Abstract:
Guan-fu base A (GFA) is a terpenoid alkaloid isolated from the tuber of
Aconitum coreanum, which has been shown to prolong cardiac repolarization
in vivo and
in vitro . In the present study, the effects of GFA on the delayed rectifier current(
Ik) were investigated using the whole cell patch clamp technique in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes. In the presence of CdCl
2 100 μmol·L
-1 ,
Ik was observed upon depolarizing pulses to +50 mV from a holding potential -40 mV for variable duration (550, 1100, 1650, 2200, 2750, 3300, 3850 ms). The magnitude of
Ik after a 2200 ms pulse was 293±90 pA prior to drug and 227±59 pA in the presence of GFA 100 μmol·L
-1 . In a 3850 ms pulse, the magnitude of
Ik decreased from 290±90 to 231±66 pA after exposure to GFA. The inhibitory effects of GFA on
Ik was not dependent on the duration of depolarization. The inward rectifier current (
Ik1) was not affected by GFA 100 μmol·L
-1 . It is concluded that GFA has inhibitory effects on
Ik, which may contribute to its prolongation of cardiac repolarization.