Antioxidant Effect of Human Selenium-containing Single-chain Fv in Rat Cardiac Myocytes

Reactive oxygen species（ROS） plays a key role in human heart diseases. Glutathione peroxidase（GPX） functions as an antioxidant as it catalyzes the reduction of hydroperoxide. In order to investigate the antioxidant effect of human selenium-containing single-chain Fv（Se-scFv-B3）, a new mimic of GPX, a model system of hydrogen peroxide（H202）-induced rat cardiac myocyte damage was established. The cardiac myocyte damage was characte- rized in terms of cell viability, lipid peroxidation, cell membrane integrity, and intracellular H202 level. The Se-scFv-B3 significantly reduced H2O2-induced cell damage as shown by the increase of cell viability, the decline of malondialdehyde（MDA） production, lactate dehydrogenase（LDH） release, and intracellular H2O2 level. So Se-scFv-B3 may have a great potential in the treatment of human heart diseases induced by ROS.

Protective function of tocilizumab in human cardiac myocytes ischemia reperfusion injury

Objective:To investigate the protective function of tocilizumab in human cardiac myocytes ischemia-reperfusion injury.Methods:The human cardiac myocytes were treated by tocilizumab with different concentrations(1.0 mg/mL,3.0 mg/mL,5.0 mg/mL) for 24 h.then cells were cultured in ischemia environment for 24 h and reperfusion environment for 1 h.The MTT and flow cytometry were used to detect the proliferation and apoptosis of human cardiac myocytes,respectively.The mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were measured by qRT-PCR and western blot,respectively.Results:Compared to the negative group,pretreated by tocilizumab could significantly enhance the proliferation viability and suppress apoptosis of human cardiac myocytes after suffering ischemia reperfusion injury(P<0.05).The expression of Bcl-2 in tocilizumab treated group were higher than NC group(P<0.05).while the Bax expression were lower(P<0.05).Conclusions:Tocilizumab could significantly inhibit apoptosis and keep the proliferation viability of human cardiac myocytes after suffering ischemia reperfusion injury.Tocilizumab may obtain a widely application in the protection of ischemia reperfusion injury.

Characterization and Differentiation into Adipocytes and Myocytes of Porcine Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （BMSCs） could differentiate into various cell types including adipocytes and myocytes, which had important scientific significance not only in the field of tissue regeneration, but also in the field of agricultural science. In an attempt to exhibit the characterization and differentiation into adipocytes and myocytes of porcine BMSCs, we isolated and purified porcine BMSCs by red blood cell lysis method and percoll gradient centrifugation. The purified cells presented a stretched fibroblast-like phenotype when adhered to the culture plate. The results of flow cytometry analysis and immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that the isolated cells were positive for mesenchymal surface markers CD29, CD44 and negative for hematopoietic markers CD45 and the adhesion molecules CD31. Cells were induced to differentiate into adipocytes with adipogenic medium containing insulin, dexamethasone, oleate and octanoate. Oil Red O staining demonstrated that the porcine BMSCs successfully differentiated to adipocytes. Moreover, the findings of real-time PCR and Western blotting indicated that the induced cells expressed adipogenic marker genes （PPAR-y, C/EBP-c~, perilipin, aP2） mRNA or proteins （PPAR-3,, perilipin, aP2）. On the other hand, porcine BMSCs were induced into myoctyes with myogenic medium supplemented with 5-azacytidine, basic fibroblast growth factor, chick embryo extract and horse serum. Morphological observation by hochest 33342 staining showed that the induced cells presented as multi-nucleus muscular tube structure. And myogenic marker genes （Myf5, desmin） mRNA or proteins （MyfS, MyoD, myogenin, desmin） were found in the induced cells. In addition, the results of immunofluorescence staining revealed that myogenic marker （Myf5, MyoD, myogenin, desmin, S-MyHC） proteins was positive in the induced cells. Above all, these results suggested that the isolated porcine BMSCs were not only consistent with the characterization of mesenchymal stem cells, but also exhibited the multipotential capacity to form adipocytes and myocytes, which provided the basis to investigate the regulation mechanism involved in the selective differentiation of porcine BMSCs.

STUDY ON MECHANICAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SINGLE CARDIAC MYOCYTE AND ELASTIC SUBSTRATE

Quantitative investigation on mechanical characteristics of cardiac myocytes has important physiological significance. Based on elastic substrate technique, this paper develops a set of algorithms for high-efficiency cellular traction recovery. By applying a gradient-based digital image correlation method to track randomly distributed fluorescence microbeads on the deformed substrate induced by single cardiac myocyte, high-resolution substrate displacement field can readily be obtained. By using a numerical algorithm based on the integral Boussinesq solution, cell-substrate tractions are reconstructed in a stable and reliable manner. Finally, spatiotemporal dynamics of a single cardiac myocyte is investigated as it adheres to a polyacrylamide elastic substrate.

Effect of Cholic Acid on Fetal Cardiac Myocytes in Intrahepatic Choliestasis of Pregnancy

This study examined the effect of cholic acid （CA） on cultured cardiac myoeytes （CMs） from neonatal rats with an attempt to explore the possible mechanism of sudden fetal death in intra- hepatic cholestasis of pregnancy （ICP）. Inverted microscopy was performed to detect the impact of CA on the beating rates of rat CMs. MTT method was used to study the effect of CA on the viability of CMs. CMs cultured in vitro were incubated with 10 ~maol/L Ca2＋-sensitive fluorescence indicator fluo-3/AM. The fluorescence signals of free calcium induced by CA were measured under a laser scanning confocal microscope. The results showed that CA decreased the beating rates of the CMs in a dose-dependent manner. CA could suppress the activities of CMs in a time- and dose-dependent manner. CA increased the concentration of intracellular free calcium in a dose-dependent manner. Our study suggested that CA could inhibit the activity of CMs by causing calcium overload, thereby leading to the sudden fetal death in ICP.

Antioxidant Effect of Selenium-containing Glutathione S-Transferase in Rat Cardiomyocytes

As one of the most important antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase（GPX） protects cells and tissues from oxidative damage, and plays an important role in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular injuries induced by oxida- tive stress. The antioxidant effect of selenium-containing glutathione S-transferase（Se-GST）, a mimic of GPX was investigated on rat cardiomyocytes. To explore the protection function of Se-GST in hydrogen peroxide（H202） chal- lenged rat cardiomyocytes, we examined malondialdehyde（MDA）, lactate dehydrogenase（LDH）, superoxide dismu- tase（SOD） and cell apoptosis. The results demonstrate exposure of rat cardiomyocytes to H202 for 6 and 12 h induced the significant increases of MDA, LDH and apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes, but pretreatment of rat cardiomyocytes with Se-GST at 0.0005 or 0.001 unit/mL prevents oxidative stress induced by H202 with the decreases of cell apopto- sis. All the results hint Se-GST has antioxidant activity for oxidative stress challenged rat cardiomyocvtes.

Voltage- and Use-dependent Effect of 7-chlor-benzylte-trahydropalmatine on Sodium Currents in Guinea Pig Ventricular Myocytes

The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was employed to obtain information about the voltage-dependence and kinetics of interaction of 7-chlor-benzylte-trahydropalmatine (7-Cl-BTHP) with cardiac sodium channels. 7-Cl-BTHP (30 mol/L) significantly decreased the peak sodium current (from 7. 8±1. 8 nA to 5. 3±1. 4 nA, P<0. 01, n=5), without producing a shift of the current-voltage curve. It shifted the inactivation curves of sodium current to hyperpolarized potentials, and the V(0.5) was shifted from - (82. 5±2. 5) mV to - (95±2.4) mV (P <0. 05, n=4). 7-Cl-BTHP produced a significant use-dependent effect that was proportional to the duration of the voltage step. In addition, 7-Cl-BTHP slowed the recovery of sodium channel from inactivation, which could explain its use-dependent effects on sodium current. The characteristics of 7-Cl-BTHP blockage suggest that this agent binds preferentially to inactivated sodium channels.

EFFECTS OF ADENOSINE IN SIMULATED ISCHEMIA ANDREPERFUSION ON ISOLATED GUINEA-PIG VENTRICULAR MYOCYTES

Objective To investigate the effects of adenosine （Ado） on myocardiac electrophysiology in simu- lated ischemla and reperfusion in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. Methods Electrical activity was recorded using standard intracellular microelectrode technique. Right ventricle was superfused with simulated ischemic Tyrode’s so- lution for 15 min, and reperfued with normal Tyrode’s solution for 30 min. Results The results showed Ado had no measurable effects on guinea-pig ventricular myocytes in normal Tyrode’s solution. In the presence of Ado, maximal diastolic potential tended to be more depolarized during ischemia, and action potential （AP） parameters were abbrevi- ated greatly in a concentration-dependent manner. Especially, the concentration of Ado 100 μmol·L-1 had significant effects on AP parameters in ischemic phase [APD30, APD50, and APD90 reduced by （86±8）% versus （65±6）%, （70 ±7）% versus （50±6）%, and （60±6）% versus （42±4）% for control after 15 min, P<0.O5]. During reperfu- sion, AP parameters did not completely return to initial values in presence of Ado. This study illustrated that Ado significantly decreased incidence of arrhythmias induced by ischemia and reperfusion (in presence of Ado 100 μmol· L-1, the incidence of DAD decreased by 17% versus 82% for control during reperfusion). Conclusion Ado has no significant effects on guinea-pig ventricle in normal conditions, abbreviates greatly AP parameters during ischemia with a concentration-dependent manner, and has marked antiarrhythmic effects in ischemia and reperfusion.

Effects ofβ_2-Adrenergic Antagonist on Cytosolic Ca^(2+) in Ventricular Myocytes from Infarcted Rat Heart

Objectives To investigate the effects of β2-adrenergic antagonist on cytosolic Ca^2 ＋ （[Ca^2＋ ]i） in ventricular myocytes from infarcted rat heart. Methods A ligature was placed around left anterior descending coronary artery of rat hearts. Rats in the control group were sham-operated. Cardiomyocytes were dissociated at two, four, eight weeks after myocardial infarction （MI） and [Ca^2＋]i was measured via fura-2 fluorescence. The response of cardiomyocytes to isoproterenol in presence or absence of betal-adrenergic antagonist atenolol, beta2-adrenergic antagonist ICI118, 551 or non-selective β1, 2- adrenergic antagonists propranolol was examined. Results The followings were found that ICI 118, 551 had no significant effects on the rise of [Ca^2＋]i induced by isoproterenol in normal ventricular myocytes （P 〉 0.05）, ICI118, 551 only significantly attenuated the rise of [Ca^2＋]i induced by isoproterenol at four weeks and eight weeks after MI （24.5%±5.7% vs 57.8% ± 13.2%, P〈 0.01; 12.2%±7.9% vs 44.6%±11.3%, P〈 0.01）. Atenolol had suppressive effects only in the control group and the post-MI group of two weeks （P 〈 0.05）, and propranolol had suppressive effects in the control and all the three post-MI groups （P 〈 0.01）. Conclusions Beta2-adrenergic antagonist ICI118, 551 may exert negative effects on Ca^2＋ overload initiated by sympathetic stimulation after MI.

HEART FAILURE MYOCYTE CONTRACTILE MECHANICS AND ITS CONTRACTILE PROTEIN GENE EXPRESSION

It is not certain whether the myocyte contractile function in the heartfailure is normal according to recent some studies,therefore the contractile functionof the myocytes with the heart failure should be studied. The myocyte heart failuremodel was set up by the method of stretching the cultured myocytes,and the myocytes with and without the heart failure were measured the contractile mechanicscharacteristic,the parameters being the maximal contractive velocity of the myocyte(Vmax), the maximal shortening length of myocyte contraction (ΔLmax) and themaximal decrease of the myocyte size during contraction (ΔSmax), by the videoedgedetector system. And then the protein genes (including α-MHC and β-MHC)expression of these myocytes were quantitatively measured by the dot blotting. Thecorrelative and regressive analysis were used to analyze the relationship between themyocyte contractile mechanics characteristic and the contractile protein genes expression level. The results showed that the contractile mechanics parameters,Vmax=41．5±6．0(μm/sec), △Lmax= 10．6±1．9 (% ) and △Smax= 14．3± 2．3 (% ), in themyocytes with the heart failure are statistically significant lower than the normalmyocytes (P<0．01), whose parameters are Vmax=67．9±6．7 (μm/sec), △Lmax=17．7±1．6 (% ) and △Smax=21．5±2．4 (%). The myocyte contractile protein gene (αMHC) expression level in the heart failure myocytes is statistically significant lowerthan that in the normal myocytes,but β-MHC gene expression level is statisticallysignificant higher than the normal myocytes. The α-MllC gene expression level is apositive correlation coefficient with the myocyte contractile mechanics parametersseparately,covering Vmax,△Lmax and △max; but the β- MHC gene expression levelis a negative correlation coefficietn with the myocyte contractile mechanics parameters separately.

The Effects of Na^+/Ca^(2+) exchange (NCX) on the Repolarization of Canine Ventricular Myocyte-Potential Arrhythmogenic Effect of NCX during a Mis-matched Repolarization and Relaxation Xiamen Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen University

Objective Background and Objects: Naturally occurring temporal variability of action potentialduration (APD) in isolated myocytes has been noted. Most of the studies have beenfocusing on analyzes of the differences in ionic channels and currents among theepicardial-, mid-myocardial-(M) and endocardial myocytes, and the rate-dependent (adaptation) characteristics of APD. We have found that the change in APD during achange in frequency of stimulation mostly reflects a change in rate of repolarization at distinct membrane potential levels. We assumed that in the myocytes, there is balancing mechanism, which is constantly adjusting the various ionic currents accommodating to the changing conditions. This intrinsic ability of adaptation is important and may offer some of the consequences of the transmural heterogeneity in adaptation of APD. This adaptive behaviors maybe equally important in maintaining the normal electrophysiological properties and in induction of arrhythmia in a case of error in normal adaptation. Though most studies of Na +/Ca 2+ exchange (NCX) has been emphasized on its reverse activaty during pathyological condition. Our hypothesis is that reverse activaty of NCX also plays an important role in adjusting the repolarization of AP during a physiological condition. A mismatch between action potential (AP) repolarization and relaxation of the contraction can be caused by intracellular Ca 2+ transport abnormalities. Ca 2+ influx via reverse activation of NCX can load the sarcoplasmic recticulum (SR), which has arrhythmogenic effect.Methods We studied the single myocytes from the left ventricle of adult mongrel dogs. During the cell separation, collagenase was perfused through LAD by Langandorff system. We use the patch-clamp system to determinded AP in current clamp mode. Myocyte contraction was imaged by a video camera, shortening of unloaded myocytes was detected by a video edge motion detector, using changes in light intensity at the edges of the myocyte. Results From 60 consecutive recorded APs at a constant 1.0 Hz stimulation under steady state conditions we found there is a variance in the repolarization between 10mV and-40mV. We also found the variance in the APD during the rate adaptation range of repolarization. Fluctuation in the transient may contribute to the APD variability. To test thishypothesis we block the transient by intracellular dialysis with 10 mM EGTA(n=19), this caused a significant reduction in the coefficient variability (CV=SD/mean APD%) from 2.3± 0.8 to 1.3± 0.3 P< 0.01. During a rate change of the stimulation from 0.6 Hz to 1.0 Hz. The AP duration increased from 278±8 msec to 320±9 msec, Mean+SD, n=5, 50 APs, P< 0.05. contraction is accompanied by an after-contraction(A-CON). The relaxation of contraction precedes the repolarization of the AP. We assumed that the enhancement of repolarization and the production of after-contraction can be possibly induced by reverse mode of NCX. Reducing [Na +] o by substitution of 40mM Na + with Li + favors NCX activating the reverse mode, which significantly decreased the dome of the AP from 4.8± 0.3 to -10.6± 1.2mV, P< 0.05, and increased the APD from 330±13 to 368±14 msec. P< 0.05.Conclusions Intracellular calcium transient most likely contributes to the beat-to-beat variance of action potential duration in canine ventricular myocyte. And it attributes to the voltage-dependent switch of NCX mode. Calcium concentration is high inmyocytes during the repolarization, and high intracellular Ca 2+ activates NCX in such a manner, that it generates an inward (positive, depolarizing) current. This current works against the repolarization, it is prolonging it, with other words it increases the duration of the action potential. The magnitude of calcium concentration during repolarization is very much dependent on calcium transport in the SR. The calcium transport in the SR is subject to adrenergic actions, and other physiologic and pathologic regulators. Under pathologic conditions

Effects of simvastatin on hypertrophy and PTEN expression of rat cardiac myocytes

目的将在心脏的 myocytes 在信号小径由浆液和在染色体十上删除的磷酸酶和 tensin 相当或相同的事物(PTEN ) 的角色导致了的有教养的老鼠的肥大上学习 simvastatin 的效果。方法有教养的新生的 Sprague-Dawley (SD ) 老鼠心脏的 myocytes 与 15% 胎儿的牛的浆液被对待，或没有 simvastatin 的浆液，或不同 consentrations。图象分析系统被用来测量心脏的 myocytes 表面区域。myocytes 的蛋白质合成被测量经由[3H ] 白氨酸加入方法。atrial natriuretic 的表示水平在 myocytes 的肽(ANP ) mRNA 与反向的抄写聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR ) 被决定。在心脏的 myocytes 的 PTEN 的 mRNA 和蛋白质表示层次分别地与 RT-PCR 和西方的污点被调查。在 24 个小时的结果，心脏的 myocytes 表面区域在 15% 浆液组是显著地更高的(1611.

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF CARDIAC MYOCYTE DEBONDING AND REORIENTATION DURING CYCLIC SUBSTRATE STRETCH EXPERIMENTS

The substrate stretch experiment, which is carried out on several kinds of adherent cells, is usually used to catch the physiological variation and morphological response to cyclic substrate deformation. In this paper, stretch loading was exerted on cardiac myocytes cultured on silica substrates using a custom-made substrate stretch device. The effect of stretch on the alignment orientation of cardiac myocytes was studied through morphocytological statistics. Under cyclic stretch stimulus, the long axes of cardiac myocytes oriented perpendicularly to the stretch direction for continuous stretch acting. However, the mechanism underlying these behaviors is not well understood from such in vitro tests. Finite element （FE） model was developed in the analysis to investigate these behaviors. Xu-Needleman formulation was used to define the interaction behavior for contact surfaces between cell and substrate. The role of cell viscoelasticity nature is studied in adherent cell debonding with the substrate and aligning perpendicular to the stretch direction during long time cyclic stretch stimulation. There were four different strain magnitudes considered in the simulation to find out the cell debonding affected by the cyclic strains. The potential role of cyclic strain frequency in regulating cell debonding and alignment was also studied using FE analysis.

Apigenin as a promising myocyte protectant against damage and degradation

Myocytes power the movement of all organs in the body.Damage to and degradation of myocytes causes hypokinesia and muscle-related degenerative diseases.Apigenin,a kind of flavone,is being used to treat many disorders.It exerts a host of different pharmacological activities,such as anti-inflammatory,anti-mutagenic,cardioprotective,and antioxidant effects.Accordingly,apigenin is considered a promising candidate for myocyte protection.In this review,we introduced the characteristics of apigenin.The means of apigenin protection of myocytes as well as the mechanism were summarized and discussed.The protective effects can be classified into proliferation-promoting,anti-inflammatory,atrophy-preventing,metabolism-increasing,and antioxidative effects.Additionally,we provided some outlook on the valuable applications of apigenin in sports medicine,which eagerly require further fundamental research.

Gene Product Expression of Cyclin D_2 and p16 During the Transition from Cardiac Myocyte Hyperplasia to Hypertrophy

The current study was to investigate mRNA expression of cyclin D 2 and p16 during the transition from cardiac myocyte hyperplasia to hypertrophy. Cultured cardiac myocytes (CM) and fibroblasts (FC) obtained from 1 day old Sparague Dawley rats were used in this study. We have determined (1) hyperplasia by cell growth curve and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS); and (2) ultrastructure by electron microscope observation; and (3) expressions of cyclin D 2 mRNA and p16 mRNA by using in situ hybridization and image analysis. The results were shown (1) Results of cell growth curve and FACS analysis showed CM could proliferate in the first 3 cultured days (4 days in postnatal development). But the ability decreased quickly, concomitant with the differentiation. (2) The ultrastructure of CM showed the large amount of myofilaments and mitochondrion and FC showed moderate amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum. (3) The expression of cyclin D 2 mRNA in 3 , 4 , 5 day CM group was 0.89 times(p<0.05), 0.80 times (p<0.05)and 0.56 times (p<0.01)of that in 1 day group respectively. P16 mRNA in 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 day CM group were 1.63 times(p<0.01),1.72 times(p<0.01),1.99 times (p<0.01)and 2.84 times (p<0.01) of that in 1 day group respectively. It can be concluded that cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes could proliferate during the first 3 cultured days, but the ability of proliferation decreased, from the fourth day, concomitant with differentiation. Cyclin D 2 and p16 have the key roles during the transition from myocyte hyperplasia to hypertrophy.

Overexpression of GATA binding protein 4 and myocyte enhancer factor 2C induces differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into cardiac-like cells

BACKGROUND Heart diseases are the primary cause of death all over the world.Following myocardial infarction,billions of cells die,resulting in a huge loss of cardiac function.Stem cell-based therapies have appeared as a new area to support heart regeneration.The transcription factors GATA binding protein 4(GATA-4)and myocyte enhancer factor 2C(MEF2C)are considered prominent factors in the development of the cardiovascular system.AIM To explore the potential of GATA-4 and MEF2C for the cardiac differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(hUC-MSCs).METHODS hUC-MSCs were characterized morphologically and immunologically by the presence of specific markers of MSCs via immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry,and by their potential to differentiate into osteocytes and adipocytes.hUC-MSCs were transfected with GATA-4,MEF2C,and their combination to direct the differentiation.Cardiac differentiation was confirmed by semiquant itative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry.RESULTS hUC-MSCs expressed specific cell surface markers CD105,CD90,CD44,and vimentin but lack the expression of CD45.The transcription factors GATA-4 and MEF2C,and their combination induced differentiation in hUC-MSCs with significant expression of cardiac genes i.e.,GATA-4,MEF2C,NK2 homeobox 5(NKX2.5),MHC,and connexin-43,and cardiac proteins GATA-4,NKX2.5,cardiac troponin T,and connexin-43.CONCLUSION Transfection with GATA-4,MEF2C,and their combination effectively induces cardiac differentiation in hUC-MSCs.These genetically modified MSCs could be a promising treatment option for heart diseases in the future.

The Effect of Levobunolol Hydrochloride on the Calcium andPotassium Channels in Isolated Ventricular Myocytes of Guinea Pig

The effects of levobunolol hydrochlorid (Bun) on the type L calciumchannel currents (Ica) and delayed rectifier potassium channel currents (Ik) in isolated ventricular myocytes of guinea pig were studied by using patch clamp wholecell recording techniques. The results were showed that: 1) Bun caused a dosedependent decrease in Ica and a dose-dependent increase in Ik of the ventricular myocytes.The threshold concentrations of Bun for Ica and Ik were 10-8 mol/L and10-7 mol/L respectively. The maximum effective concentration of Bun for both Ica and Ik was 3 × 10-5 mol/L, and half-maximal concentration was 3 × 10-6 mol/L;2 ) Ik was blocked by 2× 10-6mol/L tetraethylammonium (TEA). A concentration of 3 × 10-6 mol/L Bun showed a decreasing effect on the Ica as revealed by the current-voltage relationship curve, i. e., Bun caused an elevation of the curve; 3)When Ica was blocked by 2 × 10-6 mol/L Isoptin (Verapamil), at a concentrationof 3 × 106- mol/L Bun showed an increasing effect on Ik and the effect could be blocked by TEA. The above-mentioned results indicated that Bun had an inhibito-ry effect on Ica and a fascilitatory effect on Ik The results suggested that themolecular mechanisms of antihypertensive, heart rate slowing and β-receptorblocking effects of Bun might be due to decrease of Ica and increase of Ik.

Study of the Impact of Rectangular Current Pulses on the Ten Tusscher-Panfilov Model of Human Ventricular Myocyte

The behavior of the 2006 ten Tusscher-Panfilov model of human ventricular myocytes under the impact of periodic excitation impulses was studied in the BeatBox simulation environment. The cardiomyocyte model has a limited susceptibility to an forced higher frequency excitation rhythm. A high-frequency excitation rhythm can be forced by gradually increasing the frequency of excitation impulses. The mechanism of defibrillation pulse impact consists of presumably prolonging the refractoriness of cardiomyocytes which undermines their susceptibility for a long time to a forced high-frequency rhythm of fibrillation, as a result for which they hinder the propagation of a fibrillation wave. This is the only mechanism of defibrillation that was identified during the simulation. The threshold energy of a depolarizing defibrillation pulse prolonging the refractoriness of the cardio-myocyte varies depending on a delay relative to the excitation impulse (the excitation cycle phase) in a wide range (the maximum value exceeds the minimum by several thousand times). The results show differences in the mechanisms of impact on a cardiomyocyte between an excitation impulse and a monophasic defibrillation pulse.

Protein Kinase C Enhances the Swelling-Induced Chloride Current in Human Atrial Myocytes

Swelling-activated chloride currents（ICl.swell） are thought to play a role in several physiologic and pathophysiologic processes and thus represent a target for therapeutic approaches. However, the mechanism of ICl.swell regulation remains unclear. In this study, we used the whole-cell patch-clamp technique to examine the role of protein kinase C（PKC） in the regulation of ICl.swell in human atrial myocytes. Atrial myocytes were isolated from the right atrial appendages of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass and enzymatically dissociated. ICl.swell was evoked in hypotonic solution and recorded using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The PKC agonist phorbol dibutyrate（PDBu） enhanced ICl.swellin a concentration-dependent manner, which was reversed in isotonic solution and by a chloride current inhibitor, 9-anthracenecarboxylicacid. Furthermore, the PKC inhibitor bis-indolylmaleimide attenuated the effect and 4α-PDBu, an inactive PDBu analog, had no effect on ICl.swell. These results, obtained using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, demonstrate the ability of PKC to activate ICl,swell in human atrial myocytes. This observation was consistent with a previous study using a single-channel patch-clamp technique, but differed from some findings in other species.

Characteristics of the Nonselective Cation Current (NSCCs) in Rabbit Left Ventricular Epicardial, Midmyocardial and Endocardial Myocytes

Objectives Recent studies have described regional differences in the electrophysiology and pharmacology of ventric- ular myocardium in canine, feline, rat, guinea pig, and human hearts. This has been shown to be due to a smaller IKs and a lager sodium-calcium exchange current （INa-Ca） and late INa in M region （ deep subepicardial to midmyocardial）. Studies from our laboratory have found a new repolarization current-nonselective cation current （NSCCs） existing in rabbit fight ventricular myocytes. Methods We examined the characteristics of NSCCs in epicardial, M region, and endocardial cells isolated from the rabbit left ventricle with standard microelectrode and whole-cell patch-clamp tech- niques. The permeability to Na^＋ , K^＋ , Li^＋ , Cs^＋ but not to Cl^- indicating that it was a nonselective cation current. Gd^＋3 （0. 1 mmol/1） and La^3＋ （0. 1 retool/1 ） can block the current markedly. Results Further characterization of NSCCs was significantly smaller in M cells than in epicardial and endocardial cells. NSCCs current density was significantly smaller in M cells than in epicardial and endocardial cells. With repolarization to - 80 mV, INa current density was （ -0. 44 ±0. 05） PA/PF in endocardial cells, （ -0. 12 ±0. 05） PA/PF in M cells and （ - 0. 28 ±0. 07） PA/PF in epicardial cells ; and with repolarization to ＋ 30 mV, INa, current density was （ 1.09 ± 0. 29） PA/PF in endocardial cells, （0. 38±0. 09） PA/PF in M cells and （0. 91 ± 0. 32） PA/PF in epicardial cells. Conclusions Transmural dispersion of repolarization was due to the heterogeneity of NSCCs in rabbit left ventricle epicardial, endocardial myocytes and M cells. These findings may advance our understanding of the ionic basis for our understanding of factors contributing to the development of cardiac arrhythmias.