Delayed rectifier K+ current in rabbit atrial myocytes.

The role of delayed rectifier K+ current(s) (IK) in rabbit left atrium was examined by applying the whole cell voltage-clamp technique to isolated single myocytes. Right-triangular waveforms, which mimic the shape of atrial action potentials (APs), and selective blockers were used to compare the contribution of IK with other K+ currents to repolarization of the APs. IK measured at 34 degrees C in atrial myocytes was very small; the maximum peak amplitude of the tail current (IK,tail) at -40 mV was approximately 50 pA. The IK,tail was almost abolished in most cells (approximately 80%) by the application of 1 microM E-4031, a class III antiarrhythmic drug. The E-4031-sensitive current recorded with the triangular command wave-form showed strong inward rectification and had a maximum amplitude of approximately 30 pA at -40 mV. Total outward current elicited by triangular command pulses depended strongly on stimulation frequency. The main frequency-dependent component was a Ca(2+)-independent transient K+ current (I(t)). I(t) elicited by triangular pulses at 1 Hz was substantially reduced by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) at potentials positive to 0 mV but was not changed significantly by 1 microM E-4031; 100 microM E-4031 reduced I(t) by approximately 30%. The shape of the APs which were recorded from a single rabbit atrial cell strongly depended on the pulse frequency. Application of 1 microM E-4031 increased action potential duration (APD) in > 50% of cells examined but had little effect on the resting membrane potential (RMP). Application of 0.1 mM BaCl2 also lengthened APD and reduced RMP by approximately 20 mV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)