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Acta Physiologica 2006; Volume 186, Supplement 650
Joint Meeting of The German Society of Physiology and The Federation of European Physiological Societies 2006
3/26/2006-3/29/2006
Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich
PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN SERUM ALDOSTERONE CONCENTRATION DO NOT INFLUENCE L-TYPE CA2+ AND TRANSIENT OUTWARD K+ CURRENT DENSITIES IN THE RAT HEART
Abstract number: OM01-3
Rudakova1 E, Wagner1 M, Volk1 T
1Institut fr Zell. & Mol. Physiologie, FAU Erlangen-Nrnberg
Besides its central role in the regulation of extracellular fluid volume, aldosterone contributes to the development of cardiac pathologies such as hypertrophy. Moreover, aldosterone may also modulate cardiac electrophysiology, particularly the L-type Ca2+ current (ICaL) and the transient outward K+ current (Ito). However, it is unknown whether a physiological increase in serum aldosterone concentration leads to alterations in ionic currents. In the present study we investigate the influence of low Na+ diet on cardiac electrophysiology in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Low Na+ diet (0.013% Na+, LSD) for 28 days increased serum aldosterone concentration from 0.19 ± 0.04 nM (n=6) in animals receiving control Na+ diet (0.3% Na+, CSD) to 16.1 ± 2.1 nM (n=6; p<0.0001) in animals on LSD. Femoral artery pressure was similar in both groups. Action potentials (AP) and ionic currents were assessed using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. AP duration and Ito displayed the typical endocardial-to-epicardial gradient in magnitude but were not affected by LSD. ICaL density was similar in myocytes isolated from CSD and LSD rats and averaged -12.9 ± 0.9 pApF-1, n=18 and -13.7 ± 1.1 pApF-1, n=16, respectively. Furthermore, LSD animals displayed normal surface ECGs. In summary, an increase in serum aldosterone concentration alone is not sufficient for a modulation of Ito and ICaL densities in cardiac myocytes.
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Acta Physiologica 2006; Volume 186, Supplement 650 :OM01-3