Pharmacological block of the slow component of the outward delayed rectifier current (IKs) fails to lengthen rabbit ventricular muscle QTc and action potential duration

Abstract
The effects of IKs block by chromanol 293B and L‐735,821 on rabbit QT‐interval, action potential duration (APD), and membrane current were compared to those of E‐4031, a recognized IKr blocker. Measurements were made in rabbit Langendorff‐perfused whole hearts, isolated papillary muscle, and single isolated ventricular myocytes. Neither chromanol 293B (10 μM) nor L‐735,821 (100 nM) had a significant effect on QTc interval in Langendorff‐perfused hearts. E‐4031 (100 nM), on the other hand, significantly increased QTc interval (35.6±3.9%, n=8, PIKs and IKr, respectively. IKs tail currents activated slowly (at +30 mV, τ=888.1±48.2 ms, n=21) and deactivated rapidly (at −40 mV, τ=157.1±4.7 ms, n=22), while IKr tail currents activated rapidly (at +30 mV, τ=35.5±3.1 ms, n=26) and deactivated slowly (at −40 mV, τ1=641.5±29.0 ms, τ2=6531±343, n=35). IKr was estimated to contribute substantially more to total current density during normal ventricular muscle action potentials (i.e., after a 150 ms square pulse to +30 mV) than does IKs. These findings indicate that block of IKs is not likely to provide antiarrhythmic benefit by lengthening normal ventricular muscle QTc, APD, and refractoriness over a wide range of frequencies. British Journal of Pharmacology (2001) 132, 101–110; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0703777

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