Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Current IK2 in Purkinje Fibres Reinterpreted and Identified with the Current IF in the SA Node

  • Chapter
Cardiac Rate and Rhythm

Part of the book series: Developments in Cardiovascular Medicine ((DICM,volume 17))

Abstract

It is well agreed that, because of the problems related to the multicellular nature of cardiac preparations — like voltage non-uniformities in space-clamped preparations — or because of technical limitations, interpretation of voltage-clamp results in cardiac muscle requires a particular caution (Johnson and Lieberman, 1971; McGuigan, 1974; Attwell and Cohen, 1977). Recently, the attention of cardiac electrophysiologists has been concentrating on yet another cause of distortion in the analysis performed under V-clamp conditions, which interferes with the study of current properties, i.e. the phenomenon of accumulation/depletion (Almers, 1972; Noble, 1976; Cohen et al., 1976; Baumgarten and Isenberg, 1977; DiFrancesco et al., 1979; Eisner et al., 1980). It now appears that the distortion induced by accumulation/depietion of potassium ions in close extracellular spaces in the description of any K-dependent current is far more drastic than any distortion induced by non-uniformities. Indeed, evidence given in this paper shows how the presence of strong K-depletion during hyperpolarizations can alter the analysis of the pacemaker current “iK2” so substantially as to make an inward current activating during a hyper polarization look like an outward current deactivating (DiFrancesco, 1981a).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Almers, W.: Potassium conductance changes in skeletal muscle and the potassium concentration in the transverse tubules. J. Physiol. (London), 225: 33–56, 1972.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Attwell, D. and Cohen, I.: The voltage clamp of multicellular preparations. Prog. Biophys. Mol. Biol., 31: 201–245, 1977.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Attwell, D., Eisner, D.A. and Cohen, I.: Voltage-clamp and tracer flux data: effects of a restricted extracellular space. Q. Rev. Biophys., 12: 213–261, 1980.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumgarten, C.M. and Isenberg, G.: Depletion and accumulation of potassium in the extracellular clefts of cardiac Purkinje fibres during voltage-clamp hyper polarization and depolarization. Pfluegers Arch., 368: 19–31, 1977.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, H.F. and DiFrancesco, D.: Voltage-clamp investigations of membrane currents underlying pacemaker activity in rabbit sino-atrial node. J. Physiol. (London), 308: 331–351, 1980.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, H.F., DiFrancesco, D. and Noble, S.J.: How does adrenaline accelerate the heart? Nature, 280: 235–236, 1979a.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, H.F., DiFrancesco, D. and Noble, S.J.: Cardiac pacemaker oscillation and its modulation by autonomic transmitters. J. Exp. Biol., 81: 175–204, 1979b.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, H.F., Kimura, J. and Noble, S.J.: The relative contribution of various time-dependent membrane currents to pacemaker activity in the sino-atrial node. This volume, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, I., Daut, J. and Noble, D.: The effect of potassium and temperature on the pacemaker current iK2 in Purkinje fibres. J. Physiol. (London), 260: 55–74, 1976.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DiFrancesco, D.: The pacemaker current “iK2” in Purkinje fibres is carried by sodium and potassium. J. Physiol. (London), 308: 32P, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • DiFrancesco, D.: A new interpretation of the pacemaker current iK2 in Purkinje fibres. J. Physiol. (London), 314: 359–376, 1981a.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DiFrancesco, D: A study of the ionic nature of the pacemaker current in Purkinje fibres. J. Physiol. (London), 314: 377–393, 1981b.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DiFrancesco, D. and McNaughton, P.A.: The effect of calcium on outward membrane currents in the cardiac Purkinje fibre. J. Physiol. (London), 289: 347–373, 1979.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DiFrancesco, D. and Noble D.: Reconstruction of Purkinje fibre currents in sodium-free solution. J. Physiol. (London), 308: 35P, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • DiFrancesco, D. and Noble, D.: Implications of the re-interpretation of iK2 for the modelling of the electrical activity of pacemaker tissues in the heart. This volume, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • DiFrancesco, D., Noma, A. and Trautwein, W.: Kinetics and magnitude of the time-dependent potassium current in the rabbit sino-atrial node. Pfluegers Arch., 381: 271–279, 1979.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DiFrancesco, D., Ohba, M. and Ojeda, C.: Measurement and significance of the reversal potential for the pacemaker current (iK2) in sheep Purkinje fibres. J. Physiol. (London), 297: 135–162, 1979.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DiFrancesco, D. and Ojeda, C.: Properties of the current if in the sino-atrial node of the rabbit: a comparison with the current iK2 in Purkinje fibres. J. Physiol. (London), 308: 353–367, 1980.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dudel, J. and Trautwein, W.: Der Mechanismus der automatischen rhythmische Impulsbildung der Herzmuskelfaser. Pfluegers Arch., 267: 553–565, 1958.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hagiwara, S., Miyazaki, S., Moody, W. and Patlak, J.: Blocking effects of barium and hydrogen ions on the potassium current during anomalous rectification in the starfish egg. J. Physiol. (London), 279: 167–185, 1978.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hauswirth, O., Noble, D. and Tsien, R.W.: Adrenaline: mechanism of action on the pacemaker potential in cardiac Purkinje fibres. Science, N.Y., 162: 916, 1968.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgkin, A.L. and Horowicz, P.: The influence of potassium and chloride ions on the membrane potentials of single muscle fibres. J. Physiol. (London), 148: 127–160, 1959.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Irisawa, H.: Comparative physiology of the cardiac pacemaker. Physiol. Rev., 58: 461–498, 1978.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Isenberg, G.: Cardiac Purkinje fibres: Caesium as a tool to block inward rectifying potassium currents. Pfluegers Arch., 365: 99–106, 1976.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, E.A. and Lieberman, M.: Heart: excitation and contraction. Ann. Rev. Physiol., 33: 479–532, 1971.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, B.: Les constantes electriques de la membrane du muscle. Archs. Sci. Physiol., 3: 285–300, 1949.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kline, R. and Morad, M.: Potassium efflux and accumulation in heart muscle. Evidence from K electrode experiments. Biophys. J., 16: 367–372, 1976.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maughan, D.N.: Some effect of prolonged depolarization on membrane currents in bullfrog atrial muscle. J. Memb. Biol., 11: 331–352, 1973.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McAllister, R.E. and Noble, D.: The time and voltage dependence of the slow outward current in cardiac Purkinje fibres. J. Physiol. (London), 186: 632–662, 1966.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McGuigan, J.A.S.: Some limitations of the double sucrose gap and its use in a study of the slow outward current in mammalian ventricular muscle. J. Physiol. (London), 240: 775–806, 1974.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Noble, D.: Electrical properties of cardiac muscle attributable to inward-going (anomalous) rectification. J. Cell. Comp. Physiol., 66: 127–136, 1965.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noble, D. and Tsien, R.W.: The kinetic and rectifier properties of the slow potassium current in cardiac Purkinje fibres. J. Physiol. (London), 195: 185–214, 1968.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Noble, D. and Tsien, R.W.: Outward membrane currents activated in the plateau range of potentials in cardiac Purkinje fibres. J. Physiol. (London), 200: 205–231, 1969.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Noble, S.J.: Potassium accumulation and depletion in frog atrial muscle. J. Physiol. (London), 258: 579–613, 1976.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Noma, A. and Irisawa, H.: Membrane currents in the rabbit sino-atrial node cell as studied by the double microelectrode method. Pfluegers Arch., 364: 45–52, 1976a.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Noma, A. and Irisawa, H.: A time- and voltage-dependent potassium current in the rabbit sino-atrial node cell. Pfluegers Arch., 366: 251–258, 1976b.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Noma, A., Yanagihara K., and Irisawa, H.: Inward current of the rabbit sino-atrial node cell. Pfluegers Arch., 372: 43–51, 1977.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peper, K. and Trautwein, W.: A note on the pacemaker current in Purkinje fibres. Pfluegers Arch., 309: 356–361, 1969.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Standen, N.B. and Stanfield, P.R.: A potential- and time-dependent blockade of inward rectification in frog skeletal muscle fibres by barium and strontium ions. J. Physiol. (London), 280: 169–181, 1978.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trautwein, W.: Membrane currents in cardiac muscle fibres. Physiol. Rev., 53: 793–835, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vassalle, M.: Analysis of cardiac pacemaker potential using a voltage-clamp technique. Am. J. Physiol., 210: 1335–1341, 1966.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weidmann, S.: Effect of the current flow on the membrane potential of cardiac muscle. J. Physiol. (London), 115: 227–236, 1951.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weidmann, S.: Shortening of the cardiac action potential due to a brief injection of KC1 following the onset of activity. J. Physiol. (London), 132: 157–163, 1956.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yanagihara, K. and Irisawa, H.: Inward current activated during hyperpolarization in the rabbit sino-atrial node cell. Pfluegers Arch., 385: 11–19, 1980.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Dario DiFrancesco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Lennart N. Bouman  & Habo J. Jongsma  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1982 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers by, The Hague

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

DiFrancesco, D. (1982). The Current IK2 in Purkinje Fibres Reinterpreted and Identified with the Current IF in the SA Node. In: Bouman, L.N., Jongsma, H.J. (eds) Cardiac Rate and Rhythm. Developments in Cardiovascular Medicine, vol 17. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7535-4_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7535-4_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-7537-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-7535-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation