Pharmacological analysis of voltage-dependent potassium currents in cultured skeletal myocytes of the frog Rana temporaria.

Previously, the existence of nine types of outward potassium current (IK) was shown. The whole family of IK may be divided into two groups: fast transient currents (f) with time to peak less than 70 ms (at test potential near 0 mV), and slow (s) components (Lukyanenko et al. 1993). The latter were completely blocked by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and the former were more sensitive to TEA than slow IK. In the present study we analyzed the effects of calcium blockers on different types of IK using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. One to seven-day-old myocytes without slow calcium current and without contact with nerve cells were examined. Extracellullar application of 40-80 mumol/l dihydropyridine (DHP) antagonist nifedipine did not change maximal conductance of K-channels, but induced a parallel shift by 5-10 mV of chord conductance curve along the voltage axis in the direction of more negative potentials. Quinidine in concentrations 30-200 mumol/l caused a reversible block of the fast and the slow IK (C0.5 = 75 mumol/l), and enhanced the current decay (2-3-fold at 150 mumol/l). Verapamil (VP) in concentrations 100-700 mumol/l reduced IK with dose-dependent effect (C0.5 = 200 mumol/l) and changed its kinetic properties. VP 100 mumol/l caused a complete irreversible block of the slow IK. VP reduced the time inactivation constant of fast IK with a dose-dependent effect (8-10-fold at 300 mumol/l), and this effect was stronger during depolarizing pulses. The latter points to the possibility that the fast K-channels preferentially bind VP in open state. An analysis of the effects suggests that K-channels of the frog myocytes could be divided into 2 groups: 1) K-channels which irreversibly blocked by VP and 4-AP (slow), and 2) those reversibly inhibited by VP and 4-AP (fast potassium channels).