Effects of tocainide and lidocaine on the transmembrane action potentials as related to external potassium and calcium concentrations in guinea-pig papillary muscles.

Effects of lidocaine and tocainide on transmembrane potentials were studied in isolated guinea-pig papillary muscles, superfused with modified Tyrode's solution containing either 5.4, 2.7, 10.0 or 8.1 mmol/l potassium concentration, [K]0. The last solution applied contained either 1.8 (normal [Ca]0) or 7.2 mmol/l [Ca]0 (high [Ca]0. The concentrations of lidocaine and tocainide used were 18.5, 36.9 and 73.9 mumol/l and 43.7, 87.5 and 174.9 mumol/l in 5.4 mmol/l [K]0 solution and 36.9 and 87.5 mumol/l in the other solutions, respectively. At the driving rate of 1 Hz in 5.4 mmol/l "K]0 solution, both drugs produced dose-dependently a reduction of maximum rate of rise of action potential (Vmax), together with a prolongation of the relative refractory period. Vmax decreased progressively as the driving rate was increased from 1 Hz (for lidocaine) and from 0.25 Hz (for tocainide) to 5 Hz. This action was accentuated dose-dependently. A slow component (time constant tau = 232 ms for lidocaine, 281--303 ms for tocainide) and slower component (tau = 2.1--3.8 s for tocainide) of the recovery (reactivation) of Vmax were observed in premature responses at 0.25 Hz and in the first response after interruption of the basic driving rate at 1 Hz. All these effects were accentuated with rising [K]0 and attenuated in the high [Ca]0 solution. Both drugs abbreviated the action potential duration at 50% (APD50) and 90% (APD90) levels at 5.4, 8.1 and 10.0 mmol/l [K]0 but not at 2.7 mmol/l [K]0 nor a high [Ca]0 at 1 Hz. These [K]0-dependent effects of lidocaine on Vmax were successfully simulated by the model proposed by Hondeghem and Katzung (1977), with a slight change in parameter values. The mode of interaction of lidocaine with sodium channels in the open, closed and rested states was deduced from these results.