AIM:To study the effect of AMP579 and adenosine on potassium ionic (K+) or sodium ionic (Na+) channels and to elucidate ionic mechanisms underlying negative inotropic and antiarrhythmic effects of AMP579 and adenosine.
METHODS:Ionic channel currents of rat and guinea pig ventricular myocytes were recorded by patch clamp technique in whole-cell configuration.
RESULTS:Adenosine showed a stronger activating effect on transient outward K+ current (I(to)) than AMP579, EC50 of adenosine and AMP579 were 2.33 and 8. 32 micromol x L(-1), respectively (P < 0.05). An adenosine A1 receptor blocker, 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (PD116948), can abolish the effects of AMP579 and adenosine on I(to), demonstrating that the effect is mediated by adenosine A1 receptor. Adenosine exerted a more obvious inhibitory effect on delayed rectifier K+ current (IK) than AMP579. IC50 of adenosine and AMP579 were 1.21 and 2.31 micromol x L(-1), respectively (P < 0.05). AMP579 had a more powerful inhibitory effect on inward rectifier K+ current (IK1) than adenosine. IC50 of AMP579 and adenosine were 4.15 and 20.7 micromol x L(-1), repectively (P < 0.01). AMP579 and adenosine exerted a similar inhibitory effect on fast inward Na+ current (INA), IC50 of AMP579 and adenosine were 9.46 and 6.23 micromol x L(-1), respectively (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION:Adenosine showed a stronger activating effect on I(to) than AMP579, however, the mechanism of AMP579 and adenosine activating I(to) was mediated by adenosine A1 receptor. AMP579 has a more powerful inhibitory effect on IK1, and less inhibitory effect on IK than adenosine. Both drugs have a similar inhibitory effect on INa. The negative inotropic and antiarrhythmic effects are related to these ionic mechanisms.