isolated heart, the protective effect of NA in 8 mM [K+] Tyrode (AF 97 +/- 10 mL min-1 in 8 mM [K+]o compared with AF 141 +/- 8.5 mL min-1 in 8 mM [K+]o + NA) was offset by the drug (90 +/- 8 mL min-1 in 8 mM [K+]o + NA + V). Furthermore, verapamil abolished aortic flow in 8 mM [K+]o alone. These findings suggest that the heart may be critically dependent on modulation of intracellular calcium in order to tolerate concentrations of K+ similar to those seen during a short burst of intensive exercise ([K+]a 8.6 mM).

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/j.1748-1716.1995.tb09920.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Acta Physiol Scand

Publication Date

07/1995

Volume

154

Pages

367 - 376

Keywords

Action Potentials, Animals, Blood Gas Analysis, Cardiotonic Agents, Female, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Hyperkalemia, In Vitro Techniques, Isoproterenol, Male, Myocardial Contraction, Potassium, Rabbits, Stimulation, Chemical, Sympathetic Nervous System, Verapamil