Vladislav S. Kuzmin

Modulation of rabbit sinoatrial node activation sequence by acetylcholine and isoproterenol investigated with optical mapping technique

Aims:  Changes in the rabbit sinoatrial node (SAN) activation sequence with the cholinergic and adrenergic factors were studied. The correlation between the sinus rhythm rate and the leading pacemaker site shift was determined. The hypothesis concerning the cholinergic suppression of nodal cell excitability as one of the mechanisms associated with pacemaker shift was tested.

The Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Electrical Activity of Rat Atrial Myocardium

Changes in the configuration of action potentials and in the frequency of pacemaker discharges in a preparation of isolated rat right atrium under the effect of sodium hydrosulfide degrading in water solution with hydrogen sulfide release were studied by intracellular recording of action potentials in the myocardium. Sodium hydrosulfide in concentrations of 100–500 μM markedly reduced the duration of action potentials at the level of 50 and 90% repolarization and decelerated the sinus rhythm. Moreover, sodium hydrosulfide shortened action potentials in the preparations working in the forced rhythm. Glybenclamide (potassium ATP-dependent channel blocker; 10 μM) reduced the effect sodium hydrosulfide (200 μM) by more than 60%, which suggested the involvement of potassium ATP-dependent current in the realization of the effect of hydrogen sulfide on configuration of action potentials. Hence, hydrogen sulfide, recently described as a signal compound, modulates many electrophysiological parameters of the myocardium.

Diadenosine tetra- and pentaphosphates affect contractility and bioelectrical activity in the rat heart via P2 purinergic receptors

Diadenosine polyphosphates (Ap(n)As) are endogenously produced molecules which have been identified in various tissues of mammalian organism, including myocardium. Ap(n)As contribute to the blood clotting and are also widely accepted as regulators of blood vascular tone. Physiological role of Ap(n)As in cardiac muscle has not been completely elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of diadenosine tetra- (Ap4A) and penta- (Ap5A) polyphosphates on contractile function and action potential (AP) waveform in rat supraventricular and ventricular myocardium. We have also demonstrated the effects of A4pA and Ap5A in myocardial sleeves of pulmonary veins (PVs), which play a crucial role in genesis of atrial fibrillation. APs were recorded with glass microelectrodes in multicellular myocardial preparations. Contractile activity was measured in isolated Langendorff-perfused rat hearts. Both Ap4A and Ap5A significantly reduced contractility of isolated Langendorff-perfused heart and produced significant reduction of AP duration in left and right auricle, interatrial septum, and especially in right ventricular wall myocardium. Ap(n)As also shortened APs in rat pulmonary veins and therefore may be considered as potential proarrhythmic factors. Cardiotropic effects of Ap4A and Ap5A were strongly antagonized by selective blockers of P2 purine receptors suramin and pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonic acid (PPADS), while P1 blocker DPCPX was not effective. We conclude that Ap(n)As may be considered as new class of endogenous cardioinhibitory compounds. P2 purine receptors play the central role in mediation of Ap4A and Ap5A inhibitory effects on electrical and contractile activity in different regions of the rat heart.

Cholinergic modulation of activation sequence in the atrial myocardium of non-mammalian vertebrates

Cholinergic changes of electric activity were studied in isolated atrium preparations from fishes (cod and carp), amphibians (frog) and reptilians (lizard) using the microelectrode technique and high-resolution optical mapping. Perfusion of isolated atrium with acetylcholine (10(-6)-5.10(-5) M) caused gradual suppression of action potential generation and, eventually, completely blocked the excitation in a part of the preparation. Other regions of atrium, situated close to the sinoatrial and atrioventricular junctions, remained excitable. Such cholinergic suppression of electric activity was observed in the atrial myocardium of frog and in both fish species, but not in reptilians. Ba(2+) (10(-4) M), which blocks the acetylcholine-dependent potassium current (I(KACh)), prevented cholinergic reduction of action potential amplitude. In several preparations of frog atrium, cholinergic suppression of excitation coincided with episodes of atrial fibrillation. We conclude that the phenomenon of cholinergic suppression of electric activity is typical for atria of fishes and amphibians. It is likely to be caused by I(KACh) activation and may be important for initiation of atrial arrhythmias.

Inotropic effects of gaseous transmitters in isolated rat heart preparation.

We studied the effects of carbon monoxide and sodium hydrosulfide, hydrogen sulfide donor, on contractile activity of the left ventricle in Langendorf-perfused isolated rat heart. Carbon monoxide 5×10−5 M significantly accelerated sinus rhythm and left-ventricular pressure wave growth and decay. To the contrary, negative inotropic and chronotropic effects were observed at higher concentrations of carbon monoxide (10−4, 3×10−4 M). Sodium hydrosulfide (10−4-4×10−4 M) decreased all the parameters of left-ventricular contractive activity and reduced contraction rate. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide, which together with nitrogen oxide are qualified as a new class of gaseous signal compounds, may substantially modulate pumping function of the heart.

Effects of Extracellular Diadenosine Tetraphosphate on Action Potentials in the Atrial and Ventricular Myocardium of the Rat Heart during Early Postnatal Ontogenesis

Diadenosine tetraphosphate (AP4A) belongs to a wide group of naturally derived endogenous purine compounds that have recently been considered as new neurotransmitters in the autonomic nervous system. It has been shown that AP4A induces inhibitory effects and modulates adrenergic control in the heart of adult mammals. Nevertheless, the physiological significance of AP4A in early postnatal development, when sympathetic innervation remains yet immature, has not been investigated. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the effects of AP4A on the heart bioelectrical activity in early postnatal ontogenesis. Action potentials (AP) were recorded using the standard microelectrode technique in multicellular isolated right atrial (RA), left atrial (LA), and ventricle (RV) preparations from male Wistar rats at postnatal days 1, 14, and 21 and from 60-day animals that were considered as adults. The application of AP4A caused significant reduction of AP duration in atrial (RA and LA) preparations from rats of all ages. Also, AP4A caused significant AP shortening in RV preparations from rats of various ages; however, the effect was more pronounced in 21-day-old and adult rats. AP4A failed to alter automaticity of RA preparations from the rats at postnatal days 1, 14, and 21 and weakly decreased spontaneous rhythm in RA preparations from the adult rats. The effect of AP4A was partially abolished by P2-receptor blocker PPADS in LA preparations from both 21-dayold and adult rats, while it failed to suppress AP4A-caused AP shortening in preparations from 1- and 14-dayold animals. Thus, extracellular AP4A causes shortening of AP both in the atrial and ventricular myocardium in the rats of early postnatal ontogenesis and in adults. The effect of AP4A depends on age only for ventricular myocardium where it may be attributed with growing contribution of diadenosine polyphosphates to the control of myocardium inotropy.

Negative inotropic effects of diadenosine tetraphosphate are mediated by protein kinase C and phosphodiesterases stimulation in the rat heart

ABSTRACT Extracellular diadenosine polyphosphates (ApnA) are recently considered as an endogenous signaling compounds with transmitter‐like activity which present in numerous tissues, including heart. It has been demonstrated previously that extracellular ApnA cause alteration of the heart functioning via purine receptors in different mammalian species. Nevertheless, principal intracellular pathways which underlie ApnA action in the heart remain unknown. In the present study the role of the P2Y‐associated intracellular regulatory pathway in the mediation of diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) effects in the rat heart has been investigated for the first time. Extracellular Ap4A caused significant decreasing of the ventricular inotropy. Ap4A evoked reduction of the left ventricle contractility in the isolated Langendorff‐perfused rat hearts, decreasing of the Ca2+ transients in the enzymatically isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes and induced shortening of action potentials in the ventricle multicellular preparations. The inhibitory effects of Ap4A in the rat heart were significantly attenuated by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor chelerythrine but these effects were not affected by NO‐synthase inhibitor L‐NAME and guanylyl cyclase (sGC) inhibitor ODQ. In addition, substantial attenuation of Ap4A‐caused negative inotropy in the left ventricle was produced by nonselective phsophodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor IBMX, while PDE type 2 inhibitor EHNA was ineffective. In conclusion, our results allow suggesting that Ap4A‐induced inhibitory effects in the rat heart are mediated by PKC, but not by NO/sGC/PKG‐related signaling pathway. In addition, PDE stimulation may contribute to Ap4A‐caused inhibition of the rat heart contractility.

Investigation of pacemaker shift in the rabbit sinoatrial node using the optical mapping technique

Changes of the activation sequence in the rabbit sinoatrial node under the influence of low temperature and If selective blocker ivabradine have been studied using the optical mapping technique. Both factors caused a shift of the pacemaker within the sinoatrial node region. These results are compared with the data obtained recently in the investigation of pacemaker shift under the influence of cholinergic and adrenergic factors. Possible mechanisms of the pacemaker shift are discussed. The suppression of electric activity in the central part of the sinoatrial node during the action of acetylcholine, which is called cholinergic inexcitability, may be considered as one of the mechanisms of the pacemaker shift. It is shown that the main cause of cholinergic inexcitability is the activation of potassium acetylcholine-dependent current IKACh.