AJP - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, Vol 259, Issue 6 1842-H1850, Copyright © 1990 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Effects of extracellular Mg2+ on T- and L-type Ca2+ currents in single atrial myocytes

J. Y. Wu and S. L. Lipsius
Department of Physiology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, Illinois 60153.

Whole cell voltage-clamp techniques were used to study the effects of extracellular Mg2+ on T- and L-type Ca2+ currents recorded from single atrial myocytes from cat heart. T and L currents were distinguished primarily by their voltage dependence. With 5.4 mM Ca2+ as charge carrier, maximal T- and L-current densities were 1.0 +/- 0.06 and 9.7 +/- 0.4 pA/pF, respectively. Nickel (Ni2+, 50 microM) inhibited maximal T current (-65.6 +/- 5.9%) more than L current (-15.7 +/- 2.4%), and 10 microM cadmium (Cd2+) inhibited L current (-65.5 +/- 5.9%) without significant effect on T current (-8.7 +/- 8.1%). Mg2+ elicited a dose-dependent inhibition of both T and L currents. Mg2+ less than 8.4 mM inhibited T current more than L current. At Mg2+ greater than or equal to 8.4 mM, T-current inhibition reach a plateau at approximately 52%, whereas L current was further inhibited (-65%) at 16.8 mM Mg2+. Mg2+ elicited a dose-dependent positive shift in half-maximal voltages of activation and inactivation for both T and L currents. Mg2(+)-induced inhibition of both T and L currents was greater in lower (2.7 mM) external Ca2+. Finally, 4.2 mM Mg2+ and 50 microM Ni2+ elicited a similar decrease in the late diastolic slope of subsidiary pacemaker action potentials, whereas 10 microM Cd2+ markedly inhibited action potential amplitude.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Perez-Reyes Molecular Physiology of Low-Voltage-Activated T-type Calcium Channels Physiol Rev, January 1, 2003; 83(1): 117 - 161. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Carmeliet Cardiac Ionic Currents and Acute Ischemia: From Channels to Arrhythmias Physiol Rev, July 1, 1999; 79(3): 917 - 1017. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. E. Howlett, J.-Q. Zhu, and G. R. Ferrier Contribution of a voltage-sensitive calcium release mechanism to contraction in cardiac ventricular myocytes Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, January 1, 1998; 274(1): H155 - H170. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]