Work

Block of outward current in cardiac Purkinje fibers by injection of quaternary ammonium ions.

Year: 1982

Type: article

Abstract: We have studied the effects of iontophoretic injection of the quaternary ammonium compounds tetraethylammonium (TEA) and tetrabutylammonium (TBA) in cardiac purkinje fibers. We find that TBA(+) is a more effective blocker than TEA(+), but injection of either compound reduces the time-dependent outward plateau currents, transient outward current (I(to)), and the delayed rectifier (I(x)). Our findings provide evidence that these outward cardiac currents are carried by channels that in some respects are pharmacologically similar to squid axon potassium channels. We demonstrate that this procedure is a new tool that can be useful in the analysis of membrane currents in the heart.

Source: The Journal of General Physiology

DOI: 10.1085/jgp.79.6.1041

Authors: R S Kass, T Scheuer, K J Malloy

Institutions: University of Rochester Medicine, University of Rochester, Rockefeller University

Language: English

Topic: Ion channel regulation and function

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Institutes of Health

OpenAlex ID: W2089132408