Effects of allitridum on the transient outward potassium current in rats with heart failure

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of allitridum on the transient outward potassium current (Ito) of ventricular myocytes in heart failure (HF). METHODS The dual enzymatic method was used to separate single ventricular myocytes from Sprague Dawley rats. Patch-clamping was used to record Ito and analyze the effect of allitridum on the current. RESULTS The Ito current had a significant decrease in the HF group, compared with the control group. The density of Ito in the HF group was increased after treatment of allitridum (30 µmol/L). The peak current densities of Ito were enhanced in the HF group from 6.01 ± 0.30 pA/pF to 8.41 ± 0.54 pA/pF (P < 0.01) at +50 mV after treatment with allitridum (30 µmol/L). We also determined the effect of allitridum on the gating mechanism of the Ito in the HF group. CONCLUSIONS We found that allitridum increased the Ito by accelerating the activation of channels and shortened the time constants of inactivation, and allitridum decreased the remodeling of Ito in ventricular myocytes of rats with HF.