BACKGROUND We compared cardiac electrophysiological indicators and regional expression levels of cardiac hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels between adult and aged dogs to identify possible mechanisms of age-related atrial fibrillation. MATERIAL/METHODS Corrected sinus node recovery time (SNRTc) and effective refractory period (ERP) of the atrium and pulmonary v...

An interesting and clearly presented paper from the Nattel Research Group [1] in this volume of Cardiovascular Research provides new evidence for the expression of three isoforms of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotidegated ion channels (HCN) in the sinoatrial node and atria of the adult canine heart. These measurements have been made under control conditions, and in the setting of a m...

BACKGROUND Recent studies in experimental animals have revealed some molecular mechanisms underlying the differentiation of the myocardium making up the conduction system. To date, lack of gene expression data for the developing human conduction system has precluded valid extrapolations from experimental studies to the human situation. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed immunohistochemical anal...

Cholesterol has been shown to regulate numerous ion channels. HCN channels represent the molecular correlate of If or Ih in sinoatrial node (SAN) and neuronal cells. Previous studies have implicated a role for cholesterol in the regulation of rabbit HCN4 channels with effects on pacing in the rabbit SAN. Using electrophysiological and biochemical approaches, we examined the effect of cholestero...

Hyperpolarization-activated current (If) is the major ionic current contributing to the spontaneous diastolic depolarization of cardiac sinus node pacemaker cells. It is mediated by hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels. However, several observations support a potential role of HCN channels in the arrhythmogenesis of working myocardium under pathological conditi...

BACKGROUND Ivabradine, a selective bradycardic drug, inhibits the If. In patients with heart failure (HF), ivabradine reduces the risk of rehospitalization and mortality. The average heart rate (HR) reduction is 8-10 beats, although clinical trials reveal interindividual variability. The aim of the study is to identify variants associated with HR reduction produced by ivabradine in genes involv...

Regional differences in cardiomyocyte automaticity permit the sinoatrial node (SAN) to function as the leading cardiac pacemaker and the atrioventricular (AV) junction as a subsidiary pacemaker. The regulatory mechanisms controlling the distribution of automaticity within the heart are not understood. To understand regional variation in cardiac automaticity, we carried out an in vivo analysis o...

BACKGROUND Sympathetic and parasympathetic influences on heart rate (HR), which are governed by baroreflex mechanisms, are integrated at the cardiac sinus node through hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (HCN4). We hypothesized that HCN4 blockade with ivabradine selectively attenuates HR and baroreflex HR regulation, leaving baroreflex control of muscle sympathetic nerv...

Cardiac pacemaking involves a variety of ion channels, but their relative importance is controversial and remains to be determined. Hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, which underlie the I(f) current of sinoatrial cells, are thought to be key players in cardiac automaticity. In addition, the increase in heart rate following beta-adrenergic stimulation has been a...

cAMP mediates autonomic regulation of heart rate by means of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, which underlie the pacemaker current If. cAMP binding to the C-terminal cyclic nucleotide binding domain enhances HCN open probability through a conformational change that reaches the pore via the C-linker. Using structural and functional analysis, we identified a bin...