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. 1980;308:331–351. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1980.sp013474

Voltage-clamp investigations of membrane currents underlying pace-maker activity in rabbit sino-atrial node.

H Brown, D Difrancesco
PMCID: PMC1274551  PMID: 7230019

Abstract

1. Small preparations of spontaneously beating rabbit sino-atrial node have been investigated using the two micro-electrode voltage-clamp technique. 2. Hyperpolarizing clamp pulses given from holding potentials of about -45 mV reveal a time-dependent change of a membrane current, if, which is shown to overlap the pace-maker range (-65 mV to -45 mV) for these preparations. 3. The changes in if are shown to be quite distinct from the de-activation of the time-dependent outward current, iK. 4. The time-dependent changes of the if system increase during adrenaline application and therefore contribute to the chronotropic action of adrenaline on the heart. 5. Evidence for a link between slow inward current (iSi) and time-dependent outward current (iK) in rabbit sino-atrial node is presented and assessed.

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Selected References

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