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Krannert Institute of Cardiology, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
Sudden
increases in heart rate cause accumulation of K+ in the
extracellular space. However, the exact relationship between rate and
extracellular K+ concentration
([K+]o) in vivo is unknown. We measured
[K+]o in right atria of anesthetized dogs by
using K+-sensitive electrodes. Peak increase in
[K+]o ranged from 0.18 ± 0.04 mM
[means ± SE; cycle length (CL) = 350 ms] to 0.80 ± 0.09 mM (CL = 250 ms) above baseline (3.50 ± 0.08 mM at
CL = 380 ms; n = 5). During rapid pacing-induced
atrial fibrillation, peak increase in [K+]o
averaged 0.80 ± 0.07 mM (n = 5). Whole cell
current-clamp measurements in single right atrial myocytes
(n = 5) showed that raising
[K+]o from 3 to 5 mM in 1-mM steps
progressively depolarized resting membrane potential and reduced both
phase 0 action potential amplitude and maximal upstroke
velocity. Multisite epicardial mapping (n = 4)
demonstrated that sudden rate increases changed longitudinal conduction
velocity (CVL) by
3.6 ± 1.8% to
5.9 ± 1.2% over a CL range of 330 to 250 ms. Our observations suggest that
rate-related [K+]o accumulation in vivo is of
sufficient magnitude to modulate those cellular electrophysiological
properties that determine atrial CVL.
atrium; fibrillation; tachycardia; potassium
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