Influence of local intracellular pH changes on pH and action potentials in adjacent parts of cardiac Purkinje fibers.

Isolated sheep cardiac Purkinje fibers were pulled through a latex membrane and both segments were independently superfused with modified Tyrode solutions. Transmembrane potentials and intracellular pH (pHi) were continuously measured in one segment (test compartment, TC), using double-barreled pH sensitive glass microelectrodes, while the internal H+ activity was altered in the adjacent part of the fiber (experimental compartment, EC). In the latter local pHi changes were produced by removal of CO2/HCO3-, by superfusing acidic (pH 6.8) solution, and by addition and subsequent withdrawal of NH4Cl. Withdrawal of CO2/HCO3- in EC was found to have no influence on pHi in TC at 0.35 to 1.0 mm distance. The action potential first shortened and later on prolonged above control duration after switching to HCO3- -free medium. Perfusing EC with an acidic solution had virtually no effect on pHi in TC while action potential duration (APD) increased. Addition and withdrawal of NH4+ in EC decreased, respectively increased, APD. In TC no change in pHi was observed at 0.8 to 1.0 mm distance. At shorter distance a slow acidification was seen, associated with the presence of NH4+ in EC. The presence of amiloride, a blocker of the pHi regulating mechanism, could not unmask a larger pHi change. It is concluded that, in cardiac muscle, large gradients of pHi are possible over a relatively short distance, while electrotonic interaction can produce changes in the time course of the action potential in neighbouring cells having a normal intracellular pH.