Differences in ionic currents between canine myocardial and Purkinje cells

An electrophysiological analysis of canine single ventricular myocardial (VM) and Purkinje (P) cells was carried out by means of whole cell voltage clamp method. The following results in VM versus P cells were obtained. INa3 was present, had a threshold negative to the fast activating-inactivating INa1, its slow inactivation was cut off by INa1, and contributed to Na+ influx at INa1 threshold. INa1 was smaller and had a less negative threshold. There was no comparable slowly inactivating INa2, accounting for the shorter action potential. Slope conductance at resting potential was about double and decreased to a minimum value at the larger and less negative IK1 peak. The negative slope region of I-V relation was smaller during fast ramps and larger during slow ramps than in P cells, occurred in the voltage range of IK1 block by Mg2+, was not affected by a lower Vh and TTX and was eliminated by Ba2+, in contrast to P cells. ICa was larger, peaked at positive potentials and was eliminated by Ni2+. Ito was much smaller, began at more positive values, was abolished by less negative Vh and by 4-aminopyridine, included a sustained current that 4-aminopyridine decreased but did not eliminate. Steeper ramps increased IK1 peak as well as the fall in outward current during repolarization, consistent with a time-dependent block and unblock of IK1 by polyamines. During repolarization, the positive slope region was consistently present and was similar in amplitude to IK1 peak, whereas it was small or altogether missing in P cells. The total outward current at positive potentials comprised a larger IK1 component whereas it included a larger Ito and sustained current in P cells. These and other results provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the action potential of VM and P cells under normal and some abnormal (arrhythmias) conditions.