J Physiol Wellcome Trust-funded researchers
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


J Physiol Vol 280 pp 537-558
Copyright © 1978 by The Physiological Society
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Kline, R P
Right arrow Articles by Morad, M
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Kline, R P
Right arrow Articles by Morad, M

Potassium efflux in heart muscle during activity: extracellular accumulation and its implications.

R P Kline and M Morad

1. Extracellular K+ activity and transmembrane potential were simultaneously monitored with a K+-selective micro-electrode placed in the extracellular space and a standard KCl-filled micro-electrode in the intracellular space of the frog ventricular muscle. 2. K+ was found to accumulate during activity and had the approximate magnitude and time course to account for the measured membrane depolarization. 3. The magnitude of the K+ accumulation depended on the frequency of stimulation, diameter of the muscle and temperature of the bathing solution. 4. The time constants of accumulation and decay were dependent only on the diameter and the temperature of the strip. A Q10 of 2 was measured for the decay of accumulated K+. 5. Double barrelled K+-electrodes were used to monitor the change in K+ activity accompanying a single action potential, since the reference barrel allowed for rapid compensation of the electrical potential fluctuations encountered in the subendothelial space. 6. K+ accumulated continuously during the plateau to a level which increased external K concentration by about 1 mM. This increase in the subendothelial space corresponds to about 1-3 muA/cm2 or 10-30 pmole/cm2-sec-1 of net K+ efflux. These values are at least an order of magnitude larger than required to discharge the membrane capacitance. 7. There is no direct relation between action potential duration and rate of development or magnitude of K+ accumulation during that action potential. 8. Increase in the external K concentration, while shortening the action potential and depolarizing the membrane, does not lead to an increased rate of accumulation of K+. The presence of Ni2+, on the other hand, prolongs the action potential and decreases the rate of K+ accumulation. 9. The results suggest that there is a substantial and continuous efflux of K+ during the action potential, which sums during rapid beating, resulting in membrane depolarization and alteration of action potential duration. The change in action potential duration in response to rate may be caused by alteration of EK in the local micro-environments.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
A. Miyata, J. D. Dowell, D. P. Zipes, and M. Rubart
Rate-dependent [K+]o accumulation in canine right atria in vivo: electrophysiological consequences
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, August 1, 2002; 283(2): H506 - H517.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Physiol. Rev.Home page
O. M. Sejersted and G. Sjogaard
Dynamics and Consequences of Potassium Shifts in Skeletal Muscle and Heart During Exercise
Physiol Rev, October 1, 2000; 80(4): 1411 - 1481.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
T. J. Hund, N. F. Otani, and Y. Rudy
Dynamics of action potential head-tail interaction during reentry in cardiac tissue: ionic mechanisms
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, October 1, 2000; 279(4): H1869 - H1879.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cardiovasc ResHome page
M. Hara, A. Shvilkin, M. R Rosen, P. Danilo Jr., and P. A Boyden
Steady-state and nonsteady-state action potentials in fibrillating canine atrium: abnormal rate adaptation and its possible mechanisms
Cardiovasc Res, May 1, 1999; 42(2): 455 - 469.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
J. F. Spear and E. N. Moore
Modulation of quinidine-induced arrhythmias by temperature in perfused rabbit heart
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, March 1, 1998; 274(3): H817 - H828.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1978 The Physiological Society.