Effects of metallothionein on action potentials of anoxic and reoxygenated papillary muscles of guinea pigs
Li, S.M.; Liu, B.; Liu, X.L.; Hu, D.Y.; Tang, C.S.
Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao 19(2): 145-147
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0253-9756 PMID: 10374638 Document Number: 485022
To study anti-arrhythmic effects of metallothionein (MT). Standard microelectrode technique was used to study the effects of MT on action potentials (AP) in anoxic and reoxygenated papillary muscles of guinea pigs. MT (0.02 mmol.L-1) had no effects on AP of the normal papillary muscles; when the muscles were exposed to ischemic solution without MT, there was a marked shortening of action potential duration (APD) at 20%, 50%, and 90% of repolarization (APD20, APD50, APD90) from 82 +/- 7 to 37 +/- 7, 131 +/- 35 to 63 +/- 11, and 167 +/- 12 to 100 +/- 19 ms, respectively, (P < 0.01); and an obvious reduction of resting potential (RP), action potential amplitude (APA), and the maximal upstroke velocity of phase 0 (Vmax) from -92 +/- 9 to -63 +/- 12 mV, 135 +/- 13 to 80 +/- 8 mV, and 286 +/- 55 to 164 +/- 42 V.s-1, respectively (P < 0.01). However, in the presence of MT, the AP parameters (RP, APA, and Vmax) changed from -63 +/- 2 to -82 +/- 1 mV, 80 +/- 8 to 104 +/- 25 mV, and 164 +/- 42 to 237 +/- 43 V.s-1, respectively, (P < 0.01), except that APD20, APD50, and APD90 shortened further from 37 +/- 7 to 12 +/- 3, 63 +/- 11 to 28 +/- 7, and 100 +/- 19 to 82 +/- 11 mV, respectively (P < 0.01). MT decreased the incidence of automaticity during reoxygenation from 91% to 33%. MT possesses a calcium regulatory property.